Monitoring the SessionHB 459
Died in committee
The bill promises a policy to eliminate routine flaring, but it lets the commission meet that duty with voluntary approaches. A voluntary plan may leave the main case, an operator who keeps flaring, without any binding limit.
The holeTHE TEXT
…“eliminate before December 31, 2031, the routine flaring”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill takes effect in 2025, but the elimination target is not due until the end of 2031, six years after the session. The bill also sets no deadline for the commission to adopt the rule itself.
Delayed startInitial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to the establishment by the Railroad Commission of Texas of a policy to eliminate the routine flaring of natural gas from wells or other facilities regulated by the commission.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
The bill orders the Railroad Commission of Texas to adopt a rule setting a policy to end routine flaring of natural gas from wells and other facilities it regulates before December 31, 2031. It touches oil and gas operators, who would face whatever approach the commission picks: regulation, incentives, voluntary steps or interim goals. The policy must allow flaring for safety, emergencies or already authorized purposes, but it cannot allow long-running flaring for any purpose not tied to safety or an emergency, even an authorized one.
Corrected Oct 26, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 1459 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1459 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Energy Resources committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB459 · 2024-11-12
relating to the establishment by the Railroad Commission of Texas of a policy to eliminate the routine flaring of natural gas from wells or other facilities regulated by the commission.
The bill orders the Railroad Commission of Texas to adopt a rule setting a policy to end routine flaring of natural gas from wells and other facilities it regulates before December 31, 2031. It touches oil and gas operators, who would face whatever approach the commission picks: regulation, incentives, voluntary steps or interim goals. The policy must allow flaring for safety, emergencies or already authorized purposes, but it cannot allow long-running flaring for any purpose not tied to safety or an emergency, even an authorized one.
Corrected Oct 26, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 50%
The bill promises a policy to eliminate routine flaring, but it lets the commission meet that duty with voluntary approaches. A voluntary plan may leave the main case, an operator who keeps flaring, without any binding limit.
[x] DELAYED STARTanalysis confidence 55%
THE TEXT
…“eliminate before December 31, 2031, the routine flaring”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill takes effect in 2025, but the elimination target is not due until the end of 2031, six years after the session. The bill also sets no deadline for the commission to adopt the rule itself.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
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CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 2, 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.
$85,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Derived itemized flow · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 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: 101056369, 101068193.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$85,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Derived itemized flow · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 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: 101056369, 101068193.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Rosenthal, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 3, 2023: Referred to Energy Resources
Relating to the establishment by the Railroad Commission of Texas of a policy to eliminate the routine flaring of natural gas from wells or other facilities regulated by the commission.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
02/28/2025 H Referred to Energy Resources: Feb 28 2025 11:02AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 11:01 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Energy Resources · Final status: Died in committee
Environment--Air
Oil & Gas
Safety
RAILROAD COMMISSION
The text as introduced · 203 words
89R2630 ANG-F By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 459 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the establishment by the Railroad Commission of Texas of a policy to eliminate the routine flaring of natural gas from wells or other facilities regulated by the commission. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 86, Natural Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 86.186 to read as follows: Sec. 86.186. ELIMINATION OF ROUTINE FLARING. (a) The commission by rule shall establish a policy to eliminate before December 31, 2031, the routine flaring of gas from wells or other facilities regulated by the commission. (b) The policy may include: (1) regulatory, incentive-based, or voluntary approaches for achieving the goals of the policy; and (2) interim goals for individual wells or other facilities or for operators of wells or other facilities. (c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the policy must allow flaring for safety or emergency purposes or purposes authorized under Section 86.185. (d) The policy may not allow flaring to be conducted for an extended period for a purpose that is not related to safety or an emergency. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.