88R14667 JAM-D     By: Rogers H.B. No. 4872       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the reporting and plugging of certain wells.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Water Code, is amended   by adding Section 28.013 to read as follows:          Sec. 28.013.  REPORTING AND PLUGGING OF CERTAIN WELLS; GRANT   PROGRAM. (a) The commission by rule shall develop:                (1)  a process through which a landowner may report to   the commission the presence on the landowner's land of a well that:                      (A)  was originally drilled or operated as an oil   or gas well under a permit issued by the Railroad Commission of   Texas and subsequently was conveyed to the landowner for use as a   water well; and                      (B)  has not been plugged properly or otherwise   poses a threat to groundwater or surface water; and                (2)  a program to provide grants to landowners or   governmental entities for the plugging of wells reported through   the process developed under Subdivision (1).          (b)  Rules implementing the grant program described by   Subsection (a)(2) must require that:                (1)  the award of grants be based on an actual or   probable threat to groundwater or surface water posed by a well   reported under Subsection (a)(1); and                (2)  the plugging of the well be performed by:                      (A)  a well plugger approved by the Railroad   Commission of Texas; or                      (B)  the Railroad Commission of Texas.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.