Monitoring the Session

SB 2122

Zaffirini Waste Permit Bill Sets Fees From $500 To $3,000

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21
Why it's charged
New fee, fund, board or appointees

THE TEXT

“$500 for an application for a landfarm,”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill creates a new schedule of application fees, from $500 to $3,000, for oil and gas waste permits and amendments. The caption says plainly that the bill imposes fees, so this is honest but still a new charge.

New fee, fund, board or appointees

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

A landfarm application runs $500. The old $300 surface water discharge fee is dropped.

The bill sets new application fees at the Railroad Commission for permits to store, treat, or dispose of oil and gas waste on land, ranging from $500 to $3,000. It touches oil and gas operators and commercial waste facility operators who apply for landfarm, landtreatment, land application, waste separation, or surface waste facility permits or amendments, and it drops the old $300 fee for surface water discharge permits. Starting September 1, 2025, new applications pay the new fee schedule, while the existing $200 fee for fluid injection well permits stays the same.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Drew Darby (R) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2122 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.

WHAT IT DOES

A landfarm application runs $500. The old $300 surface water discharge fee is dropped.

The bill sets new application fees at the Railroad Commission for permits to store, treat, or dispose of oil and gas waste on land, ranging from $500 to $3,000. It touches oil and gas operators and commercial waste facility operators who apply for landfarm, landtreatment, land application, waste separation, or surface waste facility permits or amendments, and it drops the old $300 fee for surface water discharge permits. Starting September 1, 2025, new applications pay the new fee schedule, while the existing $200 fee for fluid injection well permits stays the same.

CHARGES

[x] NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEESanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

“$500 for an application for a landfarm,”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill creates a new schedule of application fees, from $500 to $3,000, for oil and gas waste permits and amendments. The caption says plainly that the bill imposes fees, so this is honest but still a new charge.

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026$0

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version H · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · May 9, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2122, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · $0

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Natural Resources
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Posting rule suspended
  10. Considered in public hearing
  11. Vote taken in committee
  12. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Placed on intent calendar
  15. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  16. Record vote
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Zaffirini
  19. Amended
  20. Vote recorded in Journal
  21. Passed to engrossment as amended
  22. Record vote
  23. Three day rule suspended
  24. Record vote
  25. Read 3rd time
  26. Passed
  27. Record vote
  28. Reported engrossed
  29. Received from the Senate
  30. Read first time
  31. Referred to Energy Resources
  32. Considered in formal meeting
  33. Committee substitute considered in committee
  34. Reported favorably as substituted
  35. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  36. Committee report distributed
  37. Committee report sent to Calendars
  38. Laid out in lieu of companion CSHB 3158
  39. Read 2nd time
  40. Passed to 3rd reading
  41. Read 3rd time
  42. Passed
  43. Record vote RV#2060
  44. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  45. House passage as amended reported
  46. House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
  47. Read
  48. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
  49. Record vote
  50. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
  51. Reported enrolled
  52. Signed in the Senate
  53. Signed in the House
  54. Sent to the Governor
  55. Signed by the Governor
  56. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 101 yea · 29 nay

Senate · 23 yea · 8 nay

Sources

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

Senate: Final passage · Apr 16, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

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 · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000.00
Killam Development Ltd.$72,700.00

Killam Development Ltd.

$72,700.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$62,700.00
Total
$72,700.00
advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.

Money

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

×

Killam Development Ltd.

$72,700.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$62,700.00
Total
$72,700.00
advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.

Votes6

Senate May 14, 2025

Yea
23
Nay
8
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 to concur in the House amendment to SB 2122. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.

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

  • Yea: 23 (published)
  • Nay: 8 (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.

House May 10, 2025

Yea
101
Nay
29
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
17
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2060

SB 2122 was passed by (Record 2060): 101 Yeas, 29 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 101 (published)
  • Nay: 29 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 17 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Yea
23
Nay
8
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 23, Nays 8.

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

  • Yea: 23 (published)
  • Nay: 8 (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 Apr 16, 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 SB 2122 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 Apr 16, 2025

Yea
23
Nay
8
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

SB 2122 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.

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

  • Yea: 23 (published)
  • Nay: 8 (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 Apr 16, 2025

Yea
23
Nay
8
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 to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2122 at this time on its second reading: SB 2122, Relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.

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

  • Yea: 23 (published)
  • Nay: 8 (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.

Witnesses6
For
3
Against
0
On
3
Names

For

  • Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance1 registration
  • Self; Commission Shift Action1 registration
  • Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter1 registration

On

  • Legislative Budget Board2 registrations
  • Railroad Commission of Texas1 registration
Sources

6 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

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

Fiscal
Net to General Revenue · FY 2026$0

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version H · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · May 9, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2122, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · $0

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

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 Senate · Filed Mar 10, 2025

05/27/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 3:18 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors

House committee · Energy Resources · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

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

Companion

HB 3158 by Darby (identical)

Subjects

Environment--Water

Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--State

Oil & Gas

Water--General

PERMITS

Text

The text as introduced · 546 words

89R3836 ANG-F

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 2122

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and

permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.

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

SECTION 1. Section 91.1013, Natural Resources Code, is

amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection

(a-1) to read as follows:

(a) [ With each application for a fluid injection well

permit, the applicant shall submit to the commission a

nonrefundable fee of $200. ] In this section :

(1) "Fluid [ , "fluid ] injection well" means any well

used to inject fluid or gas into the ground in connection with the

exploration or production of oil or gas other than an oil and gas

waste disposal well regulated by the commission pursuant to Chapter

27, Water Code.

(2) "Land application permit" means a permit

authorizing the covering of a controlled area with gas plant

effluent or low-chloride produced water through the use of a

sprinkler or other irrigation system.

(3) "Landfarm permit" means a permit authorizing the

disposal of low chloride, water-based drilling fluid or oil and gas

waste by mixing or tilling the fluid or waste into the natural soil

so that the waste will not migrate from the area covered by the

landfarm permit.

(4) "Landtreatment permit" means a permit authorizing

the disposal of oil-based drilling fluid, oil-impacted soil, or oil

and gas waste by mixing or tilling the fluid, soil, or waste into

the natural soil to degrade the fluid, impacted soil, or waste so

that the fluid, impacted soil, or waste will not migrate from the

area covered by the landtreatment permit.

(a-1) With each application for a fluid injection well

permit, the applicant shall submit to the commission a

nonrefundable fee of $200.

(b) An applicant [ With each application ] for a permit to

store, treat, or dispose of certain oil and gas waste [ discharge to

surface water under this chapter and commission rules, other than a

permit for a discharge that meets National Pollutant Discharge

Elimination System requirements for agricultural or wildlife use,

the applicant ] shall submit to the commission a nonrefundable fee

for that application as follows:

(1) $500 for an application for a landfarm,

landtreatment, or land application permit or permit amendment;

(2) $2,000 for an application for a commercial oil and

gas waste separation facility permit;

(3) $1,000 for an application for an amendment to a

commercial waste separation facility permit;

(4) $3,000 for an application for a commercial surface

oil and gas waste facility permit; and

(5) $1,000 for an application for an amendment to a

commercial surface waste facility permit [ of $300 ].

SECTION 2. Section 91.1013, Natural Resources Code, as

amended by this Act, applies only to an application for the issuance

or amendment of a permit that is filed with the Railroad Commission

of Texas on or after the effective date of this Act. An application

for a permit filed before the effective date of this Act is governed

by the law in effect on the date of the filing, and the former law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.