(WO) — The Texas Railroad Commission marked its 135th anniversary this week, highlighting its longstanding role regulating oil and gas development across the state.

Founded in 1891, the agency has evolved from overseeing railroads to becoming the primary regulator of Texas’ oil and gas industry, including drilling, production, pipelines and related infrastructure.

The commission has played a central role in major industry shifts, from early oil booms to the rise of shale development, and continues to oversee a broad range of activities tied to energy production and safety.

“As we celebrate this anniversary, I invite you to reflect on the legacy of the RRC,” said Wei Wang, executive director of the Railroad Commission. “For more than a century, the agency’s hard work has helped shape Texas into the energy leader that it is today, an essential pillar of our state’s economy and a foundation for our nation’s energy independence and security. As we look to the future, we remain committed to our mission of protecting public safety and the environment.”

In recent years, the commission has expanded its scope to include oversight of hydrogen pipelines and underground storage, while also issuing its first permit for a deep geo-pressured geothermal well.

The agency has also increased focus on operational efficiency and enforcement, including digitizing more than 100 million records and launching initiatives such as the State Taskforce on Petroleum Theft.

In addition, funding support for well plugging programs has continued to grow, with more than 46,000 wells plugged since the program began in 1984.

The commission remains a central regulatory authority in one of the world’s largest oil and gas producing regions, overseeing ongoing development across Texas’ upstream sector.