Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1846 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	By: Walle, Lujan H.B. No. 1846
2		-
3		-
	1	+	89R21054 JRR-D
	2	+	By: Walle H.B. No. 1846
	3	+	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1846:
	4	+	By: Thompson C.S.H.B. No. 1846
4	5
5	6
6	7		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
7	8		AN ACT
8	9		relating to the establishment of the Electric Truck Advisory
9	10		Council.
10	11		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	12		SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Transportation Code, is amended by
12	13		adding Subchapter H-2 to read as follows:
13	14		SUBCHAPTER H-2. ELECTRIC TRUCK ADVISORY COUNCIL
14	15		Sec. 201.681. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
15	16		(1) "Council" means the Electric Truck Advisory
16	17		Council established by this subchapter.
17	18		(2) "Electric truck" includes any electric vehicle
18	19		with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,501 pounds or more.
19	20		Sec. 201.682. ESTABLISHMENT; COMPOSITION. (a) The
20	21		Electric Truck Advisory Council is established.
21	22		(b) Subject to Subsection (c), the council is composed of:
22	23		(1) at least one representative appointed by each of
23	24		the following agencies and entities:
24	25		(A) the governor's office;
25	26		(B) the department;
26	27		(C) the Public Utility Commission of Texas;
27	28		(D) the Electric Reliability Council of Texas;
28	29		(E) the Texas Commission on Environmental
29	30		Quality;
30	31		(F) the Texas Department of Licensing and
31	32		Regulation; and
32	33		(G) the Texas A&M Transportation Institute;
33	34		(2) at least two representatives from privately owned
34		-	utilities providing electric service, appointed by the director;
	35	+	utilities providing electric service, appointed by the executive
	36	+	director of the Public Utility Commission of Texas;
35	37		(3) at least one representative from a publicly owned
36		-	utility providing electric service, appointed by the director;
	38	+	utility providing electric service, appointed by the executive
	39	+	director of the Public Utility Commission of Texas;
37	40		(4) at least one representative from the refueling
38	41		industry with expertise in serving interstate freight
39	42		transportation, appointed by the director; and
40	43		(5) at least three members from the private sector,
41	44		appointed by the director.
42	45		(c) The director shall determine the number of
43	46		representatives that each appointing authority under Subsection
44	47		(b) may appoint to serve on the council.
45	48		(d) A council member serves at the pleasure of the
46	49		appointing authority.
47	50		Sec. 201.683. TERMS; VACANCY. (a) Council members serve
48	51		six-year terms.
49	52		(b) A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same
50	53		manner as the original appointment. A council member appointed to
51	54		fill a vacancy on the council shall serve the remainder of the
52	55		unexpired term.
53	56		Sec. 201.684. PRESIDING OFFICER. The representative of the
54	57		department appointed under Section 201.682(b)(1) shall serve as the
55	58		presiding officer.
56	59		Sec. 201.685. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least
57	60		once a month or more frequently at the call of the presiding
58	61		officer.
59	62		Sec. 201.686. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT; FUNDING. (a) The
60	63		council is administratively attached to the department.
61	64		(b) The council shall be funded using existing funds of the
62	65		department.
63	66		Sec. 201.687. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The council
64	67		shall:
65	68		(1) provide guidance on policies and incentives that
66	69		encourage the adoption of electric trucks and the proliferation of
67	70		required charging infrastructure;
68	71		(2) provide guidance on regulatory issues specific to
69	72		electric trucks to ensure that electric trucks maintain safety and
70	73		performance standards;
71	74		(3) serve as a forum for promoting technological
72	75		advancements in battery technology, electric drivetrains,
73	76		autonomous driving features, and other innovations;
74	77		(4) facilitate discussions and coordination among
75	78		private entities, governmental entities, and research institutions
76	79		to develop and test new electric truck technologies, share best
77	80		practices, and support industry-wide adoption of those
78	81		technologies and practices; and
79	82		(5) lead initiatives to educate stakeholders,
80	83		including fleet operators, logistics companies, utilities, and
81	84		policymakers, regarding electric trucks.
82	85		Sec. 201.688. STATEWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN AND RELATED
83	86		IMPLEMENTATION PLANS. (a) The council shall develop a strategic
84	87		plan for the statewide implementation of electric truck charging
85	88		infrastructure. The plan must:
86	89		(1) identify strategic locations for electric truck
87	90		charging infrastructure and the requirements for their development
88	91		and construction, including high-capacity power sources, freight
89	92		routes, and the ability to construct operation hubs;
90	93		(2) specify each agency subject to the plan; and
91	94		(3) make recommendations for each agency subject to
92	95		the plan relating to the agency's role and responsibilities under
93	96		the plan.
94	97		(b) The council shall submit the strategic plan to the
95	98		administrative head of each agency subject to the plan.
96	99		(c) Not later than the 90th day after receiving the
97	100		strategic plan, the administrative head of each agency subject to
98	101		the plan shall develop and submit to the governor, the lieutenant
99	102		governor, and the legislature a plan for implementing the
100	103		recommendations applicable to the agency under the strategic plan.
101	104		An implementation plan must include a justification for any
102	105		recommendation the agency declines to implement.
103	106		Sec. 201.689. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The council is
104	107		subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). The
105	108		council shall be reviewed during the period in which the department
106	109		is reviewed under Section 201.204. Unless continued in existence
107	110		as provided by Chapter 325, Government Code, the council is
108	111		abolished and this subchapter expires on the date on which the
109	112		department is subject to abolishment under that section.
110	113		Sec. 201.690. APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110,
111	114		Government Code, does not apply to the composition or duration of
112	115		the council or to the designation of the council's presiding
113	116		officer.
114	117		SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 31, 2026, the
115	118		appropriate appointing authorities shall appoint the members of the
116	119		Electric Truck Advisory Council as required by Section 201.682,
117	120		Transportation Code, as added by this Act.
118	121		(b) Not later than March 31, 2026, the Electric Truck
119	122		Advisory Council established under Subchapter H-2, Transportation
120	123		Code, as added by this Act, shall hold its initial meeting.
121	124		(c) Not later than March 1, 2027, the Electric Truck
122	125		Advisory Council shall submit the strategic plan required under
123	126		Section 201.688, Transportation Code, as added by this Act.
124	127		SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
125	128		a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
126	129		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
127	130		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
128	131		Act takes effect September 1, 2025.