Substitute House Bill 225 Summary

• Increases minimum annual spending requirement for idle and orphaned oil and gas well plugging from 14% to 30% of oil and gas well fund revenue from the previous fiscal year.

• Establishes a scoring matrix to prioritize plugging wells into three categories: distressed-high priority, moderate-medium priority, and maintenance-low priority.

• Reduces the timeframe for landowners and equipment holders to respond to plugging notices from 60 days to 30 days before equipment is forfeited to the state.

• Allows landowners to plug wells at their own expense and seek reimbursement, with waived permit fees at the chief's discretion.

• Increases funding for the Oil and Gas Well Plugging program from $6,000,000 to $15,000,000 in the dedicated purpose fund group.