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 Sections 85.2021 and 91.142 of the Natural Resources Code do 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 provisions of this act will apply to any permit application or materially amended permit application submitted to the Railroad Commission on or after the effective date of the act, which is set for September 1, 2025. The bill has successfully passed both the Senate and the House with unanimous support, indicating strong legislative backing for the proposed changes.

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)