Hello, True Texans!
Two topics on today’s Friday Message – First – The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has proposed new rules 25.58 and 25.101, which will fast track battery storage facilities, and power line extensions, which will likely raise electricity bills. Public comment is open until May 18, and we urge you to participate; and Second – Interim Hearings have started up at the Capitol, and you might want to send comments.
Public Utility Commission new Rules
The new rules mean that utility companies get to pass costs PLUS profit directly to consumers with less public review and stronger eminent domain leverage. Citizens can submit comments through May 18.
Individuals can submit comments directly to the PUCT on their website, but I tried that and found it terribly confusing and not easy to navigate. If you’re feeling brave and want to try it yourself, the website is puc.texas.gov. Reference Project No 59523 (battery storage) and the Section 25.101 project.
Suggested comments:
- No rate increases
- Battery storage facilities have issues and are not long term solution
- Request a public hearing on the rules (for more detailed public input)
- Protect land owners from eminent domain
BUT…. If you need something faster and easier, please use this link from American Energy Works, to sign on to a letter of opposition that will be submitted to the PUCT. The deadline to do this is May 17 so that the letter can be transmitted on May 18. I have been assured that this organization is trustworthy, and protects personal data. (I don’t normally recommend this type of thing unless I know and trust the source. Someone I know and trust, tells me the source is trustworthy)
This issue is of particular interest to citizens in rural areas where these extended transmission lines are built, and where battery storage systems are often located. Please take advantage of this opportunity to make your voice heard with the PUCT.
Interim Committee Hearings
It’s that time again, where House and Senate Committees meet to address Interim Charges from the Speaker and Lt Governor, and to review and monitor implementation and associated rule making of laws passed in the previous session that fall under the Committee’s jurisdiction.
Several committee hearings are scheduled for May, and you might want to weigh in on some of them. This is a good time to communicate with House members and Senators on specific issues that concern you.
Remember – they are not looking at specific bills to be passed or not passed like regular session. But sometimes they will take testimony on monitoring & rule making for certain bills that passed the previous session. They listen to comments about how the legislation could be improved, what are its strengths and weaknesses, and what should be done next session to improve. The committees will also address the interim charges during these summer time meetings.
For House Committees, we can always submit on-line comments (even when it says invited testimony only), which is super easy and convenient. The Senate is still not accepting on-line comments, but we can always email the Committee Members.
If you have a chance to go to Austin to testify at any of these committees, I encourage you to do so. I’m also happy to try to arrange groups and car pools if enough people want to go, and if the schedule permits. I personally, am particularly interested in the House Education Committee on May 11 & the House Elections Committee that meets on May 14. I’m going to try to attend that one or both, and invite anyone in my area to ride along with me. Just let me know.
Here’s the May Committee Schedule at a glance
HOUSE COMMITTEES (You can look up the details of each schedule (time/place) at this link)
Tuesday, May 5, 10:00 am (invited testimony only) – Human Services (Click here for Notice of Public Hearing & details)
Monitoring the following bills
- HB26 – Medicaid organizations to offer nutrition support
- HB109 – Construction/expansion of inpatient mental health facilities
- HB136 – Medicaid coverage & reimbursement for lactation consultation services
- SB379 – prohibiting purchase of sweetened drinks & candy in SNAP program
- SB513 – community-based care pilot program
Evaluate
- Services for Texans with intellectual & developmental disabilities
- Preventing fraud, waste & abuse in Medicaid & other programs
- Agency Oversight of several agencies
Monday May 11, 10:00 am (invited & public testimony) – Public Education Committee (Click here for notice of pubic hearing and details.)
- State of Education – current state, academic outcomes, enrollment trends, safety, role of technology, AI.
- HB1481 – school district & open-enrollment charter school policies regarding student use of person communications
Tuesday May 12, 10:00 am (invited testimony only) – Culture, Recreation & Tourism (Click here for Notice of Public Hearing & details)
Monitoring the follow bills
- HB1397 – relating to the care, custody & display of the “victory or death” letter
- SB3059 – Alamo complex and Alamo Commission
Evaluate
- TX Parks & Wildlife Dept Funding
- New World Screw worm Action Plan
- Livestock Shows, County Fairs & Rodeos
- Agency oversight of several agencies
Thursday, May 14, 11:00 am (invited & public testimony) – Elections (Click here for Notice of Public Hearing & details)
Monitoring
- SB827 – audit of an election using electronic voting system
Evaluate
- Election timelines
- Election transparency and ballot privacy
- Citizenship and Voting
- Election Administration staffing needs
**To submit electronic on-line comments for any of these House hearings, the link is contained within the Notice of public hearing. All Committee notices are linked above. When you open the link, after you enter your personal information, there is a drop down menu called “Bills and Topics”. Click the arrow to see everything that committee is taking testimony on for that hearing. Enter your comments for the individual items that you want to comment on.
SENATE COMMITTEES (Look up details of time and place at this link)
Monday May 4, 9:00 am – Criminal Justice (Invited & public testimony) (Click here for Notice of Public Hearing & details)
Monitoring
- SB20- criminal offense for production of obscene material depicting child
- SB441 – liability related to sexually explicit media and intimate visual material
- SB1621 – prosecution of sexually explicit visual material involving children
- HB 1443 – prosecution for producing child like sex dolls
Evaluate
- Eliminating contraband in prisons
- Regulating the role of Reserve Officers
Tuesday, May 5, 9:00 am – Criminal Justice (invited & public testimony) (Click here for Notice of Public Hearing & details)
Evaluate
- Addressing Juvenile Violence
- Protecting the public from violent offenders not guilty by reason of insanity
Monday, May 11, 10:00 am – Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs (invited & public testimony) (Click here for Notice of Public Hearing & details)
Interim Charges
- Prioritizing Utility Revenue for Infrastructure Maintenance
- Evaluating Desalination Viability & Regulatory Efficiency
- Safeguarding the Texas Livestock Industry
For the House Committees, use the on-line comment form contained in the Notice of Public Hearing. For Senate Committees, email the Committee Members using this link. Click on the Committee to get the names of the members. Then email them using the address – [email protected]
I encourage you to submit on-line comments for all the House bills, because it’s fast and easy. The Senate ones will take a bit longer, but still worth the effort.
But also consider going to testify in person if a particular topic is within your area of expertise, or particularly relevant to you and your family or business.
I’m really going to shoot for attending the Education hearing on May 11, or the Elections Committee hearing on May 14th, so let me know if you want to join me.
Thanks for staying engaged!
Fran Rhodes, President
True Texas Project