Bill > HB1230

This bill adds a new requirement for public hearings for oil and gas well drilling permits near sensitive locations like schools and child-care facilities. Specifically, the bill requires the Railroad Commission to mandate that permit applicants disclose whether a proposed well site is within 1,500 feet of a child-care facility, private school (with over 100 students), public school, or school district facility. If a proposed well site is within this 1,500-foot buffer zone, the Commission cannot grant the permit without first holding a public hearing in the county where the well would be located. During this hearing, the public can provide comments about whether granting the permit is in the public interest, and the Commission must consider these comments when making its decision. The bill defines specific terms for child-care facilities and private schools and explicitly states that it does not limit local governments' existing authority to regulate oil and gas drilling. The new rules would apply only to permit applications submitted after the effective date of the Commission's implementing rules, with a potential immediate effect if the bill receives a two-thirds vote in the Texas Legislature, or otherwise taking effect on September 1, 2025.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1230