Bill > HB2584

This bill amends the Texas Water Code to expand the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) authority to issue permits for the land application of produced water from mining and oil and gas extraction operations. Specifically, the bill allows the TCEQ to issue permits for treated produced water that can be used beneficially, with the requirement that the commission develop standards to prevent surface and subsurface water pollution. The bill mandates that the TCEQ consult with the Railroad Commission of Texas when creating these permit standards, and includes a sunset provision that expires these consultation requirements on September 1, 2027. The changes will only apply to permit applications filed on or after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025), meaning existing permit applications will be processed under the previous legal framework. "Produced water" refers to water that comes up from oil and gas wells along with extracted petroleum, which can often contain various minerals, salts, and potentially harmful substances that require treatment before potential reuse.