HB 2255
bill making operators tell landowners before testing inactive wells
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the rights of the owner of the surface of the land on which certain inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas are located in connection with the performance of certain tests on the well.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Three days’ notice to the surface owner, not just the Railroad Commission.
The bill requires an oil and gas operator to notify the owner of the surface land at least three days before running a fluid level or hydraulic pressure test on an inactive well, in addition to notifying the Railroad Commission district office. It touches well operators, the Railroad Commission, and landowners who own the surface where inactive wells sit. On the ground, surface owners get advance notice of these tests and a legal right to watch them, starting with tests conducted on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Jan 30, 2025 and referred to the House Energy Resources committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB2255 · 2025-01-30
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the rights of the owner of the surface of the land on which certain inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas are located in connection with the performance of certain tests on the well.
WHAT IT DOES
Three days’ notice to the surface owner, not just the Railroad Commission.
The bill requires an oil and gas operator to notify the owner of the surface land at least three days before running a fluid level or hydraulic pressure test on an inactive well, in addition to notifying the Railroad Commission district office. It touches well operators, the Railroad Commission, and landowners who own the surface where inactive wells sit. On the ground, surface owners get advance notice of these tests and a legal right to watch them, starting with tests conducted on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Energy Resources
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Jan 30, 2025
03/14/2025 H Referred to Energy Resources: Mar 14 2025 2:36PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Energy Resources · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Environment--Hazardous, Toxic & Nuclear Waste
Environment--Water
Mines & Mineral Resources
Oil & Gas
Property Interests--Real Property
RAILROAD COMMISSION
Text
The text as introduced · 296 words
89R1669 JAM-D By: Goodwin H.B. No. 2255 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the rights of the owner of the surface of the land on which certain inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas are located in connection with the performance of certain tests on the well. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 89.026, Natural Resources Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: (b) At [ The operator must notify the office of the commission oil and gas division district in which an inactive well is located at ] least three days before the date on which the operator proposes to conduct [ conducts ] a fluid level or hydraulic pressure test of an inactive [ the ] well , the operator must notify: (1) the office of the commission oil and gas division district in which the well is located; and (2) the owner of the surface estate of the tract of land on which the well is located. (b-1) An operator [ and ] may not conduct a [ the ] test under this section without the approval of the office to which notice of the proposed test is given under Subsection (b)(1) . The commission may require that a test be witnessed by a commission employee. A surface estate owner to whom notice of a proposed test is given under Subsection (b)(2) is entitled to witness the test. SECTION 2. Section 89.026, Natural Resources Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a fluid level or hydraulic pressure test conducted on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.