Relating to the maintenance of overhead electrical power lines associated with oil and gas development and production; authorizing an administrative penalty.

89(R) HB 106 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

By: King

H.B. No. 106

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the maintenance of overhead electrical power lines

associated with oil and gas development and production; authorizing

an administrative penalty.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 91, Natural Resources

Code, is amended by adding Section 91.0195 to read as follows:

Sec.

91.0195.

MAINTENANCE OF OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL POWER

LINES. (a) An operator of a well drilled for oil or gas shall

maintain in accordance with rules adopted by the commission an

overhead electrical distribution system line that is owned or

controlled by the operator and associated with operations incident

to oil and gas development and production.

(b)

If the commission determines that an operator has

violated a rule adopted under this section on land included in an

oil and gas lease or connected to an oil and gas lease, the

commission shall assess a penalty against the operator in the

manner provided by Sections 81.0532 through 81.0534 for assessing

an administrative penalty under Section 81.0531.

(c)

A penalty collected under this section shall be

deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup

fund as provided by Section 81.067.

SECTION 2. Section 81.067(c), Natural Resources Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(c) The fund consists of:

(1) proceeds from bonds and other financial security

required by this chapter and benefits under well-specific plugging

insurance policies described by Section 91.104(c) that are paid to

the state as contingent beneficiary of the policies, subject to the

refund provisions of Section 91.1091, if applicable;

(2) private contributions, including contributions

made under Section 89.084;

(3) expenses collected under Section 89.083;

(4) fees imposed under Section 85.2021;

(5) costs recovered under Section 91.457 or 91.459;

(6) proceeds collected under Sections 89.085 and

91.115;

(7) interest earned on the funds deposited in the

fund;

(8) oil and gas waste hauler permit application fees

collected under Section 29.015, Water Code;

(9) costs recovered under Section 91.113(f);

(10) hazardous oil and gas waste generation fees

collected under Section 91.605;

(11) oil-field cleanup regulatory fees on oil

collected under Section 81.116;

(12) oil-field cleanup regulatory fees on gas

collected under Section 81.117;

(13) fees for a reissued certificate collected under

Section 91.707;

(14) fees collected under Section 91.1013;

(15) fees collected under Section 89.088;

(16) fees collected under Section 91.142;

(17) fees collected under Section 91.654;

(18) costs recovered under Sections 91.656 and 91.657;

(19) fees collected under Section 81.0521;

(20) fees collected under Sections 89.024 and 89.026;

(21) legislative appropriations;

(22) any surcharges collected under Section 81.070;

(23) fees collected under Section 91.0115;

(24) fees collected under Subchapter E, Chapter 121,

Utilities Code;

(25) fees collected under Section 27.0321, Water Code;

(26) fees collected under Section 81.071; [
and
]

(27) money collected under Section 81.021
; and

(28) money collected under Section 91.0195
.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.