LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 28, 2009

TO:	Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB4433 by Rodriguez (Relating to an exemption from oil and gas severance taxes for oil and gas produced in association with the production of geothermal energy.), As Passed 2nd House

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Tax Code by adding Sections 201.060 and 202.063 to exempt oil and gas incidentally produced in association with the production of geothermal energy from severance taxes.

According to Southern Methodist University's Geothermal Laboratory, although Texas has five major potential geothermal energy production regions associated with oil and gas wells, there are no commercial projects in Texas, and the timeline of any potential operations is unknown at this time.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts

LBB Staff:

JOB, SZ, MN, SD, KK