Coalbed methane gas; presumption of ownership, report. (SB376)

Introduced By

Sen. Phil Puckett (D-Tazewell)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Natural gas; presumption of ownership. Provides that the surface owner of real property shall be presumed to be the owner of any natural gas, including coalbed methane gas, below the surface unless the right to ownership or possession of the natural gas has been expressly conferred by deed or other instrument. The owner or lessee of a minerals estate shall bear the burden of proof to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the ownership or possession of natural gas was transferred by the deed or instrument that created or severed the mineral estate. The Auditor of Public Accounts is required to audit escrow accounts containing gas royalties from units with unknown or disputed owners. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/12/2010Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/10 10101120D
01/12/2010Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
02/08/2010Committee substitute printed 10104787D-S1
02/08/2010Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitite (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/09/2010Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/10/2010Read second time
02/10/2010Committee substitute rejected 10104787D-S1
02/10/2010Floor substitute printed 10105158D-S2 (Puckett)
02/10/2010Reading of substitute waived
02/10/2010Substitute by Senator Puckett agreed to 10105158D-S2
02/10/2010Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute SB376S2
02/11/2010Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/16/2010Placed on Calendar
02/16/2010Read first time
02/16/2010Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
02/17/2010Impact statement from DPB (SB376S2)
02/24/2010Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendments (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/25/2010Read second time
02/26/2010Committee amendments agreed to
02/26/2010Amendment by Delegate Phillips agreed to
02/26/2010Engrossed by House as amended
02/26/2010Passed House with amendments (96-Y 0-N)
02/26/2010VOTE: --- PASSAGE EMERGENCY (96-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/02/2010House amendments rejected by Senate (2-Y 37-N) (see vote tally)
03/03/2010House insisted on amendments
03/03/2010House requested conference committee
03/05/2010Senate acceded to request (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2010Conferees appointed by Senate
03/05/2010Senators: Puckett, Reynolds, Blevins
03/09/2010Conferees appointed by House
03/09/2010Delegates: Phillips, Morefield, Griffith
03/10/2010Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
03/10/2010Conference report agreed to by House (91-Y 0-N)
03/10/2010VOTE: --- ADOPTION (91-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/10/2010Emergency clause added
03/22/2010Enrolled
03/22/2010Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB376ER)
03/22/2010Impact statement from DPB (SB376ER)
03/22/2010Signed by Speaker
03/25/2010Signed by President
04/13/2010G Approved by Governor-Chapter 730 (effective 4/13/10)
04/13/2010G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0730)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 3 clips in all, totaling 2 minutes.