HB1496 was presented to the Texas House Committee on Land and Resources Management on March 5.
The bill's sponsor is Van Taylor, a representative from Plano. The intent of this bill is to prevent local municipalities from passing zoning or ordinances that would regulate oil/gas well drilling within their corporate city limits.HB1496 would turn over power to regulate oil/gas well drilling in cities to the state. This means all setbacks for drilling could be as close as 200 feet to homes, schools, churches and hospitals.We need to stand strong in our opposition to this bill.HB1496 is vague and creates more questions than solutions.Texas takes great pride in suing the federal government time and again for what it perceives as takeovers by "big government," so why is HB1496 any different?Isn't it state government overreaching into a municipality's rights?-- Cathy McMullen, DentonHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
