HB 144: King Bill Gives Utilities Until 2027 To File Pole Plans

Caption

relating to plans for the management and inspection of distribution poles.

Summary

Every pole gets an inspection deadline. Monthly updates follow, which can go yearly after 24 months.

The bill makes every electric utility, electric cooperative and city-owned utility that delivers power to the public write a plan for managing and inspecting its distribution poles and file it with the Public Utility Commission. The plan must list inspection deadlines for each pole, repair timelines for bad poles, staff and vendor training, how landowner complaints are handled, and a budget, and the commission must approve, change or reject it within 180 days. After that, utilities must send monthly pole-inspection updates, which can drop to yearly after 24 months, plus a compliance and cost update at least every three years, with first plans due by January 1, 2027.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on Jun 20, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB144 · 2025-03-06

SOLD BY

Rep. Ken KingRHouse 88

ITEM

relating to plans for the management and inspection of distribution poles.

WHAT IT DOES

Every pole gets an inspection deadline. Monthly updates follow, which can go yearly after 24 months.

The bill makes every electric utility, electric cooperative and city-owned utility that delivers power to the public write a plan for managing and inspecting its distribution poles and file it with the Public Utility Commission. The plan must list inspection deadlines for each pole, repair timelines for bad poles, staff and vendor training, how landowner complaints are handled, and a budget, and the commission must approve, change or reject it within 180 days. After that, utilities must send monthly pole-inspection updates, which can drop to yearly after 24 months, plus a compliance and cost update at least every three years, with first plans due by January 1, 2027.

CHARGES

[x] DELAYED STARTanalysis confidence 40%

THE TEXT

“Not later than January 1, 2027, each entity to which Section 38.103, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, applies shall submit the plan required by that section”…

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

The law takes effect right away, but the first pole plans are not due until January 1, 2027. That deadline falls after the November 3, 2026 general election. It reads like an ordinary lead time for utilities, so confidence is low.

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,361,431)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version F · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 28, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB144, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($2,722,862) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,361,431)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Mar 6, 2025Filed
Mar 7, 2025Read first time
Mar 7, 2025Referred to State Affairs
Mar 12, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 12, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 12, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Mar 12, 2025Left pending in committee
Mar 19, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 19, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Mar 19, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Mar 25, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Mar 25, 2025Committee report distributed
Mar 25, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 17, 2025Considered in Calendars
Apr 23, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
Apr 23, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 23, 2025Point of order sustained Rule 4, Section 40, and Rule 11, Section 2
Apr 23, 2025Returned to Calendars Committee
Apr 24, 2025Considered in Calendars
Apr 24, 2025Original bill ordered printed
Apr 28, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
Apr 24, 2025Original bill distributed 06:10PM
Apr 28, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 28, 2025Amended 1-King
Apr 28, 2025Record vote RV#652
Apr 28, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 28, 2025Passed to engrossment as amended
Apr 28, 2025Record vote RV#653
Apr 28, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 29, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 29, 2025Passed
Apr 29, 2025Record vote RV#747
Apr 29, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 29, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 29, 2025Received from the House
May 12, 2025Read first time
May 12, 2025Referred to Business & Commerce
May 15, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 15, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 15, 2025Testimony taken in committee
May 15, 2025Left pending in committee
May 23, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 23, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 23, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
May 23, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 26, 2025Co-sponsor authorized
May 26, 2025Placed on intent calendar
May 26, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
May 26, 2025Read 2nd time
May 26, 2025Amendment(s) offered FA1 Schwertner
May 26, 2025Amended
May 26, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 26, 2025Passed to 3rd reading as amended
May 26, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 26, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 26, 2025Record vote
May 26, 2025Read 3rd time
May 26, 2025Passed
May 26, 2025Record vote
May 26, 2025Senate passage as amended reported
May 28, 2025Senate Amendments distributed
May 28, 2025Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
May 29, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
May 29, 2025Record vote RV#4023
May 29, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 29, 2025Text of Senate Amendment(s)
May 29, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
May 30, 2025Reported enrolled
May 31, 2025Signed in the House
Jun 1, 2025Signed in the Senate
Jun 1, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective immediately

