AR HB1411

Grants the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission authority to regulate underground carbon dioxide storage and Class VI injection wells under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, including rulemaking, permitting, and requiring financial assurance from operators.

Establishes a fee structure including permit application fees up to $50,000, annual well fees of $1,000 per Class VI well, and $0.10 per ton of injected carbon dioxide ($0.03 to the Oil and Gas Commission Fund, $0.07 to the new Carbon Dioxide Storage Fund).

Creates the Carbon Dioxide Storage Fund to pay for long-term monitoring, testing, emergency repairs, plugging abandoned wells, and remediation of carbon dioxide leakage after facilities close.

Requires a Certificate of Closure to be issued no less than 10 years after carbon dioxide injection operations cease, after which the state assumes responsibility for covered costs once financial assurance instruments are released.

Approved February 25, 2025 as Act 149 of the Regular Session.