The macrocosmic reviews of the 2019 140-day session are replete with feel-good language: Cooperation Instead of Combativeness. An Aura of Kumbaya. Playing Nice. Mission Accomplished. The trio known as “the Big Three” vowed in the early going to address property taxes and school finance. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Speaker of […]
86th Texas Legislature: The Final Stretch
During the week of April 14, the rumor around the Texas Capitol went something like this: If your bill does not advance out of committee within the next five days, chances are it will die there. However, the rumor extended into the following week, and committee hearings proceeded with hundreds of witnesses making their way […]
Legislature Picks Up Pace
Oil Industry Keeps Watchful Eye on High-Impact Proposals by Julie Anderson As March came to a close, Texas lawmakers had cleared one major hurdle: March 8. The 60th day of the 86th Legislative Session was the deadline for the unrestricted filing of bills and joint resolutions other than local bills, emergency appropriations, and emergency […]
Determining Legislative Fate
Industry Issues Spread Across Multiple Committees by Julie Anderson On the 45th day of the Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, the Legislative Reference Library published a set of statistics that paints a clear picture of the intrinsic value of legislative committees. As of Feb. 21, the Texas House of Representatives had filed 2,277 bills, […]
Texas, New Mexico Legislatures Underway
PBPA Tracking Industry-Related Issues By Julie Anderson So many issues. So little time. Playing defense here. Coordinating offense there. Monitoring, testifying, convincing. When it comes to the New Mexico and Texas legislative sessions, the game plan is complex partly because the issues are layered, much like the stacked multi-pay zones that permeate the Permian. Wheels […]
Summaries of Key Oil and Gas Legislation
Prepared for Permian Basin Petroleum Association By Benjamin W. Sebree The Sebree Law Firm PLLC May 29, 2017 SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION OF THE SESSION I. RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS HB 1818 House Author: Gonzales, Larry Senate Sponsor: Taylor, Van Relating to the continuation and functions of the Railroad Commission of Texas. Railroad Commission of Texas Sunset […]
Texas House Votes to Continue Railroad Commission
H.B. 1818 Passes on PBPA Day at the Capitol by Julie Anderson On March 28, 30-plus members of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA) witnessed a “riveting debate on the House floor” over House Bill 1818 (H.B. 1818), reported Stephen M. Robertson, PBPA executive vice president. H.B. 1818, sponsored by Rep. Larry Gonzales, is otherwise […]
85th Texas Legislature: A Preview
by Julie Anderson The Texas Legislature meets in a regular session every two years, convening on the second Tuesday in January of every odd-numbered year. These biennial sessions are limited to 140 days. The governor can also call additional special sessions as necessary, which cannot exceed 30 days. The 85th Texas Legislature is […]
The 2017 New Mexico Legislature
We present, below, our Q-and-A with Mike Miller, governmental affairs representative for New Mexico for the Permian Basin Petroleum Association. PBOG magazine spoke with Mike this month on the early activity in the statehouse. PBOG: Mike, what are the issues now and what do you see happening this year? Miller: There’s one big issue, and […]
Scalise on Congress and Energy
And a whole lot else, for that matter. The House Majority Whip cracked down with some cogent commentary on Washington, some stinging rejoinders for the current Administration, and some cautionary tales for our industry and anyone who cares about public policy in the Permian and the nation. On Sept. 15, U.S. Representative Steve Scalise […]
