S.B. No. 2449 introduces new financial assurance requirements for operators regulated by the Railroad Commission of Texas, specifically concerning the operation and closure of produced water recycling pits and related facilities. The bill adds Section 91.115 to the Natural Resources Code, allowing the Commission to accept various financial assurance mechanisms, such as self-insurance and parental bonding, to demonstrate an operator's financial capability. It also permits operators with multiple subsidiaries to meet financial security requirements through a single consolidated bond, provided they demonstrate financial adequacy to the Commission. Additionally, the Commission is tasked with developing a system for operators to submit annual reports on facilities covered by bonding mechanisms and ensuring proper assignment of financial responsibility during ownership changes.

The bill mandates the Railroad Commission to adopt necessary rules to implement these provisions by December 31, 2025, and clarifies that the Commission retains the authority to require additional financial security if it deems an operator's assurance insufficient for potential closure and remediation costs. The Act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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