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 each plays a unique part in shaping statewide policy,” Burrows stated. “I am grateful to every member who shared their input with me… taking the time to get this right was not just necessary; it is what Texans deserve of their government.”
Several key committees in each chamber decide the fate of oil and gas legislation, one being the Committee on Energy Resources. Rep. Drew Darby will chair this 11-member committee, which also includes Rep. Tom Craddick, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation.
In order to become one of the “enacted or adopted,” a bill must first clear its committee. In the House rules, each committee is assigned jurisdiction over a specific subject matter, and the speaker refers legislation to House committees based on those subject matter jurisdictions.
Energy Resources has jurisdiction over:
• the conservation of the energy resources of Texas;
• the production, regulation, transportation, and development of oil, gas, and other energy resources;
• mining and the development of mineral deposits within the state;
• the leasing and regulation of mineral rights under public lands;
• pipelines, pipeline companies, and all others operating as common carriers in the state;
• electric utility regulation as it relates to energy production and consumption;
• identifying, developing, and using alternative energy sources;
• increasing energy efficiency throughout the state;
• the coordination of the state’s efforts related to the federal designation of threatened and endangered species as it relates to energy resources in the state; and
• the following state agencies: the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Texas representative for the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the Office of Interstate Mining Compact Commissioner for Texas, the State Energy Conservation Office, and the Office of Southern States Energy Board Member for Texas.
“I am tremendously grateful to Speaker Burrows for these appointments and honored to serve as chairman of the House Energy Resources Committee,” Darby said. “West Texas is crucial to America’s energy security and independence. I look forward to advancing policies that support our oil and gas industry.”
Rep. Brooks Landgraf was appointed chairman of the Environmental Regulation Committee, which also covers industry issues including matters related to air, land, and water pollution; industrial regulation; and environmental oversight by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
“My commitment to the people of West Texas remains steadfast,” Landgraf said. “Whether it’s ensuring regulatory policies support our state’s energy independence or defending the rights of Texans in our legal system, I will continue to work tirelessly to make sure West Texas has a strong voice in the legislature.”
The House Committee on Natural Resources will be chaired by Rep. Cody Harris. Among other matters, this committee oversees the control and development of land and water and land and water resources, including the taking, storing, control, and use of all water in the state, and its appropriation and allocation.
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources will be chaired by Sen. Brian Birdwell, and the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs will be chaired by Sen. Charles Perry.
Permian Basin
Rep. Ken King, chairman of the House Committee on State Affairs, and Sen. Kevin Sparks, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, along with Craddick, Darby, and Landgraf, make for a strong group of West Texas leaders, noted Stephen Robertson, executive vice president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA). Sparks is also a member of the following Senate committees: Health and Human Services, Natural Resources, Nominations, and Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs.
“These appointments are critical for West Texas, and we are excited to see these leaders do what they do best—roll up their sleeves and work hard for the Permian Basin,” Robertson stated.
With much of the 89th Regular Session’s work ahead, the PBPA will continue advocating for full funding of regulatory agencies including:
The Railroad Commission of Texas
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
The Public Utility Commission
Additionally, the PBPA has set the following priorities:
• Improving orphaned and inactive well programs.
• Funding critical water projects.
• Enhancing resources to combat oilfield theft.
• Advancing key initiatives that support those who live, work, and raise their families in America’s oilfield.
“We are eager to see Texas continue to lead in energy production and economic growth, and we appreciate the dedication of our state’s leaders in making that possible,” Robertson shared.
Legislation Watch
Now that committees are in place, hearings will soon be underway. PBPA is monitoring all industry-related legislation including the following:
House Bill 188 by Landgraf: Relating to the allocation of certain constitutional transfers of money to certain funds and accounts, including the Texas severance tax revenue and oil and natural gas (Texas STRONG) defense fund, and to the permissible uses of money deposited to the Texas STRONG defense fund.
House Joint Resolution 47: Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas STRONG defense fund, dedicating the money in that fund to benefit areas of the state significantly affected by oil and gas production, and providing for the transfer of certain general revenues to that fund, the economic stabilization fund, and certain other funds and accounts.
House Bill 265 by Craddick: Relating to the allocation of certain constitutional transfers of money to the economic stabilization fund, the state highway fund, and the Generate Reoccurring Oil Wealth (GROW) Texas fund and to the permissible uses of money deposited to the GROW Texas fund.
House Joint Resolution 35 by Craddick: Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of and use of money in the GROW Texas fund and allocating certain general revenues to that fund, the economic stabilization fund, and the state highway fund.
“The PBPA has long supported efforts to return revenue from oil and gas severance taxes to the communities that generate them,” Robertson said. “Our members have consistently backed the GROW and STRONG initiatives led by Permian Basin leaders, recognizing that our region has historically funded statewide projects related to water, transportation, and both higher and public education.”
Too often, these funds are disproportionately allocated to communities along the I-35 corridor and points east, Robertson continued.
“These legislative efforts by Rep. Landgraf and Rep. Craddick would not only benefit the Permian Basin, but also other oil and gas producing regions across the state ensuring they continue to contribute to Texas’s economy while receiving their fair share of reinvestment,” Robertson added. “This reinvestment is essential to sustaining local communities and maintaining the state’s long-term revenue generation.”
The PBPA is also following Senate Bill 392 by Sparks: Relating to a reliability plan for electric transmission service in the Permian Basin.
“Sen. Sparks has been a strong advocate for the Permian Basin, championing critical investments in electric infrastructure and providing resources to combat the growing issue of oilfield theft,” Robertson shared. “As one of the world’s most important oil and gas producing regions, the Permian Basin plays a vital role in Texas’s economy. However, its infrastructure—particularly electric transmission—lags behind the rest of the state.”
The Permian Basin Reliability Plan, adopted last session and approved by the Public Utility Commission at the end of 2024, marks a landmark commitment to addressing these challenges, Robertson said.
“While other states are hindering or ignoring natural resource development, Texas has taken proactive steps to invest in its most important economic engine,” he summarized.
New Mexico Legislature
While the 60-day session has entered its second half, “the light at the end of the tunnel still feels far down the tracks,” Robertson said. “Thanks to bipartisan resistance, several bills that would harm the oil and gas industry—and, in turn, New Mexico’s economy—have been stalled.”
Unfortunately, this session has brought what Robertson described as a “barrage of legislative efforts aimed at restricting oil and gas operations. We are engaged on multiple fronts to prevent these proposals from becoming law, and the fight is far from over.”
Success in protecting the industry has required a broad coalition across business interest, parties, and regions, Robertson noted. The PBPA has expressed its appreciation to Rep. Elaine Sena Cortez, Rep. Nicole Chavez, Rep. Jennifer Jones, Rep. Meredith Dixon, Rep. Nathan Small, and Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta for their diligence and attention.
“We greatly appreciate the support from our allies in the House and Senate, our dedicated membership, and those advocating for what’s best for New Mexico’s future,” Robertson declared. “With our members’ support and engagement, we charge forward continuing to fight for good policy to support the people of New Mexico, the environment of New Mexico, and the industries of New Mexico.”
Related: Legislative Update 2025