By: Birdwell S.B. No. 879
(In the Senate - Filed January 22, 2025; February 13, 2025,
read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources;
March 27, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
Nays 0; March 27, 2025, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an exemption for drillers or operators of closed-loop
geothermal injection wells from certain requirements applicable to
persons involved in activities under the jurisdiction of the
Railroad Commission of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 27.037, Water Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
(c-1) Sections 85.2021 and 91.142, Natural Resources Code,
do not apply to a person who submits a request for authorization or
is authorized to use a valid permit by rule issued by the railroad
commission under this section.
SECTION 2. Section 27.037, Water Code, as amended by this
Act, applies to a permit application or materially amended permit
application that is filed with the Railroad Commission of Texas on
or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
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