The bill, titled "An Act relating to the production and ownership of brine," introduces new provisions regarding the ownership and definition of brine minerals in Texas. It adds Chapter 124 to the Natural Resources Code, defining "brine minerals" as the various particles and solutes found in brine, such as bromine, lithium, and sodium chloride. The bill stipulates that, unless otherwise specified in legal agreements, the owner of the mineral estate of the land owns the brine minerals beneath the surface and is responsible for protecting the rights of other mineral owners.

Additionally, the bill amends the Water Code to include a definition of "brine" and clarifies the scope of brine mining, which involves the extraction of brine and its minerals. It removes previous exclusions related to oil, gas, and fluid oil and gas waste from the definition of brine mining. The bill also mandates the Railroad Commission to establish rules for regulating brine mining, including reporting requirements for operators of brine production and injection wells. The Act is set to take effect 91 days after the legislative session concludes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 27.002, Water Code 27.036 (Water Code 27)