Legislative History

The Texas Land & Mineral Owners Association advocates for private property rights during each session of the Texas Legislature. Key issues include:
  • transparency in communications from producer to royalty owner;
  • landowner protections in eminent domain laws;
  • opposition to forced pooling in any form and by any name;
  • well-site cleanup and the plugging of abandoned wells; and
  • water rights.

86th Texas Legislature (2019)

BILLS SUPPORTED 

  • HB 3838 – TLMA-sponsored bill that requires certain information to be included on documents that are conveying a portion of the royalties but being presented as a “lease”. Also provided some remedies for documents that do not contain the required language. Signed by the Governor. Effective 9/1/2019.
  • SB 817 – TLMA-sponsored bill that would require the BTU value to be included on all check stubs. Failed to pass.
  • HB 991/SB 421 Bills that were the eminent domain reform package. They contained three major provisions – initial offer requirements, easement term agreements, and requires public meetings. Failed to pass.
  • HB 2611 – Allowed LLC’s to be treated as passive entities for the purposes of filing franchise taxes under certain circumstances. Failed to pass.
  • HB 3226 – Bill that aligned the timing of a Mineral Interest Pooling Act (MIPA) permit in statute with that of the RRC rules. Signed by the governor. Effective 9/1/2019.
  • RRC Budget – Supported the well plugging budget. Signed by the Governor. Effective 9/1/2019.

BILLS DEFENDED

  • HB 3372 (SB 1988) – Bill that would have prevented a royalty owner from suing an operator for non-payment due to a title dispute. Failed to pass.
  • HB 2498 (SB 1088) – Bill that would have limited a landowner’s ability to challenge any mining company decision on their land unless the issues were raised during the regulatory permitting process at the Railroad Commission. Failed to pass.
  • HB 3246 – Bill that assigns ownership of water produced in oil and gas production to the producer and not the surface owner. Filed without the Governor’s signature. Effective 9/1/2019.


85th Texas Legislature (2017)

BILLS SUPPORTED

  • HB 3198 (SB 1514/SJR 51) - TLMA-sponsored bill that prohibits county appraisal districts from imposing five-year tax rollbacks, with interest, on land used for oil and gas production should an open-space exemption be removed. Signed by the Governor. Effective 09/01/17. 
  • HB 129 - Establishes that printing required information on a royalty check stub is the default, and companies must let royalty owners opt in to receiving the information online rather than requiring them to login to access the information and opt out of receiving it online. Signed by the Governor. Effective 09/01/17.
  • HB 247 (SB 568) - Requires the Railroad Commission to create a searchable database for violations, inspection reports, and enforcement actions of the Commission, and resolutions available to the public. Failed to pass.
  • HB 1818 (SB 300) - The Railroad Commission sunset bill that continues the agency for 12 more years, requires the agency to develop and make public an annual plan for oil and gas monitoring and enforcement resources, creates a pipeline safety fee, and gives the agency authority over interstate pipeline safety. Signed by the Governor. Effective 09/01/17.
  • HB 2715 - Itemizes fees and penalties that, when collected, will be deposited into the Cleanup Fund. Failed to pass. 
  • SB 1871 (HB 891) - Creates the offense of petroleum product theft. Signed by the Governor. Effective 09/01/17. 
  • Eminent Domain Package - HB 2684, SB 2694, SB 740, SB 741 - These bills were the package to comprehensive eminent domain reform in Texas. All bills failed to pass. For more information on these bills, visit the Texans For Property Rights website.

 

BILLS DEFENDED

  • HB 1597 - Continued attempt to allow the state to force mineral owners into large units at unfavorable terms for enhanced-recovery options in Cenozoic Era formations. Failed to pass. 
  • HB 2621 - Attempt to create Enhanced Oil Recovery Reinvestment Zones to offer tax incentives for tertiary-recovery operations in Cenozoic Era formations. Failed to pass. 
  • HB 2688 - A new attempt at unitization that would have allowed the Railroad Commission to designate enhanced-recovery units in Cenozoic Era formations, and ties the fieldwide unitization to the Railroad Commission's prevention of "waste." Failed to pass.
  • SB 177 - This session's attempt to allow the state to force mineral owners into large units at unfavorable terms for enhanced-recovery operations and for carbon dioxide sequestration. Failed to pass.

