State lawmakers are threatening to abolish the agency that regulates the Texas oil and gas industry after officials ended public testimony at open meetings.
Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian spearheaded the policy shift, which blocks members of the public from providing uninvited comments during commission proceedings.
The move drew sharp pushback from State Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo) who chairs the House committee overseeing the Railroad Commission. Tensions escalated after Christian declined to appear before Darby’s committee to address the policy change.
The Railroad Commission of Texas, despite its name, serves as the state's primary regulator for the oil and natural gas industry, pipeline safety, and surface mining.
