Relating to the establishment of the organized oilfield theft prevention unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety.
SB 1320 would create an Organized Oilfield Theft Prevention Unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The unit would be tasked with investigating and arresting people involved in theft of petroleum products and theft of oil and gas equipment, including offenses under Penal Code Sections 31.19 and 31.03 when the stolen property is oilfield-related equipment. The bill defines oil and gas equipment broadly to include machinery, drilling equipment, welding equipment, pipe, fittings, pumps, vehicles, and other tools used in oil and gas operations or petroleum transport.
The unit would have statewide jurisdiction, but it would be based primarily in the DPS region adjacent to the international border that includes El Paso. It would coordinate with federal, state, and local law enforcement, prosecutors, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and victims. DPS would also be required to establish a command structure, adopt rules for staffing, training, facilities, and working conditions, and may open additional regional offices. The unit would also be responsible for training local agencies, conducting public outreach, and maintaining a centralized database of related offenses and criminal enterprises.
The bill would add a new subchapter to Chapter 411 of the Government Code and expand DPS responsibilities by creating a specialized enforcement unit focused on oilfield theft. It would not change the underlying theft offenses in the Penal Code, but it would create a dedicated state law enforcement structure to investigate, arrest, coordinate prosecutions, and track offenses involving oil and gas equipment and petroleum products. The bill also requires a biennial report to state leaders and legislative committees on the unit’s activities, arrests, prosecutions, recoveries, and recommendations, and directs DPS to adopt implementing rules by December 1, 2025.
The available voting history suggests the bill moved without recorded opposition in the listed votes, but the context is limited and no committee transcript is available. Overall, the bill appears to be framed as a public-safety and industry-protection measure, with an emphasis on combating organized theft affecting the oil and gas sector. The lack of recorded discussion makes it difficult to identify broader legislative sentiment beyond apparent procedural support.
The main policy issue is whether Texas should create a specialized DPS unit for oilfield theft rather than relying on existing local and state law enforcement resources. Supporters would likely emphasize the economic harm caused by organized theft, the need for specialized expertise, and the value of centralized coordination and data tracking. Potential concerns could include the cost of creating and staffing a new unit, the scope of its statewide jurisdiction, and the decision to base it primarily in the El Paso border region, though no direct objections are documented in the provided materials.