MS HB859

Mineral estates separated from surface estates after January 1, 2025 revert to the surface estate owner after ten years of nonproduction.

The ten-year nonproduction period can be interrupted by bona fide drilling attempts or actual mineral production, restarting the next day after production or drilling operations cease.

Shut-in rental payments in lieu of production interrupt the ten-year period, which restarts at the end of the period for which the last rental payment was made if no actual production occurs.

Oil is considered not in production if the well is not located on the same quarter-quarter governmental section where the mineral estate lies; gas is not in production if the well is not in the same half-section.

The act becomes effective July 1, 2024.