HB 1238: Guillen Bill Lets Injection Well Inspections Happen By Satellite

Caption

relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well.

Summary

No site visit needed. Try “mapping software” or “other appropriate information sources.”

The bill lets the state environmental agency's executive director skip its own site inspection for a proposed Class I injection well and accept a report from a Texas-licensed engineer or geoscientist instead. That engineer or geoscientist may do the inspection in person, or virtually using satellite imagery, mapping software, or other information sources. The change touches companies applying for Class I injection well permits and people living near those sites, and it applies to applications filed on or after September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 4120 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1238 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Ryan GuillenRHouse 31

ITEM

relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well.

WHAT IT DOES

No site visit needed. Try “mapping software” or “other appropriate information sources.”

The bill lets the state environmental agency's executive director skip its own site inspection for a proposed Class I injection well and accept a report from a Texas-licensed engineer or geoscientist instead. That engineer or geoscientist may do the inspection in person, or virtually using satellite imagery, mapping software, or other information sources. The change touches companies applying for Class I injection well permits and people living near those sites, and it applies to applications filed on or after September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 45%

THE TEXT

“virtually through: (A) satellite or other aerial imagery; (B) mapping software; or (C) other appropriate information sources.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The law requires an inspection of the well location to judge local conditions and the well's likely effect. This clause lets that inspection happen without anyone visiting the site, using imagery, software, or open-ended 'other appropriate information sources.'

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 5, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Nov 12, 2024Filed
Mar 10, 2025Read first time
Mar 10, 2025Referred to Natural Resources
Mar 19, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 19, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 19, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Mar 19, 2025Left pending in committee
Mar 26, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 26, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 8, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 8, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 8, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 22, 2025Considered in Calendars
Apr 24, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
Apr 24, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 24, 2025Amended 1-Zwiener
Apr 24, 2025Record vote RV#521
Apr 24, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 24, 2025Passed to engrossment as amended
Apr 24, 2025Record vote RV#522
Apr 24, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 25, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 25, 2025Passed
Apr 25, 2025Record vote RV#570
Apr 25, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 25, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 28, 2025Received from the House
Apr 29, 2025Read first time
Apr 29, 2025Referred to Natural Resources
May 7, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 7, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 7, 2025Testimony taken in committee
May 7, 2025Left pending in committee
May 7, 2025Posting rule suspended
May 7, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 7, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 8, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
May 8, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
May 8, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 14, 2025Placed on local & uncontested calendar
May 14, 2025Laid before the Senate
May 14, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
May 14, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 14, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 14, 2025Record vote
May 14, 2025Read 3rd time
May 14, 2025Passed
May 14, 2025Record vote
May 14, 2025Senate passage reported
May 15, 2025Reported enrolled
May 15, 2025Signed in the House
May 16, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 16, 2025Sent to the Governor
May 28, 2025Signed by the Governor
May 28, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 122 yea · 6 nay

Senate · 29 yea · 2 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 25, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 14, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ryan Guillen

Donors

Frontera Texas PAC$160K Texas Sands PAC$121K Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$23K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Frontera Texas PAC$160,007.97

Frontera Texas PAC

$160,007.97

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $160,007.97
Total: $160,007.97

Other filed descriptions $73,500.00mail $40,000.00mailing $19,429.94texting $18,144.37digital $8,211.55printing $722.11

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.

Texas Sands PAC$120,875.00

Texas Sands PAC

$120,875.00

Cash: $113,500.00
Paid by others: $7,375.00
Total: $120,875.00

polling $7,375.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$22,795.90

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$22,795.90

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $22,795.90
Total: $22,795.90

polling $15,000.00Other filed descriptions $7,352.14texting $443.76

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101070155.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Frontera Texas PAC

$160,007.97

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $160,007.97
Total: $160,007.97

Other filed descriptions $73,500.00mail $40,000.00mailing $19,429.94texting $18,144.37digital $8,211.55printing $722.11

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$120,875.00

Cash: $113,500.00
Paid by others: $7,375.00
Total: $120,875.00

polling $7,375.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.

