Category Archives: Local Fracking Bans

May 6, 2016 Weekly Round Up

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Welcome to May!  I hope everyone had a great week.  Here are some of the ag law stories in the news. * Suggestions offered in review of Texas Railroad Commission.  The Sunset Advisory Committee–a legislative body that reviews agencies–has published its report offering suggestions for changes needed at the Texas Railroad Commission.  First off, the committee recommended the agency’s name be changed to the “Texas Energy Resources Commission” to clarify that the agency governs oil, gas, mining and intrastate pipelines, rather than railroads.  The committee also suggested changes… Read More →

June 19, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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Congratulations, we have made it to another Friday!  Here are some of the ag law stories in the news this week. *  TCEQ Seeks Texas Supreme Court Review of Decision in Texas Farm Bureau v. TCEQ.  You may remember from this prior blog post that the the Corpus Christi Court of Appeals recently sided with the Texas Farm Bureau and member farmers against the TCEQ in a case posing the question of whether the TCEQ can ignore priority and allow exemptions from priority calls for certain types of… Read More →

June 5, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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This week I gave two presentations via the internet to folks in San Angelo and in Jefferson County.  To those of you new to the blog from these presentations, welcome! It’s been another busy week in the agricultural law realm. *  Hays County Groundwater Bill on Governor’s Desk.  The Texas Legislature passed HB 3405, known as the  Hays County Groundwater Bill, sending it on to Governor Abbo[Read article here.]  As you likely recall from prior blog posts, Hays County finds itself in the middle of a groundwater battle… Read More →

May 22, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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Happy Friday!  This week I was able to visit with the Camp County Cattleman’s Association via the internet at their monthly meeting about some Frequently Asked Ag Law Questions.  I thank Spencer Perkins for the chance to visit with that group and welcome those new readers joining from that event!  It has been a busy ag law week, with lots of Texas-specific stories in the news. *Governor Abbott Signs “Local Fracking Ban Ban” Into Law.  On Monday, I blogged about the bill on Governor Abbott’s desk that would… Read More →

State Law Banning Local Fracking/Oil and Gas Ordinances on Governor’s Desk

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If you have read this blog for any period of time, you know that local fracking and oil and gas production bans, such as the one passed by Denton voters last November, are a frequent topic of discussion.  Now, the Texas Legislature has passed a bill that would prevent these type of local production bans.  The bill is now on the desk of Governor Abbott for his signature. The Bill House Bill 40, called by many the “Denton Fracking Bill” was passed by the House (vote of 26-5)… Read More →

April 6, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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Because of the Corpus Christi Court of Appeals opinion last week in TCEQ v. Texas Farm Bureau, the weekly round up blog for last Friday got pushed to today. Last weekend, I attended my first Texas & Southwest Cattle Raiser’s Conference in Ft. Worth.  I was honored to give three presentations on grazing leases and pipeline easements and had an absolute blast!  To those of you joining from the Convention, welcome! Here are some ag law stories in the news this week. * Texas Supreme Court Hears Chesapeake… Read More →

February 27, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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Happy Friday!  Last week I was in Washington, DC speaking at the USDA Outlook Forum.  It was a great conference and I enjoyed the opportunity to participate!  A special thank you to Shayle Shagam and David Anderson for inviting me to speak. Here are a few ag law stories in the news this week. *  Denton Fracking Cases With Both Be Heard in Denton County.  After Denton voters passed a ban on fracking within city limits last November, two lawsuits were filed challenging the ban.  The Texas Oil and Gas Association… Read More →

NM Federal Judge Strikes Down Mora County Oil and Gas Ban

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Recently, federal Judge James Browning, sitting on the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, invalidated a law passed by Mora County Commissioners that prohibited oil and gas production in the county.  The ban, the first of its kind in the nation, raised questions regarding the constitutionality of prohibiting the development of mineral estates.  Judge Browning’s opinion in SWEPI, LP v. Mora County, New Mexico marks the first federal decision related to local drilling bans, which are being seen across the country. Background Mora County, located… Read More →

January 30, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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I’m not sure how the month of January has already drawn to a close, but I hope everyone has enjoyed the first 30 days of the new year!  This month has brought two great speaking opportunities.  First, I spoke to beef producers from Texas and New Mexico at the Southwest Beef Symposium in Amarillo, where I presented on legal resources for agricultural producers.  Last week, I traveled to Atlanta to speak at the Southern Dairy Conference.  There, I presented on how to prevent and survive and undercover video… Read More →

January 9, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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Welcome to our first weekly round up of the new year!  There are lots of ag law stories making news this week.  *New York Bans Fracking.  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that he will ban fracking in the state this year.  A moritorium on the practice has been in place since 2008 and several local fracking bans are already in place.  With this ban, New York will join Vermont as the only states banning fracking, but will be the first ban in a state with significant… Read More →