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
• Rules for Relinquishment Act Leasing (TAC)
• RAL Lease Form

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.

State or County roadway may be leased when title determines that the State owns the minerals located under the tract. State and County roads are leased independently. HB2521, 84^th Leg. (T.N.R.C. §32.201(j)), effective September 1, 2017, requires bonus and royalty revenue to be paid directly to the county. 

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

• Guidelines – Leasing State or County Road
• Application – Leasing State or County Roads
• Affidavit of Highest Consideration
• Bonus Form – County Roads
• Notice of Intent to Lease State or County Road
• Waiver of Preferential Right to Lease
• Sample – State Oil & Gas Lease
• Sample – County Oil & Gas Lease
• Pooling – Guidelines and Application for State or County Roads

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