84th Texas Legislature (2015)

BILLS SUPPORTED
  • SB 402 / HB 3068 - Another version of the division-order transparency bill that TLMA continues to put forth. This version simply asked that if you call your operator to inquire about your division order decimal, the company must at least return your call within a reasonable amount of time. Failed to pass.
  • HB 40 - Established the state's jurisdiction over oil and gas regulations and below-surface activities, leaving local jurisdictions the right to regulate surface activities in a manner that is commercially reasonable. Signed by the Governor.
  • SB 474 - Allows landowners to recover the costs and fees incurred when contesting an eminent domain condemnation if the amount of damages awarded to the landowner is at least 20 percent more than the condemnor's initial offer. Failed to pass.
BILLS DEFENDED
  • HB 1392 - This year's try with the same forced unitization bill that would put unleased mineral owners on the hook as a working interest owner obligated to pay the hefty price tag for tertiary recovery operations. Failed to pass.
  • HB 1552 - This bill would legalize the industry practice of drilling allocation wells, which has been challenged by royalty owners as illegal. Allocation wells are horizontal wells that cross lease lines, and the operator then allocates the production as it chooses between the leases. Failed to pass.

83rd Texas Legislature (2013)

BILLS SUPPORTED
  • SB 865 - TLMA-sponsored bill that asks companies to list on each division order the data and formula used to calculate the decimal. Failed to pass, but discussion on the issue will continue over the interim.
  • HB 3547 - One of four pipeline common carrier bills filed in response to a 2012 court decision, this version established an independent process for common carrier determinations better tailored to protect private property rights. Failed to pass.
BILLS DEFENDED
  • HB 100 - Another session's attempt at forced unitization in the form of CO2 sequestration for enhanced recovery. Failed to pass.
  • HB 2748 - Of the pipeline common carrier bills, this bill established a process for pipeline common carrier determinations that would be very one-sided in favor of industry. Failed to pass.
NEGOTIATED/OPINION SOUGHT/TESTIMONY GIVEN
  • The bill renaming and making improvements to the Railroad Commission operations based on the recommendations of the Sunset Commission failed to pass for the second session in a row.

82nd Texas Legislature (2011)

BILLS PASSED
  • SB 18 - Omnibus eminent domain legislation. Signed by the Governor.
  • HB 3134 - Reiterates 'death penalty' imposed by Railroad Commission by not renewing P-5 operation permits if operator is not in compliance. Gives operators ability to appeal, but does not let them off the hook.
  • SB 332 - Strengthens landowners' ownership of groundwater below their land. Signed by the Governor.
BILLS DEFENDED
  • HB 2087 - Would have required a non-participating royalty interest (NPRI) to accept a statutory allotment instead of having the ability to use their property right to improve their situation. Failed to Pass.
  • HB 3586 - Forced unitization bill in the form of CO2 sequestration for enhanced recovery projects. Failed to Pass.
NEGOTIATED/OPINION SOUGHT/TESTIMONY GIVEN
  • Unfortunately, the bill that made improvements to Railroad Commission operations based on the recommendations of the Sunset Commission failed to pass.

81st Legislature (2009)

BILLS PASSED

  • HB 2259 – Financial Security for Oil and Gas Operators.  Increased bonding requirements and clean up responsibilities for operators.  This is small improvement in current law.  TLMA sought even tougher standards but the legislature sided with industry.  – Signed by the Governor.
  • HB 2685 – Landowner Bill of Rights.  Requires an entity with eminent domain authority to provide landowners with a copy of the Landowner’s Bill of Rights before beginning condemnation proceedings. Signed by the Governor.
  • HJR 14 – Creates a constitutional amendment to limit eminent domain powers for economic development.  Election to be held November 3, 2009.

BILLS DEFENDED

  • HB 834 – Severance of Mineral Interests.  Would have created a structure where mineral interests can be severed from the land for non-use.  Failed to Pass.
  • Successfully ensured that efforts to require forced pooling did not get filed.

NEGOTIATED/OPINION SOUGHT/TESTIMONY GIVEN

  • HB 4246 – Lost and Unaccounted for Gas. Would have set limits on how much line loss a pipeline can claim.  Failed to pass.

BILLS OF INTEREST

  • HB 1231/HJR 62 – Would have reduced number of Railroad Commissioners from three to one.  Failed to Pass.
  • HB 1405 – Would have required licensure and regulation of Texas Petroleum Landmen.  Failed to Pass.
  • SB 341/HB 499 – Would have changed name of Railroad Commission to Texas Energy Commission.  Failed to Pass.

