The Legislature approved $600 million for standalone water improvements, a dramatic increase over prior years.
Brooks Landgraf
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
A West Texas lawmaker wants to redirect millions of tax dollars to plug abandoned wells, curb emissions
The proposal comes after the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency said it needs more money to plug wells that are in some instances erupting.
Posted in
Energy
Despite Texas’ “aggressive” well-plugging program, there’s still a backlog of orphaned oil and gas wells
No state has punched more holes in its bedrock than the Lone Star State. The environmental risks are staggering, and so are the clean up costs, especially in the Permian Basin.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
State lawmakers again try to ban most dangerous nuclear waste as feds consider allowing it at West Texas site
A failed regular session bill sought to give a financial break to a West Texas nuclear waste disposal company. Now, lawmakers have removed what opponents called a giveaway and are again trying to pass a bill to stop highly radioactive materials from coming to Texas.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
An amendment about waste facility fees was added to a widely supported domestic violence bill. Will it stick?
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst’s office said Saturday that she “is still evaluating all options available to save SB 1804.”
Posted in
Demographics
Property tax proposal piles one more worry on Texas’ rural hospital districts
Hospital leaders say restrictions on their property tax revenue growth could force them to scale back services.
Posted in
Politics
Blanco and Landgraf on ICE raids, school choice and the bathroom bill (video)
Full video of Evan Smith’s 2/17 conversation with state Reps. César Blanco, D-El Paso, and Brooks LandgrafTe, R-Odessa, on the campus of Odessa College.