Monitoring the Session

HB 4042

bill dropping one word from Railroad Commission gas pipeline rules

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Eddie MoralesDHouse 74

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 applicability of certain safety provisions and regulatory fees administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas to gas distribution pipelines.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

All gas distribution pipelines covered, not only natural gas ones.

The bill deletes the word "natural" from the Railroad Commission's pipeline fee and safety rules, so they cover all gas distribution pipelines and master metered systems rather than only natural gas ones. It touches operators of gas distribution systems and master metered systems that move gas other than natural gas, along with the customers who pay the surcharge those operators pass through. On the ground, those operators can be charged the existing annual per-line and per-system fees and fall under the same safety provisions starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on Jun 22, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4042 · 2025-03-07

SOLD BY

Rep. Eddie MoralesDHouse 74

ITEM

relating to the applicability of certain safety provisions and regulatory fees administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas to gas distribution pipelines.

WHAT IT DOES

All gas distribution pipelines covered, not only natural gas ones.

The bill deletes the word "natural" from the Railroad Commission's pipeline fee and safety rules, so they cover all gas distribution pipelines and master metered systems rather than only natural gas ones. It touches operators of gas distribution systems and master metered systems that move gas other than natural gas, along with the customers who pay the surcharge those operators pass through. On the ground, those operators can be charged the existing annual per-line and per-system fees and fall under the same safety provisions starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 20, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Energy Resources
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Passed to engrossment
  17. Record vote RV#1099
  18. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote RV#1140
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the House
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Natural Resources
  27. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  28. Considered in public hearing
  29. Left pending in committee
  30. Considered in public hearing
  31. Vote taken in committee
  32. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  33. Committee report printed and distributed
  34. Placed on intent calendar
  35. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  36. Vote recorded in Journal
  37. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  38. Vote recorded in Journal
  39. Three day rule suspended
  40. Record vote
  41. Read 3rd time
  42. Passed
  43. Record vote
  44. Senate passage reported
  45. Reported enrolled
  46. Signed in the House
  47. Signed in the Senate
  48. Sent to the Governor
  49. Filed without the Governor's signature
  50. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 105 yea · 38 nay

Senate · 28 yea · 3 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 1, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 23, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Eddie Morales

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$101KLegacy 44$100KTexas REALTORS Political Action Committee$57K

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 27, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$101,077.16

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$101,077.16

Cash
$80,000.00
Paid by others
$21,077.16
Total
$101,077.16
mailers $21,077.16

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 1, 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.

Report IDs: 100983216, 101059340, 101067651, 101071574.

Legacy 44$100,000.00

Legacy 44

$100,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$70,000.00
Total
$100,000.00
digital $70,000.00

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 29, 2024 to Sep 21, 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.

Report IDs: 100983216, 101067651.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$56,517.22

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$56,517.22

Cash
$37,500.00
Paid by others
$19,017.22
Total
$56,517.22
mail $18,992.22grassroots $25.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 2, 2024 to Sep 2, 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.

Report IDs: 100983216, 101031005, 101067651.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$101,077.16

Cash
$80,000.00
Paid by others
$21,077.16
Total
$101,077.16
mailers $21,077.16

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 1, 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.

Report IDs: 100983216, 101059340, 101067651, 101071574.

×

Legacy 44

$100,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$70,000.00
Total
$100,000.00
digital $70,000.00

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 29, 2024 to Sep 21, 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.

Report IDs: 100983216, 101067651.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$56,517.22

Cash
$37,500.00
Paid by others
$19,017.22
Total
$56,517.22
mail $18,992.22grassroots $25.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 2, 2024 to Sep 2, 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.

Report IDs: 100983216, 101031005, 101067651.

Votes5

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Zaffirini moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 4042 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

Senator Zaffirini moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 4042 at this time on its second reading: HB 4042, Relating to the applicability of certain safety provisions and regulatory fees administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas to gas distribution pipelines. The motion prevailed. Senators Hughes, Parker, and Sparks asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business. The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 1, 2025

Yea
105
Nay
38
Present, not voting
3
Absent
1
Excused
3
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1140

HB 4042 was passed by (Record 1140): 105 Yeas, 38 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 105 (published)
  • Nay: 38 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 3 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea
118
Nay
25
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
5
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1099

HB 4042 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1099): 118 Yeas, 25 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 118 (published)
  • Nay: 25 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses8
For
6
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • Commission Shift Action2 registrations
  • El Paso County1 registration
  • Legislative and Conservation Director1 registration
  • Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club1 registration
  • Self1 registration

On

  • Railroad Commission of Texas1 registration
  • Railrod Commission1 registration
Sources

8 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 20, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

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 Mar 7, 2025

06/22/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

House committee · Energy Resources · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Natural Resources · Committee vote 8 aye, 1 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--State

Safety

Utilities--General

Utilities--Natural Gas

PIPELINE SAFETY

RAILROAD COMMISSION

Text

The text as introduced · 406 words

89R3842 CS-F

By: Morales of Maverick
H.B. No. 4042

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the applicability of certain safety provisions and

regulatory fees administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas to

gas distribution pipelines.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 121.211(a), (d), (e), and (g),

Utilities Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The railroad commission by rule may adopt a fee to be

assessed annually against operators of [ natural ] gas distribution

pipelines and their pipeline facilities and [ natural ] gas master

metered pipelines and their pipeline facilities subject to this

title.

(d) The commission may assess each operator of a [ natural ]

gas distribution system subject to this title an annual fee not to

exceed one dollar for each service line reported by the system on

the Distribution Annual Report, Form RSPA F7100.1-1, due on March

15 of each year. The fee is due March 15 of each year.

(e) The railroad commission may assess each operator of a

[ natural ] gas master metered system subject to this title an annual

fee not to exceed $100 for each master metered system. The fee is

due June 30 of each year.

(g) Each operator of a [ natural ] gas distribution system and

each [ natural ] gas master meter operator shall recover as a

surcharge to its existing rates the amounts paid to the commission

under this section. Amounts collected under this subsection by an

investor-owned [ natural ] gas distribution system or a

cooperatively owned [ natural ] gas distribution system shall not be

included in the revenue or gross receipts of the company for the

purpose of calculating municipal franchise fees or any tax imposed

under Subchapter B, Chapter 182, Tax Code, or under Chapter 122.

Those amounts are not subject to a sales and use tax imposed by

Chapter 151, Tax Code, or Subtitle C, Title 3, Tax Code.

SECTION 2. Section 121.213(a), Utilities Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) In this section, "distribution gas pipeline facility"

means a pipeline facility that distributes [ natural ] gas directly

to end-use customers.

SECTION 3. Section 121.214(a)(1), Utilities Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(1) "Distribution gas pipeline facility" means a

pipeline facility that distributes [ natural ] gas directly to end

use customers.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.