Texas 89th Legislature
Oil & Gas
4 high-impact bills require immediate attention. 16 bills have bipartisan support.
High-Impact Bills
4 bills require immediate attention
Relating to the plugging of and reporting on inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to address a failure by an operator to maintain an electrical power line serving a well site or certain surface facilities in accordance with the National Electrical Code.
Relating to the affirmation required to be made by an operator as part of an application to the Railroad Commission of Texas for an extension of the deadline for plugging an inactive well; providing an administrative penalty.
Relating to 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.
Oil & Gas Filing Activity
Compliance & Cost
Leading Authors
Enforcing Agencies
All Bills (22)
Relating to the creation of an organized oilfield theft prevention unit within the Department of Public Safety.
Relating to the creation of an organized oilfield theft prevention unit within the Department of Public Safety.
Relating to the treatment and beneficial use of fluid oil and gas waste and related material, including a limitation on liability for that treatment or use.
Relating to the treatment and beneficial use of fluid oil and gas waste and related material, including a limitation on liability for that treatment or use.
Relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to address a failure by an operator to maintain an electrical power line serving a well site or certain surface facilities in accordance with the National Electrical Code.
Relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to address a failure by an operator to maintain an electrical power line serving a well site or certain surface facilities in accordance with the National Electrical Code.
Relating to a limitation on a county's authority to require a cash bond before approving the construction of a pipeline.
Relating to a limitation on a county's authority to require a cash bond before approving the construction of a pipeline.
Relating to the affirmation required to be made by an operator as part of an application to the Railroad Commission of Texas for an extension of the deadline for plugging an inactive well; providing an administrative penalty.
Relating to the affirmation required to be made by an operator as part of an application to the Railroad Commission of Texas for an extension of the deadline for plugging an inactive well; providing an administrative penalty.
Relating to the registration of frac tanks; authorizing a fee.
Relating to the registration of frac tanks; authorizing a fee.
Relating to an interstate compact for the liquefied natural gas industry.
Relating to an interstate compact for the liquefied natural gas industry.
Relating to a severance tax exemption for oil and gas produced from certain previously inactive restimulation wells; providing a civil penalty.
Relating to a severance tax exemption for oil and gas produced from certain previously inactive restimulation wells; providing a civil penalty.
Relating to the rights and liabilities of the owner of the surface estate of the tract of land on which a well to be plugged or replugged by the Railroad Commission of Texas is located.
Relating to the rights and liabilities of the owner of the surface estate of the tract of land on which a well to be plugged or replugged by the Railroad Commission of Texas is located.
Relating to permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas for commercial surface disposal facilities.
Relating to permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas for commercial surface disposal facilities.
Relating to funding for certain volunteer fire departments, to the preparation for and the prevention, management, and potential effects of wildfires, and to emergency communications in this state.
Relating to funding for certain volunteer fire departments, to the preparation for and the prevention, management, and potential effects of wildfires, and to emergency communications in this state.
Relating to the establishment of a theft of petroleum products task force.
Relating to the establishment of a theft of petroleum products task force.
Relating to excepting certain communication facilities from certain notice requirements for projects on state or local public land.
Relating to excepting certain communication facilities from certain notice requirements for projects on state or local public land.
Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for the land application of water produced from certain mining and oil and gas extraction operations.
Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for the land application of water produced from certain mining and oil and gas extraction operations.
Relating to the plugging or replugging of certain inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas.
Relating to the plugging or replugging of certain inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas.
Relating to the plugging of and reporting on inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to the plugging of and reporting on inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to exempting certain transactions from regulation by the Texas Real Estate Commission.
Relating to exempting certain transactions from regulation by the Texas Real Estate Commission.
Relating to the declaration of an oil or gas emergency by the Railroad Commission of Texas and the liability of a person for assistance, advice, or resources provided in relation to an oil or gas emergency.
Relating to the declaration of an oil or gas emergency by the Railroad Commission of Texas and the liability of a person for assistance, advice, or resources provided in relation to an oil or gas emergency.
Relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas to designate certain persons as the operator of an orphaned oil or gas well.
Relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas to designate certain persons as the operator of an orphaned oil or gas well.
Relating to 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.
Relating to 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.
Relating to permit application review and contested case procedures for environmental permits involving a project to construct or modify a liquefied natural gas export terminal; authorizing a fee.
Relating to permit application review and contested case procedures for environmental permits involving a project to construct or modify a liquefied natural gas export terminal; authorizing a fee.
Relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.
Relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Texas laws on oil & gas passed in 2025?
- The Texas 89th Legislature enacted 22 laws related to oil & gas. These bills were authored by 12 different legislators and address various aspects of oil & gas policy in Texas.
- Did oil & gas bills originate in the Texas House or Senate?
- Oil & Gas legislation from the 89th Legislature includes 12 Senate bills and 10 House bills. Both chambers contributed significant legislation on this topic.
- Which Texas legislators authored the most oil & gas bills?
- The leading authors of oil & gas legislation include Rep. Drew Darby (R) with 5 bills, Sen. Kevin Sparks (R) with 4 bills, Sen. Brian Birdwell (R) with 3 bills. These lawmakers have demonstrated particular focus on oil & gas issues during the 89th Legislature.
- How urgent are the compliance requirements for oil & gas legislation?
- Among the 22 oil & gas bills enacted, 4 have critical compliance urgency and 14 have moderate urgency. Businesses should prioritize reviewing high-urgency bills for immediate compliance planning.
- What subjects are related to oil & gas in Texas law?
- Oil & Gas legislation frequently overlaps with Railroad Commission, Environment, Utilities. Bills often address multiple related policy areas, so reviewing these connected subjects may provide additional context.
- Is there bipartisan support for oil & gas legislation in Texas?
- Yes, 16 of the 22 oil & gas bills (73%) have bipartisan sponsorship, with both Republican and Democrat sponsors. This indicates areas of cross-party agreement on oil & gas policy.
- When do Texas oil & gas laws from the 89th Legislature take effect?
- Most Texas legislation takes effect September 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified. Some oil & gas bills may have immediate effective dates or delayed implementation schedules. Review individual bills for specific effective dates and compliance deadlines.
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