Relating to dates and deposits for Oil and Gas Well Plugging

Added a new article (Article 11B) creating a regulatory framework for underground carbon dioxide sequestration and storage.

Removed provisions related to recomputing taxable generating capacity for coal-fired plants and the Oil and Gas Abandoned Well Plugging Fund.

Defined key terms including 'carbon dioxide,' 'sequestration,' 'Class VI UIC permit,' 'pore space,' 'storage operator,' and 'unknown or unlocatable owner.'

Established detailed permit application requirements, including fees, site characterization, and evidence of notice to pore space and mineral owners.

Set specific conditions for permit issuance, such as obtaining written consent from owners of at least 75% of the storage reservoir's pore space and ensuring no adverse effect on fresh water or human health.

Mandated public participation through a 30-day comment period and legal advertisements, with the secretary required to hold public hearings if there is significant public interest.

The bill status changed from 'Engrossed' to 'Committee Substitute,' meaning it is currently under committee review and not yet passed by the full legislature.

Minor formatting adjustments were made to the header links and the origin date line to standardize the document layout.

Added a hard cap limiting the total Oil and Gas Abandoned Well Plugging Fund balance to $9 million.

Required that any fund balance exceeding $6 million must be encumbered by binding contracts to plug specific wells within 12 months.

Clarified that the $6 million threshold for reducing the tax rate applies only to unencumbered funds not yet tied to specific contracts.

Mandated the Department of Environmental Protection to publish an annual report detailing fund revenue, balance, wells plugged, costs, and contracted funds.