Bill > HB1190

This bill requires the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System to adopt a formal policy goal to eliminate routine methane flaring (the burning of excess natural gas at oil and gas production sites) on university lands by 2027. For each new, modified, or renewed oil and gas lease, lessees must submit a comprehensive plan to the board that prohibits routine methane flaring, ensures operators follow the EPA's methane emission standards, and conducts quarterly inspections using leak detection equipment like optical gas imaging cameras to identify and repair malfunctioning flares. The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology will assist in reviewing these plans, and the board may apply more stringent standards to new or modified facilities. The Board for Lease of University Lands must adopt implementation procedures by June 1, 2024, with the bill taking effect on September 1, 2025. This legislation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental management on lands owned by the Permanent University Fund.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1190