80th Legislature - 2007

 

BILLS PASSED

  • HB 630 -  Notice Bill—Requires an oil and gas operator to provide notice to landowner upon receiving permit to drill. – Signed by the Governor.
  • SB 3 – Water bill.  Among other things, this bill incorporated a version of SB 714 which requires oil and gas operators to register their well with the local groundwater district. Signed by the Governor.
  • Saltwater Evaporation Pit Regulations Strengthened.

NEGOTIATED/OPINION SOUGHT/TESTIMONY GIVEN

  • SB 1574 -Surface Use Act.  Would have required oil and gas operator to remove equipment when well becomes unproductive and put other operating standards in place.  Failed to pass, however, made it much further in the process than any previous session.  Lots of momentum behind this bill for the next session.
  • HB 2007 – Eminent Domain.  Bill would have significantly improved landowner rights in condemnation proceedings.  Passed the Legislature, vetoed by the Governor.
  • HB 521 (SB 715) - Would require notice to purchasers and adjacent property owners of any impending disposal well applications.  Failed to pass.
  • HB 1904 - Increased bonding requirements and created new tiers for payment based on the number of oil and gas wells owned.  Failed to pass.  Interim study forthcoming.
  • HB 1920 - Originally prohibited a person who transports or gathers gas from losing more than 5% during any one month.  Such a loss would be considered waste.  This bill was negotiated to a point where the specific amount of lost and unaccounted for gas, not considered.   Failed to pass.

79th Legislative Session – 2005

 

BILLS PASSED/SUPPORTED

  • SB 1130 – Pipeline contamination reporting bill.  Bill requires pipeline companies to report any contamination discovered during any repair, expansion, or maintenance work over existing easements.
  • SB 575 & HB 753 – Notice to Landowner.  Would have required oil and gas operators to provide notice to landowners of intent to drill.  Failed to pass, however it was approved and signed by the Governor the following session.
  • Supported the Texas Constitutional Amendment that would limit the use of eminent domain to take private property for private parties or economic development purposes.

BILLS DEFENDED

  • HB 2160 – “Check Off” bill.  Would have taken a percentage of royalty payments to create an Energy Education Council made up of industry executives to promote the oil and gas industry in Texas.  Failed to pass.
  • HB 2881 – Primary Jurisdiction.  Bill would have required a landowner to go through the Railroad Commission instead of using the court system to require an operator to remediate oil and gas pollution of groundwater.  Failed to pass.
  • Protected efforts to decrease bonding requirements.

78th Legislative Session – 2003

BILLS DEFENDED
  • Oil-industry sponsored forced-unitization bill that would have allowed oil companies to enter onto your land or your mineral interest to drill wells, even if you refuse to sign an oil lease. Failed to pass.
  • Oil Industry sponsored “Check Off” bill that would take a percentage from every royalty owners check and to go to fund oil company lobbyists in Austin. Failed to pass.
  • Oil Industry sponsored Bill to allow oil salvage companies to abandon old wells on your land without plugging them to protect your water wells.  This bill was very popular at the time and extremely difficult to defend against. Failed to pass.

77th Legislation Session – 2001 – TLMA's First Session

ISSUES ADDRESSED

  • Royalty Payment Information-Disclosure
  • Oil Field Cleanup-Illegally Abandoned (Orphaned) Wells
  • Mandatory Venue
  • Reinstatement of the Discovery Rule 

BILLS PASSED

 

HB 981 - This check-stub bill greatly increased the amount of information contained on royalty check stubs.  In particular the bill required the following:
 
ON CHECK STUB
–County and state in which the lease, property or well is located
–Telephone number of oil company
UPON REQUEST
–Heating value (Btu)
–Annual report to include
- each lease, property or well identification number
  - each lease, property or well name
  - the field name
  - the county and state in which the property is located
 
Your oil company must give you written notice once a year that you have a right to this information. If an oil company does not provide the information, you may bring a civil action against the oil company and if you prevail, you are entitled to court costs and attorney fees
 

SB 310 – Railroad Commission Sunset Bill

  • TLMA was successful in merging several key issues related to the abandoned well problem into the RRC Sunset bill:
–Increased annual funding to Oilfield Cleanup Fund from $12 million annually to $20 million annually
–Required mandatory bonding of every oil and gas operator in Texas - completed September 2004
–Immediately stopped the transfer of all wells to unbonded oil operators
–Increased RRC discretion for “good guy” exception to bonding requirements