Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

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REGULATORY
77 th Texas Legislature
Requires a pipeline operator to publish notice of a proposed route for a new pipeline system or extension of
an existing pipeline system in a general circulation newspaper in counties of greater than 10,000. Requires
the notice to:
• include the location of the beginning and end points of the proposed route; and
• a list of each state or federal highway the route will cross, at least 30 days but no more than one
year before the start of construction.
Rates and Hearings
Expands RRC original jurisdiction over the rates and services of a gas utility to include the area inside a
municipality as well as outside a municipality.
Authorizes a municipality to elect to have RRC exercise exclusive original jurisdiction over gas utility rates,
operations, and services in the municipality.
Provides that a municipality that surrenders its jurisdiction to RRC may reinstate its jurisdiction. Provides
that these provisions governing the surrender of jurisdiction apply to the reinstatement of jurisdiction.
Requires the utility division of the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) to conduct contested
case hearings and to authorize the utility division to make final decisions and issue findings of fact,
conclusions of law, and other necessary orders in other proceedings on behalf of the commission.
Requires such hearings to be conducted in accordance with RRC rules and procedures.
Provides that for purposes of judicial review, an administrative law judge’s final decision has the same
effect as a final decision of the railroad commission, unless a member of the agency’s commission requests
formal review of the decision.
Senate Research Center 243