LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          March 23, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Tom Craddick, Chair          IN RE: Committee Substitute
         Committee on Ways & Means              for
         House of Representatives                              House Bill
         Austin, Texas                          No. 676










FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
676 (relating to a tax exemption for hydrocarbon production from
certain inactive oil and gas leases returned to production) this
office has determined the following:

The bill would continue for two more years the mineral severance
tax exemption given to three-year inactive wells.  Production of
oil and gas from wells  certified would be exempt from taxation
for a period of 10 years.  The bill would authorize a period from
Sept. 1, 1995 through Aug. 31, 1997 for certification application
to the Railroad Commission.  Lastly, the bill makes tax exempt
the condensate produced from certified wells.

The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of
the bill during each of the first  five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
     



          Fiscal   Probable Revenue    Administrative
          Year    Loss from  General    Cost to the  
                   Revenue Fund 001    Comptroller's 
                                        Office from  
                                      General Revenue
                                          Fund 001   
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     

         1996                  $455,000               $75,200

         1997                   457,000                75,200
         1998                   458,000

         1999                   457,000

         2000                   457,000



       Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.

The fiscal implication to  units of local government cannot be
determined.


 Source:  Comptroller of Public Accounts
          LBB Staff: JK, CT, DF