State Rep. Brooks Landgraf’s Texas STRONG plan didn’t get Senate approval in Austin to return more oil and gas money to the Permian Basin, but the Odessa Republican is pleased with the passage of other Basin-beneficial measures that he sponsored.
Landgraf’s House Joint Resolution 111 and House Bill 2207 would have amended the Texas Constitution and state law to support transportation infrastructure, workforce and economic development, healthcare, schools, colleges and first responders in Texas’ key energy-producing counties.
They would have also provided statewide property tax relief.
“While I am disappointed that Texas STRONG isn’t going to become law this year, I’m proud of the progress we made and the positive momentum we’re taking from the 88th Legislative Session,” said Landgraf, chairman of the House Environmental Regulation Committee.
“In addition to providing more funding and resources for rural education and healthcare and dedicating more money than ever to securing the border, members of the Texas House and Senate passed several bills that I filed to support oil and gas including one that prohibits cities from banning gas-powered engines.
“My pro oil and gas bills that did become law received between 99 and 116 votes of support in the House,” he said. “Meanwhile, HB 2207 and HJR 111 passed out of the 150-member House with 144 votes of support.
“That is absolutely huge, demonstrating the statewide appeal of the Texas STRONG legislation. The additional revenue that STRONG would bring to the Permian Basin would drastically improve the quality of life out here and in so doing further the cause of energy independence for the United States.
“A strong Permian Basin is in the best interest of Texas and the nation as well as anyone else on planet Earth who values freedom and liberty,” he said. “For every current and future Texan, I will fight to pass Texas STRONG next session.”
A Landgraf spokesman said Monday that the plan should have a good chance in 2025.
“Because the bills passed so overwhelmingly in the House, we will be working them in the interim between now and the next session to get the needed support in the Senate and get them all the way over the finish line,” the spokesman said.
He said the bills were never brought to a vote in the Senate Finance Committee, which was chaired by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston.
Landgraf proposed the Texas Severance Tax Revenue and Oil and Natural Defense Fund after state severance taxes raised a record $10.8 billion last year.
HJR 111 would have needed a majority of Texas voters in the November constitutional amendment election while HB 2207 required a simple majority vote in each chamber and the governor’s signature.
“Most of these severance tax dollars end up in the state’s Rainy Day Fund, but that fund is projected to reach its capacity in 2025,” Landgraf explained when the session started in January.
“Rather than adding to the overflowing Rainy Day Fund, Texas STRONG would simply collect the excess revenue and use it to fund basic functions that improve the quality of life for the workers and their families who generate the money in the first place,” he said.
“The legislation would also dedicate portions of severance taxes to be used for property tax relief and to clean up air and groundwater contamination.
“In 2022, 32 out of the 254 Texas counties generated 90 percent of the state’s severance tax revenue, sending more than $9 billion to the state coffers,” Landgraf said. “These same 32 counties, most of them in the Permian Basin, have accounted for 80 percent of collections since 2014 for a total of just under $40 billion.”
