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Bill

SB 1320

Relating to the establishment of the organized oilfield theft prevention unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Brent Hagenbuch and 1 co-sponsor

Texas creates specialized DPS unit to investigate organized oilfield theft, protecting energy infrastructure and industry assets from coordinated criminal operations.

Referred to Energy Resources
#courts--prosecutingattorneys(i0165) #lawenforcement(i0510) #oil&gas(i0545) #publicsafetycommission(v8707) #publicsafety #departmentof(v0251) #railroadcommission(v0089)
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Bill Summary · SB 1320

Legislative bill overview

SB 1320 establishes a specialized unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety dedicated to preventing and investigating organized oilfield theft. The bill creates an institutional framework to combat theft of equipment, materials, and resources from oil and gas operations across Texas.

Why is this important

Oilfield theft costs the industry millions annually and can disrupt energy production and economic activity in oil-producing regions. Creating a dedicated law enforcement unit signals state commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and addresses a crime category that may fall between traditional local law enforcement priorities and specialized agency jurisdictions.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource allocation: Questions about whether DPS funding and personnel should be redirected to this specialized unit versus other public safety priorities
  • Jurisdictional overlap: Potential conflicts with local sheriff's offices, county constables, and existing DPS divisions regarding investigative authority and responsibility
  • Definition scope: Ambiguity about what constitutes "organized" theft versus individual criminal acts, and whether the unit will have adequate resources to address all qualifying cases

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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