Johnson’s bill renaming the Railroad Commission

The text as introduced · 706 words

89R4903 CMO-D

By: Johnson
S.B. No. 2635

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the name and governance of the Railroad Commission of

Texas.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 81, Natural Resources

Code, is amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 81. TEXAS OIL, GAS, AND MINERALS [ RAILROAD ] COMMISSION [ OF

TEXAS ]

SECTION 2. Section 81.001, Natural Resources Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 81.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Texas Oil, Gas, and

Minerals [ Railroad ] Commission [ of Texas ].

(2) "Commissioner" means any member of the Texas Oil,

Gas, and Minerals [ Railroad ] Commission [ of Texas ].

SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Natural Resources

Code, is amended by adding Section 81.003 to read as follows:

Sec. 81.003. TEXAS OIL, GAS, AND MINERALS COMMISSION. (a)

The Railroad Commission of Texas is renamed the Texas Oil, Gas, and

Minerals Commission.

(b) A reference in law to:

(1) the Railroad Commission of Texas means the Texas

Oil, Gas, and Minerals Commission; and

(2) a railroad commissioner or a member of the

Railroad Commission of Texas means a member of the Texas Oil, Gas,

and Minerals Commission.

SECTION 4. Section 81.01001, Natural Resources Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 81.01001. SUNSET PROVISION. (a) The Texas Oil, Gas,

and Minerals [ Railroad ] Commission [ of Texas ] is subject to Chapter

325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in

existence as provided by that chapter, the commission is abolished

September 1, 2029.

(b) The Texas Oil, Gas, and Minerals [ Railroad ] Commission

[ of Texas ] shall pay the costs incurred by the Sunset Advisory

Commission in performing a review of the commission under this

section. The Sunset Advisory Commission shall determine the

costs, and the commission shall pay the amount of those costs

promptly on receipt of a statement from the Sunset Advisory

Commission detailing the costs.

SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Natural Resources

Code, is amended by adding Section 81.010015 to read as follows:

Sec. 81.010015. ELECTION AND TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS;

VACANCIES. (a) The commission is composed of three commissioners

elected at the general election for state and county officers.

(b) Commissioners serve staggered terms of six years, with

the term of one commissioner expiring December 31 of each

even-numbered year.

(c) The governor shall appoint a person to fill a vacancy on

the commission until the next general election.

SECTION 6. Section 81.01005, Natural Resources Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 81.01005. NAME AND SEAL. (a) The commissioners are

known collectively as the " Texas Oil, Gas, and Minerals [ Railroad ]

Commission [ of Texas ]."

(b) The seal of the commission contains a star of five

points with the words " Texas Oil, Gas, and Minerals [ Railroad ]

Commission [ of Texas ]" engraved on it.

SECTION 7. The heading to Section 81.0521, Natural

Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 81.0521. FEE FOR APPLICATION FOR EXCEPTION TO

[ RAILROAD ] COMMISSION RULE.

SECTION 8. Section 52.092(c), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(c) Statewide offices of the state government shall be

listed in the following order:

(1) governor;

(2) lieutenant governor;

(3) attorney general;

(4) comptroller of public accounts;

(5) commissioner of the General Land Office;

(6) commissioner of agriculture;

(7) oil, gas, and minerals [ railroad ] commissioner;

(8) chief justice, supreme court;

(9) justice, supreme court;

(10) presiding judge, court of criminal appeals;

(11) judge, court of criminal appeals.

SECTION 9. On the effective date of this Act, the name of

the Railroad Commission of Texas is changed to the Texas Oil, Gas,

and Minerals Commission. The change of the agency's name does not

affect:

(1) the agency's powers, duties, rights, or

obligations;

(2) the agency's personnel, equipment, data,

documents, facilities, contracts, items, other property,

appropriations, rules, or decisions;

(3) a proceeding of or involving the agency under the

name of the Railroad Commission of Texas; or

(4) the terms of the chairman or other members of the

governing body of the agency.

SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.