By: Menéndez S.B. No. 799
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the installment of electric school buses and solar
panels in Texas public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
ARTICLE 1: FINDING AND PURPOSE
SECTION 1.01. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. The
legislature finds that:
(1) The legislature is committed to ensuring federal
funding and state resources are equitably allocated to prevent a
disaster such as Winter Storm Uri from occurring once again.
(2) The legislature equally commits to reviewing and
utilizing efficient methods such as battery storage and
dispatchable energy, to the best of its ability to ensure all Texas
residents have access to energy in the case of another state
disaster.
(3) The legislature finds that public school
facilities are in a unique position because of the hours of
operation to serve as an energy storage facility. Solar panels can
be installed on these public schools and electric school buses may
be reliable form for energy to be stored, distributed, and reserved
daily and/or dispatched in case of an emergency.
(4) The legislature is committed to appropriating
funds to assist in the updated infrastructure of our public schools
and to ensure the reliability of the Texas grid.
(5) The federal government has created new programs
and tax credits allowing public schools to benefit from the use of
electric school buses and clean energy measures such as solar
panels. These benefits include nearly $5 billion dollars to replace
school buses with electric models. Additionally, there are at least
51 Texas projects amounting to $164 million that have been
waitlisted, demonstrating a strong interest and need for assistance
in applying for these methods.
(6) The legislature understands that in a state of
disaster public schools may be able to serve as an emergency shelter
because of the storage generated by the electric school buses and
solar panels on public schools.
ARTICLE 2: USE OF THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY OFFICE
SECTION 2. Sec. 447.002. and 447.003., Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 447.002. INFORMATION; PROCEDURES AND RULES; MEASURES
AND PROGRAMS. (a) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
office shall develop and provide energy and water conservation
information for the state.
(b) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality office
may establish procedures and adopt rules relating to the
development and implementation of energy and water conservation
measures and programs applicable to state buildings and facilities.
(c) A procedure established or a rule adopted under
Subsection (b) may include provisions relating to:
(1) the retrofitting of existing state buildings and
facilities with energy-saving or water-saving devices; and
(2) the energy-related or water-related renovation of
those buildings and facilities; and
(3) assistance to public school districts to submit
applications for federal and state funding for the installation
and purchase of electric school buses and solar panels in public
schools.
Sec. 447.003. LIAISON TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. The Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality is the state liaison to the
federal government for the implementation and administration of
federal programs relating to state agency energy matters. The
office shall administer state programs established under:
(1) Part D, Title III, Energy Policy and Conservation
Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6321 et seq.), and its subsequent
amendments;
(2) Part G, Title III, Energy Policy and Conservation
Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6371 et seq.), and its subsequent
amendments; and
(3) other federal energy conservation programs
including the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act, and other state sources of funding as
assigned to the office by the governor or the legislature.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.