The Railroad Commission of Texas drew more than 1,100 attendees and over 60 exhibitors to its 2026 Regulatory Conference, setting a new attendance record for the agency’s premier annual educational event. The commission announced the results in a July 20 news release.
The three-day conference, held July 13–15 at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Round Rock, brought together stakeholders from across the oil and gas regulatory community, including operators, industry experts, state and federal regulators and other energy professionals, according to the release.
“We’re honored to bring together legislative, regulatory and industry leaders for meaningful discussions alongside the world-class educational sessions our Regulatory Conference has become known for,” said RRC Executive Director Wei Wang. “This conference provides an invaluable opportunity for stakeholders across the energy industry to collaborate, share ideas and help shape effective energy regulation in Texas.”
Wang opened the conference before welcoming RRC Chairman Jim Wright, who officially kicked off the event, the agency said. The first session featured a fireside chat between Wright and state Rep. Drew Darby, chair of the Texas House Committee on Energy Resources, along with an update from Wright on the commission’s STOPTheft Task Force. Attendees also heard from Paul Roberti, administrator of the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, who discussed the evolving federal pipeline safety regulatory landscape. On the second day, state Rep. Cody Harris, chair of the Texas House Committee on Natural Resources, joined Texas Oil and Gas Association President Todd Staples for a conversation on the future of Texas energy and natural resources.
More than 90 educational sessions were offered across the three days. While many focused on oil and gas regulation, pipeline safety and critical infrastructure, the agency said this year’s agenda expanded to include new tracks on alternative fuels safety and on surface mining and reclamation. Session highlights included discussions of inactive well compliance, Class VI wells, incident reporting, National Transportation Safety Board investigations and other emerging regulatory topics affecting the Texas energy industry.
New this year, attendees had access to a dedicated conference mobile app for viewing the agenda, building personalized schedules, connecting with exhibitors and networking, according to the release. The commission has already secured dates for next year’s conference, which returns to the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Round Rock July 12–14, 2027.