Relating to the plugging or replugging of certain inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas.

SB 1146 allows mineral estate owners, surface owners, or operators in good standing to contract with Railroad Commission-approved well pluggers to plug or replug inactive oil and gas wells without current operators (so-called "orphaned wells"). The bill requires contractors to send 30-day notice to the well's operator or surface owner before work begins and mandates compliance with Commission rules. Crucially, it clarifies that paying for plugging does not create liability for future plugging obligations, and evidence of such payments cannot be used against the payer in legal disputes about well responsibility. This law, effective September 1, 2025, provides a clear legal pathway for voluntary well plugging while protecting parties from unintended legal exposure.