CHRIS TOMLINSON,Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Senate is reviewing the Railroad Commission and considering a name change for the agency that now has very little to do with railroads.
The Senate Natural Resource committee also heard testimony Tuesday on restricting the ability of the three, elected commissioners to raise campaign money while in office.
For years the agency’s name has created confusion. The commission originally supervised the railroads. But over the years the agency lost oversight of trains and took up regulation of the oil and gas industry.
The Senate is considering changing the name to the Texas Energy Resources Commission and would beef up its regulatory powers. But some lawmakers prefer the name Texas Energy Commission. The current commissioners also opposed the campaign fundraising restrictions.