House Bill No. 3911 amends the Natural Resources Code to address the plugging or replugging of inactive wells under the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas. The bill modifies Section 89.045 to clarify that the commission, its employees, agents, operators, nonoperators, and any private individuals who have paid for the plugging or replugging of a well are not liable for damages resulting from their good-faith efforts to comply with the law. Additionally, a new Section 89.049 is introduced, which outlines the responsibilities and protections for operators in good standing and surface owners who contract with approved well pluggers to manage orphaned wells.

Under the new provisions, operators and surface owners are not held liable for any damages related to the plugging or replugging of orphaned wells, provided they follow the required procedures, including notifying relevant parties 30 days prior to the operation. The bill also stipulates that evidence of payment for plugging services cannot be used against the payer in legal disputes regarding their obligation to plug the well. Furthermore, the Railroad Commission is tasked with adopting rules to implement these changes, ensuring that all operations are supervised and approved by the commission before being considered complete. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Natural Resources Code 89.045 (Natural Resources Code 89)
House Committee Report: Natural Resources Code 89.045 (Natural Resources Code 89)