Railroad Commission's Name Could Change

AUSTIN (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 will hear testimony on Tuesday on several proposed changes to the agency that regulates the oil and gas industry.

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. It has three commissioners elected on a statewide basis and is one of the oldest agencies in Texas.

The Senate is considering changing the name to the Texas Energy Resources Commission and would beef up its regulatory powers.

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