AUSTIN — House Joint Resolution 82, part of the "GROW Texas" legislative package authored by State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) and State Representative Tom Craddick (R-Midland), was approved by the Texas House of Representatives on Thursday. HJR 82, which creates the Generate Recurring Oil Wealth for Texas (GROW Texas) fund passed out of the House by a vote of 121-13.

The "GROW Texas" legislation would bring state money generated by oil and gas production back to energy-producing hotbeds across the state. The legislation considers directing state funds to make drastically needed improvements to roads, boost public safety, enhance educational opportunities across energy producing areas, as well as reduce infrastructure bottlenecks.

In the 2020-21 Biennial Revenue Estimate, Comptroller Glenn Hegar states: "total Texas oil production is expected to increase at slower rates through 2021 due to infrastructure bottlenecks in the Permian Basin."

"The regions of Texas responsible for the state's oil and gas production have experienced significant challenges that limit the growth of the energy sector and could pose a significant threat to the long-term success of the industry and the state," Landgraf said. "It is in the best interest of Texas to protect this vital source of revenue for the state and 'Grow Texas' is a big step forward to address those challenges."