BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1252

By: Schwertner

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that although installation of residential energy backup systems is governed by the National Electric Code as adopted by the state, these systems are further regulated at the municipal level, which causes incongruity between state and local requirements. The bill sponsor has also informed the committee that the additional red tape at the municipal level is redundant and overly burdensome, resulting in weeks to months of waiting times for Texans wishing to access backup energy. S.B. 1252 seeks to address these inefficiencies by removing municipal authority over the installation and inspection of backup energy resources under a certain size.

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

S.B. 1252 amends the Local Government Code to prohibit a municipality from adopting or enforcing an amendment to the National Electrical Code or an ordinance, rule, or other measure that would regulate the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system. The bill defines "residential energy backup system" as a backup energy system installed at a residential property that is capable of providing no more than 50 kilowatts of electricity to the residence or has a storage capacity of no more than 100 kilowatt hours.

S.B. 1252 expressly does not limit the authority of a municipally owned utility to regulate the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system within the utility's service area. The bill defines "municipally owned utility" by reference to the Public Utility Regulatory Act.

S.B. 1252 applies only to the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system initiated on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.