Texas House Bill HB1731

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/7/09
• Voted on by House: 4/21/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/7/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/13/09
• Governor Action: 5/23/09
• Enrolled: 5/18/09
• Passed: 5/23/09

Caption

Relating to money available for consumer incentive or rebate programs for alternatively fueled appliances or equipment.

Impact

If passed, HB1731 would significantly impact state laws governing how rebate funds for alternatively fueled appliances are managed. By modifying the Natural Resources Code, the bill ensures that unused funds from previous years do not limit the rebate capacity in the current fiscal year. This could lead to an increase in the uptake of alternatively fueled technologies by consumers, potentially driving market growth and a shift towards more sustainable energy use in Texas.

Summary

House Bill 1731 aims to enhance consumer incentives for adopting alternatively fueled appliances and equipment. The bill specifically addresses the availability of funds for rebate programs by allowing the Texas Commission to make available for rebates during a fiscal year the total amount of unused funds from the previous fiscal year. This change is intended to ensure that rebate programs can fully utilize all available financial resources to encourage consumers to invest in more energy-efficient alternatives, thereby promoting environmentally friendly practices.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB1731 could arise from concerns about the lasting fiscal implications of releasing all unused funds for rebates. Critics may argue that while incentivizing greener technologies is beneficial, insufficient oversight in funding could lead to budgetary issues in the future. Furthermore, there may be differing opinions on whether the state should prioritize funding for these energy programs over other pressing budgetary needs.