By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 1190       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the reduction of methane gas flaring on land dedicated   to the permanent university fund.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 66, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 66.455 to read as follows:          Sec. 66.455.  METHANE FLARING REDUCTION POLICY. The board   of regents of The University of Texas System shall adopt a formal   policy goal to eliminate routine methane flaring on university   lands by 2027.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 66, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 66.711 to read as follows:          Sec. 66.711.  METHANE FLARING REDUCTION PLANS. (a) Under   each lease issued, modified, or renewed under this subchapter   relating to oil or gas, the lessee shall submit to the board a plan   to end routine methane flaring in accordance with the policy goal   adopted by the board of regents under Section 66.455. The plan   must:                (1)  include provisions that prohibit routine methane   flaring;                (2)  for all new and existing sources, require   operators to adhere to the United States Environmental Protection   Agency's new source performance standards for methane emissions;   and                (3)  require the lessee to implement quarterly   inspections and maintenance for the detection of malfunctioning and   unlit flares using leak detection equipment, such as optical gas   imaging cameras, and for the repair of those flares.          (b)  The board shall review and approve or reject each plan   submitted under Subsection (a) according to procedures adopted by   the board. The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology shall   assist the board and lessees in matters relating to the plans.          (c)  In adopting procedures to implement this section, the   board may apply to new facilities and existing facilities that have   been modified after initial construction more stringent standards   than the standards the board applies to other facilities.          SECTION 3.  Not later than June 1, 2024, the Board for Lease   of University Lands shall adopt procedures implementing Section   66.711, Education Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.