HB 49 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the treatment and beneficial use of fluid oil and gas waste and related material, including a limitation on liability for that treatment or use.

HB 49 limits legal liability for businesses and landowners handling oil and gas waste in Texas. It shields parties who treat or reuse this waste (e.g., for drilling operations) from tort claims related to subsequent use, unless they acted with gross negligence or failed to follow environmental rules. The law specifically protects those who generate, transport, or treat waste, including surface estate owners, but does not cover cases involving intentional misconduct or negligence. Signed into law on June 20, 2025, and effective September 1, 2025, it directly affects oil and gas operators, waste treatment facilities, and landowners managing such waste.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 17, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 4 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
This bill enrolls the final version of HB 49, which limits liability for oil and gas waste treatment. The enrolled version includes certification that the bill passed both legislative chambers and was signed by the Governor, with an effective date of September 1, 2025. The substantive policy content regarding liability protections remains unchanged from the engrossed version.
Scope change
No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; this is a procedural transition from engrossed to enrolled version with certification of passage and signature.
TIMELINE

Added certification that the bill passed the House on May 10, 2025, and the Senate on May 25, 2025, with vote counts and signatures from legislative officers.

Added Governor's signature line and approval date field to indicate official enactment.

TECHNICAL

Removed draft formatting markers (e.g., 'AADarby', 'AAA', line numbers) and replaced with official enrolled bill text formatting.

Added a note about digital content accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1) in the header, unrelated to the bill's substantive provisions.

Floor votes · Senate May 25, 2025 · House May 9, 2025

How they voted

282
Passed
Total votes 30
May 25, 2025
D Democratic10
8 Yea 2 Nay
80% Yea
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
55
Key actions
21
Committee
14
Amendments
2
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage reported
lower
May 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
May 13, 2025
Committee
Referred to Natural Resources
upper
May 13, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 12, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
lower
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 9, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (117-22-5)
house
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Vote reconsidered in committee
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Energy Resources
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
6 primary · 15 co-sponsors

Sponsors