TX HB2612

Establishes the Texas Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Policy Council within the Railroad Commission of Texas to study and make recommendations on carbon dioxide sequestration policy, the carbon capture industry, and carbon capture technology

Council membership includes up to 17 members: the Railroad Commission chair (or designee) plus up to 16 appointed members representing the carbon capture industry (3-5 members), the Bureau of Economic Geology at UT Austin (3-5 members), and environmental nonprofit organizations (3-5 members)

Council duties include studying carbon capture technology development, assessing the reliability of long-term geologic CO2 storage, monitoring accounting accuracy for net sequestration amounts and fugitive emissions, and creating an online database of carbon capture projects in Texas

Council must submit a report to the legislature by September 1, 2026, with recommendations on regulatory oversight, environmental and safety risks (including seismicity, groundwater contamination, pipeline ruptures), legal issues like subsurface trespass and liability, and barriers to industry implementation

Council members receive no compensation or expense reimbursement; the council is abolished and the section expires January 1, 2032