This Texas energy bill tracking tool is updated several times daily; please check back with us
KEY: Bills are submitted, undergo committee and public scrutiny (where they may be changed), then pass one Legislative body, they then go to the other Legislative body, undergo committee and public scrutiny again, pass the second Legislative body, then a committee reconciliation is the final step before referral to the Governor for signature, making the bill law.
KEY EXCEPTION: If both Legislative bodies concur on bill details after the bill’s passage by the second Legislative body, no committee reconciliation is required (e.g. see SB 49 below), the final step is simply the passage by the second Legislative body, then the bill is referred the Governor.
Monday, May 12th was the last day to pass a House bill out of committee
Friday, May 16th was the last day the House can pass a House bill out of the House
May 27th is the last day to pass a Senate bill out of the House
June 2nd is the end of the 89th Legislative Session
BILLS FROM THIS SESSION SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
The inspection, purchase, sale, possession, storage, transportation, and disposal of petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, and oil and gas waste; creating criminal offenses and increasing the punishment for an existing criminal offense
SB 1806
Senator Kevin Sparks (Republican) is the author
Passed the House April 16th, passed the Senate with agreement on House amendments, sent to the Governor May 7th, signed by the Governor May 19th
Bill analysis: The bill sponsor has informed the committee that Texas has long been a leader in oil and gas production, which has also made it a frequent target for organized theft involving petroleum products and associated equipment, as criminal activity in oil and gas regions is often difficult to prosecute due to enforcement limitations, lack of evidence, and the difficulty in tracing stolen hydrocarbons.
The bill sponsor has also informed the committee that, with the high value of crude oil, condensate, and oilfield equipment, theft operations have become increasingly sophisticated, requiring a more comprehensive legal framework to effectively deter and penalize these crimes.
S.B. 1806 seeks to address the challenges posed by organized oilfield theft by setting out provisions relating to the inspection, purchase, sale, possession, storage, transportation, and disposal of petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, and oil and gas waste in order to provide law enforcement with clear authority to inspect and investigate suspected oil and gas theft, strengthen existing penalties, and modernize and reinforce the state’s legal response to oilfield theft and improper disposal practices.
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BILLS FROM THIS SESSION SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
Customer guide to home solar energy devices requirement
SB 1697
Requires the state Public Utility Commission to publish and update periodically a free “transparency and best practices guide” with information on how solar panel arrays should be designed and installed, the availability of federal and state tax credits, and the cost of financing, maintenance, repairs and other expenses.
Sen. Judith Zaffirini, the Laredo Democrat, has called its passage a critical step toward protecting Texans from home solar scams
Senate Bill 1697 is an “attempt to bring transparency to the rooftop solar industry” said its House sponsor, Rep. Gary VanDeaver, a Republican from New Boston in northeast Texas. VanDeaver said the guide, which would be published by the Public Utility Commission, would arm homeowners with the information they need to make informed decisions about rooftop solar.
HB 1640
Has moved out of House State Affairs committee with companion SB 1697 considered instead, has been tabled since April 28th
HB 1640 — requiring the Texas Public Utility Commission to create a consumer guide for home solar systems
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BILLS FROM THIS SESSION SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
Authorizes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for land application of produced water — wastewater that comes out of the ground during the extraction of oil and gas production — and develop standards that prevent pollution of surface and groundwater.
SB 1145
Passed the Senate March 13th, passed the House April 29th, sent…