On October 29, 2025, the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) held the first meeting of the State Task Force on Petroleum Theft (STOPTheft) at its Austin headquarters. RRC Chairman Jim Wright led the session and stated the task force’s goal is to address petroleum theft in Texas. He noted the members’ experience and said the group will work to find solutions to the problem.
STOPTheft was formed during the 89th Legislative Session through Senate Bill 494. The task force includes representatives from the energy industry and law enforcement at the federal and local levels. Its duties are to review laws from other states and countries, study the economic impact of theft, and suggest ways to improve law enforcement training.
At the first meeting, members reviewed SB 494 and approved the task force’s charter. They discussed ways to improve cooperation between law enforcement and private operators, the impact of theft on state sales tax revenue, and better data sharing among agencies…