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House Bill 17 |
House Author: Deshotel et al. |
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Effective: 5-18-21 |
Senate Sponsor: Birdwell |
House Bill 17 amends the Utilities Code to prohibit a regulatory authority, planning authority, or political subdivision from adopting or enforcing a measure that has the purpose, intent, or effect of directly or indirectly banning, limiting, restricting, discriminating against, or prohibiting the connection or reconnection of a utility service or the construction, maintenance, or installation of infrastructure for a utility service based on the type or source of energy to be delivered to the end‑use customer. The bill prohibits an entity from imposing any additional charge or pricing difference on a development or building permit applicant for utility infrastructure that encourages those constructing homes, buildings, or other structural improvements to connect to a utility service based on the type or source of energy to be delivered to the end‑use customer or discourages the installation of facilities for the delivery of the service based on the type or source of energy to be delivered to that customer. The bill expressly does not limit the ability of a regulatory authority or political subdivision to choose utility services for properties they own.