Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4574 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	88R13858 DIO-D
2	2	By: Murr H.B. No. 4574
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the creation of an interim committee to study
8	8	large-scale battery storage.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "large-scale battery
11	11	storage" includes:
12	12	(1) utility-scale or grid-scale storage of electric
13	13	energy using batteries for connection to electric power generation
14	14	or transmission and distribution networks to provide for
15	15	flexibility in electric power systems and optimal use of electric
16	16	energy resources;
17	17	(2) storage of electric energy using batteries to
18	18	provide electric power to large industrial, office, or other
19	19	facilities or to residential communities; and
20	20	(3) electric energy storage using equipment or
21	21	facilities described by Subchapter E, Chapter 35, Utilities Code,
22	22	to the extent the facilities employ battery technology.
23	23	SECTION 2. INTERIM COMMITTEE; STUDY AND REPORT. (a) An
24	24	interim committee is established to study large-scale battery
25	25	storage.
26	26	(b) The study must consider:
27	27	(1) current statutes, regulations, and ordinances
28	28	regarding large-scale battery storage in this state;
29	29	(2) the status of state oversight and regulation of
30	30	large-scale battery storage, including by the Public Utility
31	31	Commission of Texas, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality,
32	32	the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and other state
33	33	agencies;
34	34	(3) fire safety standards for large-scale battery
35	35	storage; and
36	36	(4) building code standards for large-scale battery
37	37	storage.
38	38	(c) The interim committee shall be composed of members
39	39	appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. The
40	40	members must include:
41	41	(1) members of the house of representatives;
42	42	(2) two individuals to represent the large-scale
43	43	battery storage industry; and
44	44	(3) two members of the general public.
45	45	(d) The speaker of the house of representatives shall
46	46	designate a member of the interim committee to serve as the chair of
47	47	the committee.
48	48	(e) The interim committee has all other powers and duties
49	49	provided to a special committee by the rules of the house of
50	50	representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, and
51	51	by policies of the House Committee on Administration.
52	52	(f) Not later than January 1, 2025, the joint interim
53	53	committee shall report the committee's findings and
54	54	recommendations to the governor and the members of the legislature.
55	55	The report must include recommendations for best practices to
56	56	address public safety concerns regarding the location and operation
57	57	of large-scale battery storage.
58	58	SECTION 3. EXPIRATION; ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The interim
59	59	committee established by Section 2 of this Act is abolished and this
60	60	Act expires January 10, 2025.
61	61	SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
62	62	immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
63	63	elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
64	64	Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
65	65	immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.