Testimony: Sunset Advisory Commission Hearing on Railroad Commission of Texas

Testimony by Tricia Davis, President of Texas Royalty Council, on the Sunset Advisory Commission Staff’s Recommendations for the Railroad Commission of Texas

My name is Tricia Davis, president of Texas Royalty Council (TRC) and American Royalty Council (ARC), which represents more than 600,000 Texas royalty owners. I’m here as well on behalf of my family and our royalty interests.

The decisions made by this committee will affect every Texas royalty owner and beyond. Hundreds of thousands of Texas royalty owners rely on a well regulated industry to aid in all aspects of supporting a family, from sending the kids to college, paying the electric bill or simply buying food and medicines. Your decisions will affect our Public Schools and many companies that create good jobs for our citizens.

We strongly believe the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) should continue for 12 years and doing so is vital, ensuring stable regulation that will allow producers to make substantial investment decisions that will ensure Texas remains the world’s energy leader through the next century. The need for regulatory stability is vital, and therefore the Royalty Councils asks that any substantive policy changes, including if necessary a constitutional name change, be addressed in legislation separate from the reauthorization sunset bill.

The decisions made by this committee will affect every Texas royalty owner and beyond. Hundreds of thousands of Texas royalty owners rely on a well regulated industry to aid in all aspects of supporting a family, from sending the kids to college, paying the electric bill or simply buying food and medicines. Your decisions will affect our Public Schools and many companies that create good jobs for our citizens. We strongly believe the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) should continue for 12 years and doing so is vital, ensuring stable regulation that will allow producers to make substantial investment decisions that will ensure Texas remains the world’s energy leader through the next century. The need for regulatory stability is vital, and therefore the Royalty Councils asks that any substantive policy changes, including if necessary a constitutional name change, be addressed in legislation separate from the reauthorization sunset bill.

We believe oil and gas hearings should stay at the RRC and NOT be moved to State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). The experience of Texas Royalty Council is that the RRC process is fair and efficient and should stay where the ultimate decisions is made under the purview of the elected regulators. The hearings have been moved to SOAH in the past, and then moved back. We should learn from mistakes of the past and leave the hearings at the RRC.

We believe the RRC should continue with three, elected commissioners. Changes to this would be disruptive and of no benefit to the state. Maintaining the stability of the RRC will insure regulations will remain stable and predictable. This is always important, however now more than ever due to the current overreach of the Federal Government and the misinformed anti –industry opponents.

We applaud the Sunset Advisory Commission for your diligence in this important process, for the good of Texas.

Thank you to the RRC Commissioners and all staff for the great work you do, helping to keep our state safe and prosperous.

Thank you Chairman and members, for your time and consideration.