May 30, 2023 — We’re closely watching more than 83 bills making their way through the Texas Legislature. We list them here along with excerpts of reaction from Texas news media and op-eds. Also listed are a number of bills that are not moving. We are working to include a few bills that have been left out.
This list is being continually updated. HB = House of Representatives bill SB = Senate bill HJR = House Joint Resolution SJR = Senate Joint Resolution Companion bills (bills that are the same or very similar, one in the House, the other in the Senate) are grouped together
Looking for a certain bill number? On computer, please use your “find on page”
OIL AND GAS BILLS THAT HAVE PASSED
Texas Energy Independence Act
HB 33 — identical companion bill SB 470 by Springer — aimed at fending off implementation of any new federal regulations on oil or natural gas production in Texas — filed Nov. 14th, sent to House Energy Resources committee Feb. 23rd, public hearing March 27th, passed by the House May 5th, sent to the Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development committee May 9th, public hearing May 18th, substitute bill adopted May 19th, passed by the Senate May 22nd, reconciled May 25th, awaiting the Governor’s signature
SB 470 — companion bill HB 33 — filed Jan. 13th, sent to the Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development committee Feb. 17th
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Landmen & land services
SB 604 — companion bill HB 1915 by Hefner — land services performed by a landman — “the practice of law does not include engaging in land services … the acts are performed by a person who does not hold out the person as an attorney license to practice law in this state” — in Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development committee February 17th, public hearing March 22nd, committee substitute April 4th, passed the Senate April 12th, received in the House April 12th, sent to Senate Energy Resources committee April 14th, reported without amendments May 2nd, amended May 6th, passed by the Senate May 8th, Senate concurs with House amendment May 11th, signed and sent to the Governor May 12th, signed by the Governor May 24th
HB 1915 — companion bill SB 1915 — land services performed by a landman — “the practice of law does not include engaging in land services … the acts are performed by a person who does not hold out the person as an attorney license to practice law in this state” — in House Energy Resources committee March 8th, public hearing March 27th & April 3rd, substituted April 3rd, placed on general calendar, then postponed May 3rd, left on the table subject to call May 5th
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Orphaned well designation: Effective September 1st
SB 1210 — identical companion bill HB 3131 by Guerra — authority for the Railroad Commission of Texas to designate certain persons as the operator of an orphaned oil or gas well — filed Feb. 24th, referred to Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development committee March 9th, public testimony taken March 29th, substitute bill made April 11th, placed on local & uncontested calendar April 20th, passed the Senate April 20th and sent to the House, referred to the House Energy Resources committee April 21st, reported without amendments May 2nd, sent to Calendars May 4th, passed by the House May 5th, signed by the Governor May 19th
HB 3131 — companion bill is SB 1210 — authority for the Railroad Commission of Texas to designate certain persons as the operator of an orphaned oil or gas well — filed March 14th, sent to House Energy Resources committee March 14th, public hearing April 10th, committee substitute April 18th as CSHB 3131, sent to House Calendars April 24th, placed on general state calendar May 1st, postponed May 4th, left on the table subject to call
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Texas Produced Water Consortium: Effective Immediately
SB 1047 — funding and activities of the Texas Produced Water Consortium by Perry — in Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs committee March 3rd, pubic hearing April 17th, placed on intent calendar April 19th, passed Senate April 20th, received in the House April 21st, referred to House Natural Resources committee April 24th, laid out in lieu of companion April 27th, passed House April 28th, sent to the Governor May 2nd, signed by the Governor May 13th, effective immediately
HB 2757 — funding and activities of the Texas Produced Water Consortium by Tepper (identical companion bill SB 1047) — now CCHB 2757 — see the bill analysis here — in House Natural Resources committee March 13th, public hearing March 21st, amendments added March 23rd, committee report sent to the House March 30th, placed on general state calendar April 26th, considered then postponed in favor of companion bill SB 1047
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O&G Royalty Interest: Becomes law Sept. 1st
HB 450 (final version) — from Rep. Tom Craddick and Burrows et al — companion bill SB 501 — cause of action for the bad faith washout of an overriding royalty interest in an oil and gas lease — in House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence committee February 23rd, public hearing March 15th, sent to full House March 21st, passed the House and sent to the Senate April 11th, public hearing April 18th in Administration committee, placed on local and uncontested calendar April 19th to go to the governor, then removed April 20th, returned to local & uncontested calendar & passed by the Senate April 27th, sent to the governor May 2nd, filed without the governor’s signature May 13th
SB 501 — companion bill HB 450 — cause of action for the bad faith washout of an overriding royalty interest in an oil and gas lease — in Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development committee February 17th, public hearing March 29th, left committee April 4th, placed on local & uncontested calendar April 12th, removed from calendar April 12th
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“The Ch. 313 replacement”
HB 5 — Establishing a tax incentive program aimed at creating jobs and bringing business to Texas — widely seen as an attempt to replace the Chapter 313 tax incentive program that expired at the end of last year, but would not include “grid reliability” projects, including some O&G projects, from much of the provisions — Houston Chronicle analysis here — see public comments here — see the Chronicle’s Chris Tomlinson’s critique here — filed Feb. 28th, sent to House Ways & Means committee March 1st, public hearing April 10th, another public hearing then committee substitute adopted April 24th, to Calendars May 2nd, considered by the full House, amendments offered but not adopted May 4th, passed by the House May 4th, received by the Senate May 8th, referred to Senate Business & Commerce committee May 9th, set for public hearing May 18th, substituted May 22nd, passed the Senate May 24th, signed by Legislature and sent to the Governor May 29th
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Renewal of TCEQ under Sunset
SB 1397 — companion bill HB 1505 — renewal of the TCEQ under the state Sunset guidelines, would increase penalties that can be …