BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1285 By: Geren Energy Resources Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is the primary regulatory body overseeing oil, gas, and mining operations in Texas. Ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulations requires frequent site inspections. Currently, state law allows the RRC to use drones for specific purposes, such as monitoring hazardous material spills, suppressing fires, and securing oil and gas facilities, but the law does not clearly authorize the RRC to use drones for routine inspections of pipelines, well sites, and mining operations. H.B. 1285 seeks to address this issue by establishing that it is lawful for the RRC or an RRC agent, servant, or employee to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft in Texas in connection with certain inspections and examinations. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 1285 amends the Government Code to establish that it is lawful for the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) or an RRC agent, servant, or employee to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft in Texas in connection with the inspection and examination of the following: an oil or gas site or facility, including a well, tank, or disposal or injection site; a pipeline facility; or a surface mining site. H.B. 1285 amends the Natural Resources Code to specify that the requirement that the RRC have access at all times to the oil property of all persons for inspection and examination includes inspection and examination by unmanned aircraft. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1285
By: Geren
Energy Resources
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1285
By: Geren
Energy Resources
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is the primary regulatory body overseeing oil, gas, and mining operations in Texas. Ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulations requires frequent site inspections. Currently, state law allows the RRC to use drones for specific purposes, such as monitoring hazardous material spills, suppressing fires, and securing oil and gas facilities, but the law does not clearly authorize the RRC to use drones for routine inspections of pipelines, well sites, and mining operations. H.B. 1285 seeks to address this issue by establishing that it is lawful for the RRC or an RRC agent, servant, or employee to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft in Texas in connection with certain inspections and examinations.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 1285 amends the Government Code to establish that it is lawful for the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) or an RRC agent, servant, or employee to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft in Texas in connection with the inspection and examination of the following: an oil or gas site or facility, including a well, tank, or disposal or injection site; a pipeline facility; or a surface mining site. H.B. 1285 amends the Natural Resources Code to specify that the requirement that the RRC have access at all times to the oil property of all persons for inspection and examination includes inspection and examination by unmanned aircraft.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is the primary regulatory body overseeing oil, gas, and mining operations in Texas. Ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulations requires frequent site inspections. Currently, state law allows the RRC to use drones for specific purposes, such as monitoring hazardous material spills, suppressing fires, and securing oil and gas facilities, but the law does not clearly authorize the RRC to use drones for routine inspections of pipelines, well sites, and mining operations. H.B. 1285 seeks to address this issue by establishing that it is lawful for the RRC or an RRC agent, servant, or employee to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft in Texas in connection with certain inspections and examinations.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1285 amends the Government Code to establish that it is lawful for the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) or an RRC agent, servant, or employee to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft in Texas in connection with the inspection and examination of the following:
an oil or gas site or facility, including a well, tank, or disposal or injection site;
a pipeline facility; or
a surface mining site.
H.B. 1285 amends the Natural Resources Code to specify that the requirement that the RRC have access at all times to the oil property of all persons for inspection and examination includes inspection and examination by unmanned aircraft.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.