×

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$22,795.90

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $22,795.90
Total: $22,795.90

polling $15,000.00Other filed descriptions $7,352.14texting $443.76

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101070155.

Votes6

Senate May 14, 2025

Final passage

Yea: 29
Nay: 2
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

CookNay
EckhardtNay

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

HB 1238 (Parker) Relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt (29-2) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 29 (published)
Nay: 2 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 14, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea: 29
Nay: 2
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

CookNay
EckhardtNay

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

HB 1238 (Parker) Relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt (29-2) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 29 (published)
Nay: 2 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 14, 2025

Passage to third reading

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to third reading. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

HB 1238 (Parker) Relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt (29-2) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 25, 2025

Yea: 122
Nay: 6
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 1
Excused: 20

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 570

HB 1238 was passed by (Record 570): 122 Yeas, 6 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 122 (published)
Nay: 6 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 20 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 24, 2025

Yea: 137
Nay: 10
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 1
Excused: 1

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 522

HB 1238, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 522): 137 Yeas, 10 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 137 (published)
Nay: 10 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 24, 2025

Yea: 112
Nay: 32
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 4
Excused: 1

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 521

Amendment No. 1 was adopted by (Record 521): 112 Yeas, 32 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 112 (published)
Nay: 32 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses10

For: 6
Against: 0
On: 4

Names

For

ENCORE ENERGY1 registration
Lower Colorado River Authority1 registration
Owner / Operator Members of Texas Mining and Reclamation Association’s Uranium Committee1 registration
Self; Owner/Operator Members of the TMRA-Uranium Mining Committee1 registration
Texas Chemistry Council1 registration
Texas Disposal Systems1 registration

On

Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club1 registration
Self1 registration
TCEQ1 registration
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality1 registration

Sources

10 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 5, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 4120

by Rep. Guillen, same lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 16, 2023: Referred to Natural Resources & Economic Development

Relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

05/28/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:40 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Companion

SB 1060 by Parker (identical)

Subjects

Environment--Water

INJECTION WELLS

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON

Text

The text as introduced · 325 words

89R30 ANG-D

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 1238

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I

injection well.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 27.016, Water Code, is amended to read as

follows:

Sec. 27.016. INSPECTION OF WELL LOCATION. (a) On receiving

an application for a permit, the executive director shall :

(1) have an inspection made of the location of the

proposed disposal well to determine the local conditions and the

probable effect of the well ; and

(2) [ shall ] determine the requirements for the setting

of casing, as provided in Sections 27.051, 27.055, and 27.056 [ of

this code ].

(b) For a proposed Class I injection well, the executive

director may satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) by

accepting an inspection report prepared by an engineer or

geoscientist licensed in this state. The report must:

(1) confirm that the engineer or geoscientist

inspected the location of the proposed injection well to determine

the local conditions and the probable effect of the well; and

(2) state the engineer's or geoscientist's

determination regarding the requirements for the setting of casing

as required by Subsection (a)(2).

(c) An engineer or geoscientist may conduct an inspection

under Subsection (b)(1):

(1) in person at the location of the proposed

injection well; or

(2) virtually through:

(A) satellite or other aerial imagery;

(B) mapping software; or

(C) other appropriate information sources.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to a permit application filed with the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality on or after the effective date of this Act. A

permit application filed before the effective date of this Act is

subject to the law in effect on the date the application is filed,

and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: Smells

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Frontera Texas PAC

Texas Sands PAC

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

Frontera Texas PAC

Texas Sands PAC

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

Senate May 14, 2025

Senate May 14, 2025

Senate May 14, 2025

House Apr 25, 2025

House Apr 24, 2025

House Apr 24, 2025

For

On

88R HB 4120

Companion