With the session’s signature issue—school vouchers—seemingly settled, lawmakers have turned their attention to deadlines and their domino effects, including a coveted spot on the intent calendar, required for a bill to make it to the chamber floors. The 89th Regular Session convened on Jan. 14. Upcoming deadlines include: May 12:House bill first reading deadline. May […]
Legislative Update: New Mexico Legislature Adjourns; Texas Set to Pick Up the Pace
by Julie Anderson The closing hours of the 57th Session of the New Mexico Legislature found oil and gas advocates engaging in an intense effort to protect the industry from proposals that would have increased regulations and costs for operators, many with little to no benefit to the people or environment of New Mexico, let […]
Legislative Update March 2025
With Committees Established, Texas Session Set to Pick Up the Pace The 89th Session of the Texas Legislature features 30 House committees and 16 Senate committees. On Feb. 13, day 31 of the 140-day regular session, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced his committee assignments. “There is no small role in the committee process, as […]
Legislative Update 2025
89th Texas Legislature, Jan. 14-June 2 57th New Mexico Legislature, Jan. 21-March 22 With the endgame of a balanced budget in mind, Texas and New Mexico lawmakers begin each session with a revenue forecast. Lone Star State On Jan. 13, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar released a Biennial Revenue Estimate of $194.6 billion to spend […]
2025 Legislative Sessions: A Preview
______________________________________________________________________________ The Texas Legislature meets in a regular session every two years, convening on the second Tuesday in January of every odd-numbered year in Austin. These biennial sessions are limited to 140 days. The governor has the authority to call special sessions as necessary, which cannot exceed 30 days. The 89th Texas Legislature is […]
The Energy to Vote
Estimates are that nations representing about half of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) are voting this year, with economies, immigration, and energy transition among the top issues. As the world’s third most populous nation and its largest single economy, the United States factors heavily on the global scene. What happens in the United States […]
New Mexico: Land of Contrasts
The oil and gas industry in New Mexico in 2024 is like a boxer who keeps taking hits, but remains standing. Some hits are glancing blows, and some are near misses. From legislative to legal to development of the southeastern corner of the state, there are challenges—and opportunities in the year ahead for New Mexico’s […]
Doing the Math on Double Fractions
The Texas Supreme Court recently accepted and quickly disposed of a petition for review from the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio, titled Thomson v. Hoffman, by vacating the appellate court’s order and remanding the case. The issue involved yet another older (specifically, 1956) deed. The main question centered on whether the language of […]
Who Controls a Well’s Produced Water?
An increasingly odd operating issue (that has only been an issue in the last few years) may be in front of the Texas Supreme Court next year… if they agree to hear it. The controversy swirling up focuses on one question: who has the right to own and control produced water? Yes, you read correctly. […]
The Safe Harbor Provision: from Choppy Waters to Clear(er) Sailing
I previously wrote about a case pending opinion in the Texas Supreme Court—Freeport-McMoran Oil & Gas, LLC and Ovintiv USA Inc., v, 1776 Energy Partners, LLC. Recently, the Court issued an opinion which should have operators letting out their collectively held breaths. To recap, the suit was originally brought by 1776 Energy Partners, LLC, against […]