BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3215

By: Geren

Energy Resources

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised that federal energy conservation requirements may be becoming too costly and rigorous. Providing for an alternative avenue to achieve energy efficiency in homes in a way that allows homeowners and builders to choose energy efficiency features best suited for them based on cost and feature preferences would be beneficial. C.S.H.B. 3215 seeks to address these concerns by replacing a national energy standard for purposes of compliance with applicable state building energy efficiency standards.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3215 amends the Health and Safety Code to replace as a national energy standard that is considered to be in compliance with applicable state building energy efficiency standards the Energy Rating Index Compliance Alternative or applicable subsequent alternative compliance path with Standard 301 of the American National Standard for the Calculation and Labeling of the Energy Performance of Dwelling and Sleeping Units using an Energy Rating Index, commonly cited as ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301, as it existed on January 1, 2021.

C.S.H.B. 3215 repeals the provision that set provisions relating to an energy rating index used to measure compliance for single-family residential construction in an optional compliance path of the energy efficiency chapter of the International Residential Code to expire September 1, 2025. The bill removes related outdated provisions.

C.S.H.B. 3215 repeals Section 388.003(k), Health and Safety Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3215 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute does not include as a national energy standard that is considered to be in compliance with applicable state building energy efficiency standards the standard commonly cited as ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380, whereas the original includes it.

The substitute makes a specification not in the original that the standard commonly cited as ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 is that standard as it existed on January 1, 2021.

The substitute removes from inclusion as a national energy standard the Energy Rating Index Compliance Alternative or applicable subsequent alternative compliance path, whereas the original does not make this removal.

The substitute replaces, with regard to an energy rating index used to measure compliance for single-family residential construction in an optional compliance path of the energy efficiency chapter of the International Residential Code, the Energy Rating Index Compliance Alternative or subsequent alternative compliance path with Standard 301 of the American National Standard for the Calculation and Labeling of the Energy Performance of Dwelling and Sleeping Units using an Energy Rating Index, commonly cited as ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301, as it existed on January 1, 2021, whereas the original does not make this replacement. The substitute includes provisions not in the original that, as follows:

· repeal the provision that set this energy rating index provision to expire September 1, 2025; and

· remove related outdated provisions.