Abbott signs bills to boost Texas oil and fight Permian Basin theft

Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday signed into law a suite of bills. It is aiming to strengthen the state’s oil and gas industry and driving long-term economic development in the Permian Basin.

The ceremonial event was held at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum. Abbott hailed the legislation as a turning point for both the energy sector and the West Texas region it powers.

“Today is a defining moment for the Permian Basin. The future of this region, and the future of Texas,” Abbott said. “We are bringing the full weight of the law to crack down on oil theft. In the Permian Basin, we protect the critical role energy development plays in fueling our economy.

The legislative package includes Senate Bills 494, 529, and 1806, House Bill 48, and a $123 million Beacon Budget Appropriation. Together, the measures focus on both crime prevention and economic expansion, with lawmakers and energy executives rallying behind the effort.

At the center of the anti-crime measures is Senate Bill 494, which establishes a petroleum product theft task force, and House Bill 48, which creates an organized oilfield theft prevention unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety. The goal: to combat the growing threat of organized criminal activity targeting oil pipelines and storage tanks — theft that state officials say has siphoned millions of dollars from the region.

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Source: News4SA

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