Tex. Nat. Resources Code Section 52.137
Suit After Protest


(a)

If a lessee, who has received an audit deficiency assessment and has waived the right to request a hearing before the commissioner or who is required by final order of the commissioner following a hearing to pay additional royalties, contends that such audit deficiency assessment is unlawful or that the commissioner may not legally demand or collect such royalties, and the lessee intends to bring suit under this section, the lessee must submit a protest in writing stating fully and in detail each reason why it contends such royalty is not due. Such protest shall be made to the commissioner within 30 days of the date of receipt of the audit billing notice or of the date of receipt of the final order of the commissioner following a hearing, as the case may be. All such mailings shall be by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(b)

Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 3 , Sec. 10(2), eff. September 1, 2015.

(c)

A suit under this section is barred unless brought in the district courts of Travis County within 90 days after the date of the protest or within 90 days after the date of the final order of the commissioner following hearing, whichever is later.

(d)

The issues to be determined in a suit under this section are limited to those arising from the reasons stated in the written protest as originally filed.

(e)

The trial of the issues in a suit under this section is de novo and the substantial evidence rule will not apply.
Added by Acts 1986, 69th Leg., 3rd C.S., ch. 5, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 30, 1986. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 948, Sec. 25, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1423, Sec. 14.13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 328, Sec. 7.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 3 (S.B. 903), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 3 (S.B. 903), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 3 (S.B. 903), Sec. 10(2), eff. September 1, 2015.

Source: Section 52.137 — Suit After Protest, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/NR/htm/NR.­52.­htm#52.­137 (accessed May 11, 2024).

52.001
Definitions
52.011
Area Subject to Lease
52.012
Conditions for Lease
52.013
Determination of Lease Price and Delay Rentals
52.014
Date for Lease and Notice
52.015
Bid to Lease
52.016
Special Fee
52.017
Keeping and Opening Bids
52.018
Void Application
52.019
Tie Bids
52.020
Return of Payments on Rejected Applications
52.021
Term of Lease
52.022
Royalty Rate
52.023
Lease Provisions for Drilling and Reworking
52.024
Lease Provisions for Shut-in Oil or Gas Royalty and Compensatory Royalty
52.026
Lease Transfer
52.027
Lease Relinquishment
52.028
Suspension of Lease Because of Litigation
52.029
Forfeiture of Rights
52.030
Refund of Lease Money in Certain Situations
52.031
Extension of Lease by Commissioner
52.032
Regulation of Development and Operations
52.033
Access to Land
52.034
Offset Wells
52.071
Authority over Riverbeds and Channels
52.072
State Policy
52.073
Area Subject to Lease
52.074
Size of Tract
52.076
Duty to Advertise
52.077
Special Fee
52.080
Forms for Lease and Contract
52.082
Term of Lease
52.083
Conditions of Lease
52.084
Special Lease Provisions
52.085
Prevention of Pollution
52.087
Determination of Lease Price and Delay Rentals
52.088
Royalty Rate
52.090
Extension of Lease
52.091
Refund of Lease Money in Certain Situations
52.092
Power of Eminent Domain
52.093
Eminent Domain Purposes
52.094
Drilling Offset Well on Condemned Land
52.095
Rights of Parties to Condemnation
52.096
Exclusion from Damages in Condemnation
52.097
Injunction
52.098
Appeal
52.099
Venue
52.100
Effect of Subchapter
52.131
Payment of Royalty Generally
52.132
Form of Payment
52.133
Payment of Royalty in Kind
52.134
Filing Contracts and Agreements
52.135
Inspections and Examinations
52.136
Lien
52.137
Suit After Protest
52.139
Limitations on Audit Assessments
52.140
Audit Information Confidential
52.151
Authorization to Operate Areas as Units
52.152
Approval of Agreements
52.153
Provisions of Agreement
52.154
Ratifications and Other Agreements
52.171
School and Asylum Lands
52.172
Sale and Lease by Agent
52.173
Offset Wells
52.174
Failure to Drill Offset
52.175
Lease of Oil and Gas After Forfeiture
52.176
Forfeiture of Rights
52.177
Rights of Subsequent Purchaser
52.178
Operation Under Permit
52.179
Lease Under Permit
52.180
Payments Under Permit
52.181
Relinquishment Under Permit
52.182
Damages to Soil
52.183
Effective Date of Lease
52.184
Statement of Consideration
52.185
University Land
52.186
Lease of Certain Minerals When Owner of the Soil Unavailable
52.188
Assignments to the Owner of the Soil
52.189
Authority and Duties of Agent
52.190
Lease by Owner of the Soil
52.291
Coverage
52.297
Compensation for Damages from Use of Surface
52.0301
Suspension of Terms of Lease in Certain Situations
52.321
Definitions
52.322
Permit Required for Exploration
52.323
Application for Permit
52.324
Authority of Commissioner
52.325
Permittee’s Failure to Comply

Accessed:
May 11, 2024

§ 52.137’s source at texas​.gov