H.B. No. 33
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the enforcement of certain federal laws regulating oil
  and gas operations within the State of Texas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 3, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 82 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 82. ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL LAWS
         Sec. 82.0101.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "oil and gas
  operation" has the meaning assigned by Section 81.0523.
         Sec. 82.0102.  ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN FEDERAL LAWS
  REGULATING OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS. (a) An agency of this state or a
  person employed by an agency of this state may not contract with or
  in any other manner provide assistance to a federal agency or
  official with respect to the enforcement of a federal statute,
  order, rule, or regulation purporting to regulate oil and gas
  operations if the statute, order, rule, or regulation imposes a
  prohibition, restriction, or other regulation that does not exist
  under the laws of this state.
         (b)  The attorney general shall defend any agency of this
  state that the federal government attempts to sue for an action or
  omission consistent with the requirements of this section.
         (c)  This section does not prohibit a state agency from:
               (1)  implementing a federal law by executing authority
  delegated to the state agency by a federal agency; or
               (2)  entering into a memorandum of understanding with a
  federal agency to implement a federal law, if otherwise authorized
  by state law.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 33 was passed by the House on May 5,
  2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 99, Nays 44, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 33 on May 25, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 107, Nays 34, 3
  present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 33 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 22, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 19, Nays
  12.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor