The Texas State Legislature meets for six months every two years. The next session will convene in January 2013.
Updates
8/05/11 - Following conversations with a highly placed staff person at the PUC, we feel that SB 0981 also applies outisde of the ERCOT territory as well.
6/5/11 Initial Outcomes from the 82nd Legislature for Renewables
The 82nd Texas Legislature ended on May 30th. Through the session there were ultimately 113 bills on TREIA’s action list – some we supported, some we opposed, and some we just tracked. Click here for a report that lists the outcome on all the bills we supported and all the bills we opposed. In the end 15 bills TREIA supported were passed, and all 9 bills TREIA opposed were defeated. Remember, many of the bills that did not pass had identical or similar language and thus fell by the wayside once a bill on a particular topic became the lead bill.
TREIA members can review a more detailed analysis by logging into their TREIA account, selecting the Members Only tab that will appear on the left, and then by selecting the "Legislative Activity" link from the Members Only page.
TWO IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE PROCESS DATES
NOTE: Unless the Governor vetoes it, a bill that was passed by the Legislature becomes law with or without his signature.
Sunday, June 19, 2011 (20th day following final adjournment)
Last day governor can sign or veto bills passed during the
regular legislative session
[Sec. 14, Art. IV, Texas Constitution]
Monday, August 29, 2011 (91st day following final adjournment)
Date that bills without specific effective dates (that could not
be effective immediately) become law
[Sec. 39, Art. III, Texas Constitution]
5/06/11
Two bills have been added to our Support/Oppose list. The new list can be found here.
3/24/11
One bill has been dropped from our Support/Oppose list. The new list can be found here.
3/23/11
TREIA BOARD ANNOUNCES LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT/OPPOSE LIST - The TREIA Board of Directors met on Friday, March 18, to review 109 bills filed by the Texas Legislature that the staff has identified as of possible interest or concern to the industry. Of these, the Board elected to SUPPORT fifty-eight (58) that comport with TREIA’s Legislative Objectives, and to OPPOSE eleven (11). The remainder will be tracked in case amendments are made that require reconsideration. The Support/Oppose list (99 KB, PDF format) is now posted on the TREIA web site. Note that our positions on each bill could change quickly either way as amendments and bill substitutions are made. This list was our determination as of March 18.
3/22/11
SENATE BUSINESS AND COMMERCE COMMITTEEE FAVORABLY VOTES OUT SB 981 - 03/22/2011 - The Senate Business & Commerce Committee today voted out favorably the SB 981Committee Substitute TREIA has been actively engaged on. It is essentially the same as the original but changes Distributed Generation to Distributed Renewable Generation and drops out all the net metering and interconnection study language. The PUC indicated there would be a fiscal note added to the bill if it remained in. That would have doomed the bill. It was sent by the Committee to the full Senate and placed Local and Consent Calendar.
3/15/2011
The Legislature is off to a strong start and TREIA is 109 bills related to renewable energy in Texas. TREIA members can review a summary of these bills by logging into their member account, then selecting the Members Only page and going to the Legislative Activity page.
The filing deadline for House bills in the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature was March 11. Once the TREIA Board has made a determination of our position on all of the related bills at a special meeting on March 18, we will post a summary here.
The Board of Directors, at its October 8 meeting, adopted TREIA’s “Policy Objectives for the 82nd Legislative Session.” This document reflects input on sector needs and priorities from the TREIA Policy Subcommittees gathered through a series of face-to-face policy meetings and e-mail interactions. The Board refined this input and made final priority decisions.
Legislative Policy Objectives for 2011 Legislative Session - adopted by TREIA Board of Directors on Oct. 8, 2010 - PDF Format, 303 KB
Reports and Studies
Texas Economic Development Council 2011 Legislative Agenda - Texas Economic Development Council - PDF format, 7 MB, 7 pages of content
Scope of Competition in Electric Markets in Texas - Public Utility Commission - January 2011 - PDF format, 2.6 MB
Improve the Administration of the Texas Economic Development Act - Budget Board Staff - January 2011 - PDF format, 101 KB
Texas Economic Development Act Report 2010 - Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs - December 15, 2010 - PDF format, 1.2 MB - coming shortly
Project 35792 Rulemaking Proceeding to Amend Rules Related to the Goal for Renewable Energy - Staff Recommendation - Proposal For Publication of Amendments to 25.109, 25.173, and 25.211 for Consideration at the Dec. 16 Open Meeting - PDF format, 2.4 MB
Interim Report to the 82nd Texas Legislature - Senate Committee on Business and Commerce - December 2010 - PDF format, 2.9 MB
