S.B. No. 879 is a legislative act that introduces an exemption for drillers or operators of closed-loop geothermal injection wells from certain regulatory requirements overseen by the Railroad Commission of Texas. The bill amends Section 27.037 of the Water Code by adding a new subsection (c-1), which specifies that the provisions of Sections 85.2021 and 91.142 of the Natural Resources Code will not apply to individuals who either submit a request for authorization or are authorized to use a valid permit by rule issued by the Railroad Commission under this section.

The amended provisions will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to any permit application or materially amended permit application submitted to the Railroad Commission on or after that date. This legislative change aims to streamline the regulatory process for geothermal injection well operators, potentially encouraging the development and use of geothermal energy resources in Texas.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 27.037 (Water Code 27)
Senate Committee Report: Water Code 27.037 (Water Code 27)
Engrossed: Water Code 27.037 (Water Code 27)
House Committee Report: Water Code 27.037 (Water Code 27)
Enrolled: Water Code 27.037 (Water Code 27)