Bill Text: TX HB4872 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the reporting and plugging of certain wells.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-12 - Referred to Natural Resources & Economic Development [HB4872 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4872-Comm_Sub.html
Bill Title: Relating to the reporting and plugging of certain wells.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-12 - Referred to Natural Resources & Economic Development [HB4872 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4872-Comm_Sub.html
88R14667 JAM-D | ||
By: Rogers | H.B. No. 4872 |
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relating to the reporting and plugging of certain wells. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Water Code, is amended | ||
by adding Section 28.013 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 28.013. REPORTING AND PLUGGING OF CERTAIN WELLS; GRANT | ||
PROGRAM. (a) The commission by rule shall develop: | ||
(1) a process through which a landowner may report to | ||
the commission the presence on the landowner's land of a well that: | ||
(A) was originally drilled or operated as an oil | ||
or gas well under a permit issued by the Railroad Commission of | ||
Texas and subsequently was conveyed to the landowner for use as a | ||
water well; and | ||
(B) has not been plugged properly or otherwise | ||
poses a threat to groundwater or surface water; and | ||
(2) a program to provide grants to landowners or | ||
governmental entities for the plugging of wells reported through | ||
the process developed under Subdivision (1). | ||
(b) Rules implementing the grant program described by | ||
Subsection (a)(2) must require that: | ||
(1) the award of grants be based on an actual or | ||
probable threat to groundwater or surface water posed by a well | ||
reported under Subsection (a)(1); and | ||
(2) the plugging of the well be performed by: | ||
(A) a well plugger approved by the Railroad | ||
Commission of Texas; or | ||
(B) the Railroad Commission of Texas. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |