The bill, titled "Ownership of Brine Minerals," introduces a new chapter to the Natural Resources Code that defines and clarifies the ownership and production of brine minerals. It establishes that the owner of the mineral estate of the land owns the brine minerals below the surface as real property, unless otherwise specified by legal agreements. The bill also defines "brine" and outlines the components that constitute brine minerals, which include various chemical elements and compounds found in brine.

Additionally, the bill amends the Water Code to include definitions related to brine and brine mining, specifying that brine mining involves the extraction of brine and its minerals for various purposes. It removes previous exclusions regarding oil, gas, and fluid oil and gas waste from the definition of brine mining. The Railroad Commission is tasked with adopting necessary regulations for brine mining operations, 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)