{
  "name": "Royalty payment law by state",
  "publisher": "Berlin Royalties",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "source": "https://www.berlinroyalties.com/royalty-payment-laws/",
  "disclaimer": "General information verified against statutory text. Not legal advice. Laws change and courts interpret them.",
  "last_reviewed": "2026-08",
  "count": 10,
  "states": [{"state":"Oklahoma","code":"OK","first_payment":"6 months","ongoing_oil":"End of 2nd month after sale","ongoing_gas":"End of 3rd month after sale","interest":"12% per year, compounded annually. Unmarketable title: WSJ prime (since Nov 2018)","statute":"52 O.S. § 570.10","minimum_payment":"$10 to $100 may be paid annually; under $10 held until production ends","limitation_years":5,"forced_pooling":"Yes, Corporation Commission"},{"state":"Texas","code":"TX","first_payment":"120 days after month of first sale","ongoing_oil":"60 days","ongoing_gas":"90 days if the lease is silent","interest":"NY Fed discount rate plus 2 points. None while a bona fide title dispute exists","statute":"Tex. Nat. Res. Code §§ 91.402, 91.403","minimum_payment":"Under $100 held until reached or 12 months, whichever first; monthly on written request","limitation_years":4,"limitation_note":"No discovery rule (Shell Oil Co. v. Ross)","forced_pooling":"Yes, but rarely granted"},{"state":"New Mexico","code":"NM","first_payment":"6 months","ongoing_oil":"45 days after month payor is paid","ongoing_gas":"45 days after month payor is paid","interest":"18% per year penalty. Funds properly in suspense: Dallas Fed discount plus 1.5%","statute":"NMSA §§ 70-10-3, 70-10-4, 70-10-5","minimum_payment":"No threshold, but the 18% penalty does not apply under $100","limitation_years":6,"forced_pooling":"Yes, Oil Conservation Division"},{"state":"Kansas","code":"KS","first_payment":"No hard deadline; interest grace runs about 120 days","ongoing_oil":"Interest starts 60 days after month of sale","ongoing_gas":"Interest starts 60 days after month of sale","interest":"NY Fed discount plus 1.5 points, or the rate actually earned if segregated","statute":"K.S.A. 55-1614, 55-1615","minimum_payment":"Under $100 annually if over $10; monthly on written request once over $25","limitation_years":5,"forced_pooling":"No, unitization only"},{"state":"North Dakota","code":"ND","first_payment":"150 days after production is marketed","ongoing_oil":"Same 150-day standard","ongoing_gas":"Same 150-day standard","interest":"18% per year. Does not apply during a genuine title dispute","statute":"N.D.C.C. § 47-16-39.1","minimum_payment":"Under $50 may be paid semiannually","limitation_years":6,"forced_pooling":"Yes, Industrial Commission"},{"state":"Colorado","code":"CO","first_payment":"6 months after month of first sale","ongoing_oil":"60 days","ongoing_gas":"90 days","interest":"2x Kansas City Fed discount rate, simple, from date of each sale","statute":"C.R.S. § 34-60-118.5","minimum_payment":"$100 or less for a 12-month period may be paid annually","limitation_years":6,"forced_pooling":"Yes, with 45%+ consent","note":"The only state whose agency (ECMC) can adjudicate a royalty payment dispute"},{"state":"Wyoming","code":"WY","first_payment":"6 months","ongoing_oil":"60 days after month of sale","ongoing_gas":"60 days after month of sale","interest":"18% per year, plus court costs and attorney fees to the prevailing party","statute":"Wyo. Stat. §§ 30-5-301, 30-5-303","minimum_payment":"$100 or less may be held up to 12 months; request payment at $25","limitation_years":10,"forced_pooling":"Yes, Oil and Gas Conservation Commission"},{"state":"Montana","code":"MT","first_payment":"120 days after production is marketed","ongoing_oil":"60 days","ongoing_gas":"90 days","interest":"Greater of 15% or prime plus 6 points","statute":"Mont. Code §§ 82-10-103, 31-1-107","minimum_payment":"Under $50 semiannually; under $10 annually","limitation_years":6,"limitation_note":"Reduced from 8 years in 2025","forced_pooling":"Yes, Board of Oil and Gas Conservation"},{"state":"Arkansas","code":"AR","first_payment":"6 months (first purchaser) or 180 days (operator)","ongoing_oil":"60 days after month of sale","ongoing_gas":"60 days after month of sale","interest":"12% per year unless a written agreement sets another rate","statute":"Ark. Code §§ 15-74-601, 15-74-604","minimum_payment":"$10 to $150 annually; request payment once over $50","limitation_years":5,"forced_pooling":"Yes, called integration"},{"state":"Louisiana","code":"LA","first_payment":"No statutory deadline; the lease governs","ongoing_oil":"Lease governs; 30 days to cure after written notice","ongoing_gas":"Lease governs; 30 days to cure after written notice","interest":"No fixed rate. Willful nonpayment can mean double royalties, interest, fees, and lease dissolution","statute":"La. R.S. 31:137 to 31:140","minimum_payment":"No statutory threshold located","limitation_years":3,"forced_pooling":"Yes, Commissioner of Conservation"}]
}