Texas 89th Legislature
Utilities
24 high-impact bills require immediate attention. 42 bills have bipartisan support.
High-Impact Bills
24 bills require immediate attention
Relating to plans for the management and inspection of distribution poles.
Relating to risk mitigation planning and associated liability for providers of electric service; providing an administrative penalty.
Relating to water losses reported by certain municipally owned utilities to the Texas Water Development Board; authorizing administrative penalties.
Relating to the inclusion of certain provisions in lease agreements for wind or solar power facilities.
Relating to subdivision plat requirements in certain counties; authorizing a fee; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.
Relating to the removal of battery energy storage facilities.
Utilities Filing Activity
Compliance & Cost
Leading Authors
All Bills (70)
Relating to support for the development of the nuclear energy industry.
Relating to support for the development of the nuclear energy industry.
Relating to water losses reported by certain municipally owned utilities to the Texas Water Development Board; authorizing administrative penalties.
Relating to water losses reported by certain municipally owned utilities to the Texas Water Development Board; authorizing administrative penalties.
Relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to address a failure by an operator to maintain an electrical power line serving a well site or certain surface facilities in accordance with the National Electrical Code.
Relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to address a failure by an operator to maintain an electrical power line serving a well site or certain surface facilities in accordance with the National Electrical Code.
Relating to plans for the management and inspection of distribution poles.
Relating to plans for the management and inspection of distribution poles.
Relating to risk mitigation planning and associated liability for providers of electric service; providing an administrative penalty.
Relating to risk mitigation planning and associated liability for providers of electric service; providing an administrative penalty.
Relating to a limitation on a county's authority to require a cash bond before approving the construction of a pipeline.
Relating to a limitation on a county's authority to require a cash bond before approving the construction of a pipeline.
Relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
Relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
Relating to rates established by municipalities for water or sewer service for certain entities.
Relating to rates established by municipalities for water or sewer service for certain entities.
Relating to the compensation of a distributed renewable generation owner in certain areas outside of ERCOT.
Relating to the compensation of a distributed renewable generation owner in certain areas outside of ERCOT.
Relating to the renewal by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of certain expired occupational licenses and registrations.
Relating to the renewal by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of certain expired occupational licenses and registrations.
Relating to a certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide water or sewer service in an area incorporated or annexed by a municipality.
Relating to a certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide water or sewer service in an area incorporated or annexed by a municipality.
Relating to the creation of a list of priority facilities by electric utilities.
Relating to the creation of a list of priority facilities by electric utilities.
Relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission or distribution line.
Relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission or distribution line.
Relating to information regarding certain charges for services provided by municipally owned utility systems.
Relating to information regarding certain charges for services provided by municipally owned utility systems.
Relating to the affirmation required to be made by an operator as part of an application to the Railroad Commission of Texas for an extension of the deadline for plugging an inactive well; providing an administrative penalty.
Relating to the affirmation required to be made by an operator as part of an application to the Railroad Commission of Texas for an extension of the deadline for plugging an inactive well; providing an administrative penalty.
Relating to test years used for ratemaking purposes by certain water and sewer utilities.
Relating to test years used for ratemaking purposes by certain water and sewer utilities.
Relating to the Rural Economic Development and Investment Program and the Texas economic development fund.
Relating to the Rural Economic Development and Investment Program and the Texas economic development fund.
Relating to an interstate compact for the liquefied natural gas industry.
Relating to an interstate compact for the liquefied natural gas industry.
Relating to the establishment of the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program.
Relating to the establishment of the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program.
Relating to a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct an electric transmission line.
Relating to a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct an electric transmission line.
Relating to the inclusion of certain provisions in lease agreements for wind or solar power facilities.
Relating to the inclusion of certain provisions in lease agreements for wind or solar power facilities.
Relating to subdivision plat requirements in certain counties; authorizing a fee; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.
Relating to subdivision plat requirements in certain counties; authorizing a fee; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.
Relating to the removal of battery energy storage facilities.
Relating to the removal of battery energy storage facilities.
Relating to fire safety standards and emergency operations plans for the operation of battery energy storage facilities; providing administrative penalties.
Relating to fire safety standards and emergency operations plans for the operation of battery energy storage facilities; providing administrative penalties.
Relating to the applicability of certain safety provisions and regulatory fees administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas to gas distribution pipelines.
Relating to the applicability of certain safety provisions and regulatory fees administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas to gas distribution pipelines.
Relating to access to and use of criminal history record information by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Relating to access to and use of criminal history record information by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Relating to the recovery of certain costs associated with a gas utility's plant, facilities, or equipment placed in service.
Relating to the recovery of certain costs associated with a gas utility's plant, facilities, or equipment placed in service.
Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas to retain assistance for regional proceedings affecting certain electric utilities and consumers.
Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas to retain assistance for regional proceedings affecting certain electric utilities and consumers.
Relating to an alternative capital recovery process for certain utilities.
Relating to an alternative capital recovery process for certain utilities.
Relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee.
Relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee.
Relating to the planning for, interconnection and operation of, and costs related to providing service for certain electrical loads and to the generation of electric power by a water supply or sewer service corporation.
Relating to the planning for, interconnection and operation of, and costs related to providing service for certain electrical loads and to the generation of electric power by a water supply or sewer service corporation.
Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board.
Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board.
Relating to funding for certain volunteer fire departments, to the preparation for and the prevention, management, and potential effects of wildfires, and to emergency communications in this state.
Relating to funding for certain volunteer fire departments, to the preparation for and the prevention, management, and potential effects of wildfires, and to emergency communications in this state.
Relating to the resilience of the electric grid and certain municipalities.
Relating to the resilience of the electric grid and certain municipalities.
Relating to certain definitions relating to the regulation of and private rights of action arising from certain solicitation-related communications.
Relating to certain definitions relating to the regulation of and private rights of action arising from certain solicitation-related communications.
Relating to temporary emergency electric energy facilities.
Relating to temporary emergency electric energy facilities.
Relating to the offenses of assault, harassment, and interference with public duties committed against certain employees or agents of a utility.
Relating to the offenses of assault, harassment, and interference with public duties committed against certain employees or agents of a utility.
Relating to a compliance agreement for the suspension of an enforcement action against a regional water supply, sewer, wastewater treatment, or solid waste disposal service for certain violations.
Relating to a compliance agreement for the suspension of an enforcement action against a regional water supply, sewer, wastewater treatment, or solid waste disposal service for certain violations.
Relating to the authority of certain conservation and reclamation districts to impose fees for the construction of certain pipelines and associated infrastructure.
Relating to the authority of certain conservation and reclamation districts to impose fees for the construction of certain pipelines and associated infrastructure.
Relating to certain proceedings by the Public Utility Commission of Texas regarding water or sewer service.
Relating to certain proceedings by the Public Utility Commission of Texas regarding water or sewer service.
Relating to certain regulations adopted by governmental entities for the construction or alteration of residential or commercial buildings.
Relating to certain regulations adopted by governmental entities for the construction or alteration of residential or commercial buildings.
Relating to the procedure for resolving certain customer complaints before the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Relating to the procedure for resolving certain customer complaints before the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Relating to water withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer and to the use of certain reclaimed water in an aquifer storage and recovery project.
Relating to water withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer and to the use of certain reclaimed water in an aquifer storage and recovery project.
Relating to entities that provide video services.
Relating to entities that provide video services.
Relating to the regulation of residential solar retail transactions; requiring an occupational registration; authorizing fees; providing civil and administrative penalties.
Relating to the regulation of residential solar retail transactions; requiring an occupational registration; authorizing fees; providing civil and administrative penalties.
Relating to excepting certain communication facilities from certain notice requirements for projects on state or local public land.
Relating to excepting certain communication facilities from certain notice requirements for projects on state or local public land.
Relating to the provision of water or sewer service by public entities operating jointly or concurrently.
Relating to the provision of water or sewer service by public entities operating jointly or concurrently.
Relating to third-party review of property development documents and inspections of improvements related to those documents, including home backup power installations.
Relating to third-party review of property development documents and inspections of improvements related to those documents, including home backup power installations.
Relating to the dissolution of a public utility agency.
Relating to the dissolution of a public utility agency.
Relating to the authority of a municipality to regulate the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system.
Relating to the authority of a municipality to regulate the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Texas laws on utilities passed in 2025?
- The Texas 89th Legislature enacted 70 laws related to utilities. These bills were authored by 35 different legislators and address various aspects of utilities policy in Texas.
- Did utilities bills originate in the Texas House or Senate?
- Utilities legislation from the 89th Legislature includes 40 Senate bills and 30 House bills. Both chambers contributed significant legislation on this topic.
- Which Texas legislators authored the most utilities bills?
- The leading authors of utilities legislation include Sen. Charles Schwertner (R) with 6 bills, Rep. Ken King (R) with 6 bills, Rep. Phil King (R) with 5 bills. These lawmakers have demonstrated particular focus on utilities issues during the 89th Legislature.
- How urgent are the compliance requirements for utilities legislation?
- Among the 70 utilities bills enacted, 21 have critical compliance urgency and 41 have moderate urgency. Businesses should prioritize reviewing high-urgency bills for immediate compliance planning.
- What subjects are related to utilities in Texas law?
- Utilities legislation frequently overlaps with Utilities--electric, Public Utility Commission, Utilities--general. Bills often address multiple related policy areas, so reviewing these connected subjects may provide additional context.
- Is there bipartisan support for utilities legislation in Texas?
- Yes, 42 of the 70 utilities bills (60%) have bipartisan sponsorship, with both Republican and Democrat sponsors. This indicates areas of cross-party agreement on utilities policy.
- When do Texas utilities laws from the 89th Legislature take effect?
- Most Texas legislation takes effect September 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified. Some utilities bills may have immediate effective dates or delayed implementation schedules. Review individual bills for specific effective dates and compliance deadlines.
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