Leasing

The surface owner of Relinquishment Act Lands acts as agent for the state for leasing purposes. Bonus, rentals, and royalties are split between the state and the surface owner. The GLO must review and approve the terms and consideration offered. The leases are not effective until approved and filed in the GLO.

• Guidelines for Relinquishment Act Leasing
• Application & Checklist for Relinquishment Act Leasing
• Notarized Landman Statement
• Relinquishment Act Lease Form
• Rules for Relinquishment Act Leasing (TAC)

ANNOUNCEMENT

The General Land Office will hold an online sealed bid Oil, Gas, and Other Minerals Lease Sale on EnergyNet.com. Bidding will take place on EnergyNet.com starting on April 10, 2026 and bids will be opened at 9:00 a.m. on May 12, 2026. The results will be announced later that day at the School Land Board meeting. For more information or to make nominations, call (512) 475-1534, or write to todd.hilliard@glo.texas.gov. The nomination deadline is February 13, 2026.

Results of the October 21, 2025, Oil & Gas Online Lease Sale.
 

• Past Bid Sale Results
• Nominating Procedures
• Nomination Example Letter
• Rules for Sealed Bid Sales (TAC)
• Statute for Sealed Bid Sales (TNRC)

A state Free Royalty interest is similar to a non-participating royalty interest. An oil, gas, or other mineral lease on land in which the state reserves a mineral or royalty interest is not effective until a certified copy of the recorded lease is filed in the General Land Office. Any pooling or communitization of the state's Free Royalty interest requires School Land Board approval.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Please be advised that effective September 1, 2017, the leasing of county roads is subject to H.B.2521, 84th Leg. (T.N.R.C. §32.201(j)). Leases for county roads entered into, on or after, September 1, 2017, will require that any payment under the lease be made directly to the county (this does not include various application, processing, or administrative fees that will still be made to the GLO). New Procedures and forms for Leasing County Roads are posted under COUNTY ROAD LEASING (CoRd) below.

HB2521 http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/billtext/html/HB02521F.htm
Natural Resources Code: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/NR/htm/NR.32.htm#32.20

A (HROW) tract may be leased when the state owns the minerals located under the tract. 

• Guidelines for Leasing State ROW
• SROW Application and Checklist
• Affidavit of Highest Consideration Paid
• Waiver of Preferential Right to Lease
• Notice of Intent to Lease State ROW
• State ROW Lease Sample
• Unit Designation Form and Requirements

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Please be advised that effective September 1, 2017, the leasing of county roads is subject to H.B.2521, 84th Leg. (T.N.R.C. §32.201(j)). Leases for county roads entered into, on or after, September 1, 2017, will require that any payment under the lease be made directly to the county (this does not include various application, processing, or administrative fees that will still be made to the GLO).

HB2521 http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/billtext/html/HB02521F.htm
Natural Resources Code: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/NR/htm/NR.32.htm#32.201

A CoRd tract may be leased when the county owns the minerals located under the tract. Roads crossing county lines must be leased by an individual lease for each county.

• Guidelines for Leasing County Roads
• CoRd Application, Checklist, and Bonus Forms
• Affidavit of Highest Consideration Paid
• Waiver of Preferential Right to Lease
• Notice of Intent to Lease County Road
• County Road Lease Sample
• Unit Designation Form and Requirements

An Unleased State Right of Way may be pooled pursuant to Section 32.207 of the Texas Natural Resources Code and with School Land Board approval ( See Pooling ).

An Unleased County Road may be pooled pursuant to Section 32.207 of the Texas Natural Resources Code and with School Land Board approval ( See Pooling ).

Riverbeds and channels that belong to the state may be pooled pursuant to Section 52.076 of the Texas Natural Resources Code and with School Land Board approval ( See Pooling ).

Resource Management Codes are assigned to state-owned tracts in Texas bays and the Gulf of America, providing development guidelines for activities within each tract. The codes enhance protection of sensitive natural resources by providing recommendations for minimizing adverse impacts from mineral exploration and development activities. These codes include recommendations from the following external resources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Historical Commission, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps).Guidelines for Resource Management Codes 

• Guidelines for Resource Management Codes
• Access Codes
• Dredging and Dredged Material Disposal Codes
• Right-of-Way Codes
• Oil and Gas Development Codes
• Time Limitations Codes
• Miscellaneous Codes
• Coastal Resources Management Viewer

External Links:

• U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• National Marine Fisheries Service
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Texas Historical Commission
• U. S. Army Corps of Engineers