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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to municipal and county requirements for solar energy |
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device compatibility for certain residential construction; |
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creating criminal offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 214, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 214.222 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 214.222. SOLAR ENERGY DEVICE COMPATIBILITY REQUIRED. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Electric cooperative" means an electric |
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cooperative organized under Chapter 161, Utilities Code, or a |
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predecessor statute to that chapter. |
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(2) "Electric utility" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 31.002, Utilities Code. |
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(3) "Municipally owned utility" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 11.003, Utilities Code. |
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(4) "Solar energy device" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 171.107, Tax Code. |
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(b) The governing body of a municipality by ordinance shall |
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incorporate into its municipal building code a requirement that the |
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construction of a new residential building suitable for one to four |
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families must be compatible with the installation of a solar energy |
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device that may be interconnected with an electric distribution |
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system operated by the electric cooperative, electric utility, or |
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municipally owned utility providing electric distribution service |
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in the area in which the building is constructed, subject to: |
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(1) any applicable interconnection requirements of |
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the electric cooperative, electric utility, or municipally owned |
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utility; |
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(2) the rules of the Public Utility Commission of |
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Texas; and |
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(3) as applicable, the protocols of an independent |
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organization certified under Section 39.151, Utilities Code. |
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(c) A person who builds new residential construction |
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described by Subsection (b) shall have the construction inspected |
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by the municipality to ensure compliance with the building code |
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provisions required by this section. |
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(d) A person who fails to comply with the requirement |
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described by Subsection (b) or violates Subsection (c) commits an |
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offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 233, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter E to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CODE STANDARDS |
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Sec. 233.101. SOLAR ENERGY DEVICE COMPATIBILITY REQUIRED. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Electric cooperative" means an electric |
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cooperative organized under Chapter 161, Utilities Code, or a |
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predecessor statute to that chapter. |
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(2) "Electric utility" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 31.002, Utilities Code. |
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|
(3) "Municipally owned utility" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 11.003, Utilities Code. |
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(4) "Solar energy device" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 171.107, Tax Code. |
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(b) The commissioners court of a county by order shall |
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incorporate into its county building code a requirement that the |
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construction of a new residential building suitable for one to four |
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families in the unincorporated area of the county must be |
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compatible with the installation of a solar energy device that may |
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be interconnected with an electric distribution system operated by |
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the electric cooperative, electric utility, or municipally owned |
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utility providing electric distribution service in the area in |
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which the building is constructed, subject to: |
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(1) any applicable interconnection requirements of |
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|
the electric cooperative, electric utility, or municipally owned |
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utility; |
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(2) the rules of the Public Utility Commission of |
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Texas; and |
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(3) as applicable, the protocols of an independent |
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organization certified under Section 39.151, Utilities Code. |
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(c) A person who builds new residential construction |
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described by Subsection (b) shall have the construction inspected |
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by the county to ensure compliance with the building code |
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provisions required by this section. |
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(d) A person who fails to comply with the requirement |
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described by Subsection (b) or violates Subsection (c) commits an |
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offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 214.222 and 233.101, Local Government |
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Code, as added by this Act, apply only to new residential |
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construction that begins on or after September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |