89R4064 JAM-D     By: Hinojosa of Hidalgo S.B. No. 2671       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the Texas geothermal energy   production 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 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY PRODUCTION POLICY   COUNCIL.  (a)  In this section, "council" means the Texas geothermal   energy production policy council.          (b)  The Texas geothermal energy production policy council   is established within the commission to study and make   recommendations relating to the commission's policy framework for   geothermal energy development.          (c)  The council is composed of:                (1)  the chair of the commission or the chair's   designee;                (2)  the director of the Bureau of Economic Geology of   The University of Texas at Austin or the director's designee; and                (3)  not more than 11 members appointed by the   commission to represent as many different types of participants as   possible, including at least three but not more than five   representatives from the geothermal energy industry.          (d)  The chair of the commission or the chair of the   commission's designee is the chair of the council.          (e)  A member of the council is not entitled to compensation   or reimbursement of expenses for service on the council.          (f)  The council shall:                (1)  study the development of geothermal energy   industries in this state, including the development of facilities   for the production, pipeline transportation, and storage of   geothermal energy;                (2)  analyze how tax incentives or cooperation with the   Geothermal Technologies Office of the United States Department of   Energy could encourage the development of geothermal energy   projects in this state; and                (3)  develop a state plan for geothermal energy   production oversight by the commission.          (g)  The council shall make recommendations to the   legislature relating to legislative changes needed for the   oversight and regulation of production, pipeline transportation,   and storage of geothermal energy.          (h)  The council is abolished and this section expires   January 1, 2032.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.