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Committee backs redirecting conservation tax proceeds to reclaim orphan wells
Summary
The committee endorsed HB80 to increase and stabilize conservation‑tax proceeds going to the oil‑and‑gas reclamation fund so the Oil Conservation Division can plug orphan wells and remediate sites; supporters ranged from industry groups to environmental organizations, while some critics urged stronger bonding and said polluters should bear costs.
Representative Murphy presented House Bill 80 and its committee substitute, which would return proceeds of the conservation tax to the reclamation fund as originally intended, gradually phasing in the distribution so the fund’s balance increases through 2028 and beyond.
Murphy said the reclamation fund currently holds about $77 million and the measure will, through procurement and legal process improvements, allow the state to ramp from roughly 50…
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