HB 4612

relating to the rights of certain parties in connection with the
performance of certain tests on certain inactive wells subject to
the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 89.026, Natural Resources Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and
(b)  At [The operator must notify the office of the
commission oil and gas division district in which an inactive well
is located at] least three days before the date on which the
operator proposes to conduct [conducts] a fluid level or hydraulic
pressure test of an inactive [the] well, the operator must notify:
(1)  the office of the commission oil and gas division
district in which the well is located;
(2)  any groundwater conservation district any portion
of the territory of which is located within three miles of the well;
(3)  the owner of the surface estate of the tract of
land on which the well is located.
(b-1)  An operator [and] may not conduct a [the] test under
this section without the approval of the office to which notice of
the proposed test is given under Subsection (b)(1).  The commission
may require that a test be witnessed by a commission employee.  A
representative of any groundwater conservation district to which
notice of a proposed test is given under Subsection (b)(2) and a
surface estate owner, or the representative of a surface estate
owner, to whom notice of a proposed test is given under Subsection
(b)(3) are entitled to witness the test.
(b-2)  An operator shall provide the results of an
unsuccessful fluid level or hydraulic pressure test conducted under
this section to any groundwater conservation district to which
notice of the test was given under Subsection (b)(2) and the surface
estate owner to whom notice of the test was given under Subsection
SECTION 2.  Section 89.026, Natural Resources Code, as
amended by this Act, applies only to a fluid level or hydraulic
pressure test conducted on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.