HB 2612

relating to the establishment and functions of the Texas Carbon
Dioxide Sequestration Policy Council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
Code, is amended by adding Section 81.076 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.076.  TEXAS CARBON DIOXIDE SEQUESTRATION POLICY
COUNCIL.  (a)  In this section:
(1)  "Anthropogenic carbon dioxide" has the meaning
assigned by Section 27.002, Water Code.
(2)  "Bureau" means the Bureau of Economic Geology of
The University of Texas at Austin.
(3)  "Carbon capture industry" means the full chain of
entities, facilities, and activities involved with the capture,
utilization, and storage of carbon dioxide through the use of
carbon capture technology and includes:
(A)  advanced clean energy projects as defined by
Section 382.003, Health and Safety Code;
(B)  carbon dioxide repositories as defined by
Section 382.501, Health and Safety Code;
(C)  storage operators as defined by Section
(D)  anthropogenic carbon dioxide injection
wells,  geologic storage, geologic storage facilities, and
reservoirs as defined by Section 27.002, Water Code.
(4)  "Carbon capture technology" means technology
employed by the carbon capture industry to capture, store, and use
high concentrations of carbon dioxide and includes but is not
(5)  "Council" means the Texas Carbon Dioxide
(6)  "Sequester" has the meaning assigned by Section
(b)  The Texas Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Policy Council
is established within the commission to study and make
recommendations relating to the commission's policy framework for
carbon dioxide sequestration, the carbon capture industry, and
(c)  The council is composed of:
(1)  the chair of the commission or the chair's
(2)  not more than 16 members appointed by the
commission to represent as many different types of participants as
(A)  at least three but not more than five
representatives from the carbon capture industry;
(B)  at least three but not more than five
representatives from the bureau consisting of different types of
participants than those appointed from the carbon capture industry;
(C)  at least three but not more than five
representatives from state or national nonprofit entities focused
on environmental issues and reducing anthropogenic carbon dioxide
(d)  The chair of the commission or the chair's designee is
(e)  A member of the council is not entitled to compensation
or reimbursement of expenses for service on the council.
(1)  study the development of carbon capture
technologies and the carbon capture industry in this state;
(2)  study the reliability of long-term geologic
storage of carbon dioxide or anthropogenic carbon dioxide;
(3)  monitor and assess the accuracy of accounting
techniques employed to determine:
(A)  the net amount of carbon dioxide sequestered
by each carbon capture technology;
(B)  the net amount of carbon dioxide sequestered
across the carbon capture industry;
(C)  fugitive emissions across the carbon capture
(D)  energy use across the carbon capture
(4)  coordinate actions with other state agencies and
the bureau in studying, monitoring, and supporting the development
of this state's carbon capture industry;
(5)  develop a state plan for carbon capture technology
and carbon capture industry oversight by the commission; and
(6)  create an online database of carbon capture
projects in this state that includes for each project:
(A)  a description of the carbon capture
(B)  the net amount of carbon dioxide sequestered.
(g)  Not later than September 1, 2026, the council shall
prepare and submit a report to the legislature that includes:
(1)  recommendations relating to legislative and
(A)  comprehensive and standardized oversight and
regulation of carbon capture technologies and the carbon capture
industry to ensure net negative carbon emissions;
(B)  minimizing and addressing environmental and
physical safety risks associated with carbon capture technologies
and the carbon capture industry, including industry-wide fugitive
emissions, increased seismicity, groundwater contamination,
pipeline ruptures, and plume drift;
(D)  addressing issues of legal significance,
including subsurface trespass and long-term liability;
(E)  addressing barriers to the implementation of
carbon capture technologies and carbon capture industries,
(F)  ensuring accurate inventorying of carbon
sequestration, fugitive emissions rates, and plume monitoring.
(2)  the methodologies used to calculate the net amount
of carbon dioxide sequestered across the various carbon capture
technologies employed by the carbon capture industry.
(h)  The council is abolished and this section expires
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.