Relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well, the official text

H.B. No. 1238

AN ACT

relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I

injection well.

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

SECTION 1. Section 27.016, Water Code, is amended to read as

follows:

Sec. 27.016. INSPECTION OF WELL LOCATION. (a) On receiving

an application for a permit, the executive director shall:

(1) have an inspection made of the location of the

proposed disposal well to determine the local conditions and the

probable effect of the well; and

(2) [shall] determine the requirements for the setting

of casing, as provided in Sections 27.051, 27.055, and 27.056 [of

this code].

(b) For a proposed Class I injection well, the executive

director may satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) by

accepting an inspection report prepared by an engineer or

geoscientist licensed in this state. The report must:

(1) confirm that the engineer or geoscientist

inspected the location of the proposed injection well to determine

the local conditions and the probable effect of the well; and

(2) state the engineer's or geoscientist's

determination regarding the requirements for the setting of casing

as required by Subsection (a)(2).

(c) An engineer or geoscientist may conduct an inspection

under Subsection (b)(1):

(1) in person at the location of the proposed

injection well; or

(2) virtually through:

(A) satellite or other aerial imagery;

(B) mapping software; or

(C) other appropriate information sources.

(d) The executive director may require an engineer or

geoscientist that submits a virtual inspection described by

Subsection (c)(2) to conduct an additional in-person inspection if

the initial visual inspection reveals an issue the executive

director determines merits an in-person inspection.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to a permit application filed with the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality on or after the effective date of this Act. A

permit application filed before the effective date of this Act is

subject to the law in effect on the date the application is filed,

and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

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

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 1238 was passed by the House on April

25, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 122, Nays 6, 1 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 1238 was passed by the Senate on May

14, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor