TX HB2256

Eliminates blanket bonds for oil and gas well operators, requiring individual bonds based on region-specific decommissioning cost estimates established annually by the Railroad Commission of Texas

Requires operators to annually report detailed decommissioning cost information for each well site, including well depth, age, plugging/cleanup cost estimates, labor costs, and factors that may influence costs

Establishes a mandatory sinking fund requiring operators to pay the full estimated decommissioning cost in equal annual installments over the earlier of 15 years or the well's projected productive life

Transfers remaining sinking fund money to operators if they complete plugging/remediation to commission standards, or to the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund if the commission must complete the work

Provides a transition period until September 1, 2030 for existing well operators to comply with new individual bond requirements, while new operators must comply immediately upon the Act's effective date of September 1, 2025