Signed by Governor Jim Justice, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes natural gas drilling under properties where 75 percent of royalty owners consent.

Highlights:

• Authorizes natural gas producers, in cases where there are 7 or more royalty owners on a given property, and the producer has made an effort to negotiate with all royalty owners resulting in at least three-fourths of royalty owners consenting to use for natural gas drilling, the producer may lawfully drill for natural gas on such property (Article 1).

• Specifies that non-consenting royalty owners are entitled to receive prorata shares of royalties resulting from certain revenues or revenue shares resulting from certain revenues, as per their choice (Article 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes natural gas drilling under properties where 75 percent of royalty owners consent.

Highlights:

• Authorizes natural gas producers, in cases where there are 7 or more royalty owners on a given property, and the producer has made an effort to negotiate with all royalty owners resulting in at least three-fourths of royalty owners consenting to use for natural gas drilling, the producer may lawfully drill for natural gas on such property (Article 1).

• Specifies that non-consenting royalty owners are entitled to receive prorata shares of royalties resulting from certain revenues or revenue shares resulting from certain revenues, as per their choice (Article 1).

Full Bill Text