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 125 yea · 21 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 29, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 26, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ken King

Donors

Defend Rural Texas PAC$204K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$175K Coalition for Working Families PAC$100K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 16, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Defend Rural Texas PAC$203,547.49

Defend Rural Texas PAC

$203,547.49

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $203,547.49
Total: $203,547.49

television $165,000.00radio $25,000.00texting $13,547.49

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 4, 2026 to Aug 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 4, 2026 to Aug 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101040115, 101058003, 101068175.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$175,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$175,000.00

Cash: $175,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $175,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 17, 2024 to Sep 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100983150, 101008206, 101028141, 101035143, 101040115, 101058003, 101068175.

Coalition for Working Families PAC$100,000.00

Coalition for Working Families PAC

$100,000.00

Cash: $100,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $100,000.00

Also funds 24 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 25, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 3, 2026 to Feb 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101040115.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Defend Rural Texas PAC

$203,547.49

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $203,547.49
Total: $203,547.49

television $165,000.00radio $25,000.00texting $13,547.49

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 4, 2026 to Aug 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 4, 2026 to Aug 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101040115, 101058003, 101068175.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$175,000.00

Cash: $175,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $175,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 17, 2024 to Sep 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100983150, 101008206, 101028141, 101035143, 101040115, 101058003, 101068175.

×

Coalition for Working Families PAC

$100,000.00

Cash: $100,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $100,000.00

Also funds 24 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 25, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 3, 2026 to Feb 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101040115.

Votes7

House May 29, 2025

Yea: 110
Nay: 18
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 16
Excused: 5

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 4023

Representative King moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 144. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 144 prevailed by (Record 4023): 110 Yeas, 18 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 110 (published)
Nay: 18 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 16 (derived from named list)
Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Schwertner moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 144 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Schwertner moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 144 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

HB 144 as amended was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea: 125
Nay: 21
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 2
Excused: 1

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 747

HB 144 was passed by (Record 747): 125 Yeas, 21 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 125 (published)
Nay: 21 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 28, 2025

Yea: 126
Nay: 16
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 6
Excused: 1

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 653

CSHB 144, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 653): 126 Yeas, 16 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 126 (published)
Nay: 16 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 28, 2025

Yea: 126
Nay: 16
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 6
Excused: 1

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 652

Amendment No. 1 was adopted by (Record 652): 126 Yeas, 16 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 126 (published)
Nay: 16 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses49

For: 42
Against: 2
On: 5

Names

For

AEP Texas3 registrations
American Electric Power Texas1 registration
Association of Electric Companies of Texas2 registrations
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.1 registration
Entergy Texas2 registrations
Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club2 registrations
Oncor1 registration
Osmose Utilities Services1 registration
Powering Texans1 registration
Public Citizen Texas1 registration
Self4 registrations
Self; Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association3 registrations
Self; Texas Trial Lawyers Association1 registration
Southwestern Elec. Power Co. (SWEPCO)2 registrations
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association1 registration
Texas 20362 registrations
Texas Assoc of Manufacturers1 registration
Texas Association of Business1 registration
Texas Cattle Feeders Association1 registration
Texas Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions1 registration
Texas Electric Cooperatives1 registration
Texas Farm Bureau2 registrations
Texas Forestry Association1 registration
Texas Land & Mineral Owners Association1 registration
Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP)1 registration
Vistra Corporation1 registration
Xcel Energy2 registrations
Xcel energy1 registration

Against

East Texas Electric Cooperative1 registration
Sam Houston Electric Cooperative1 registration

On

Public Utility Commission of Texas2 registrations
Texas Electric Cooperatives1 registration
Texas Public Power Association2 registrations

Sources

49 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,361,431)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version F · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 28, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB144, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($2,722,862) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,361,431)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version E by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 6, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective immediately

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:36 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Companion

SB 2984 by Hancock (identical)

HB 2745 by King (duplicate)

Subjects

City Government--Utilities

Utilities--Electric

PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

Text

The text as introduced · 368 words

89R9316 CXP-F

By: King
H.B. No. 144

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to plans for the management and inspection of distribution

poles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 38,

Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER E. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE [ REPORT ]

SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is

amended by adding Section 38.103 to read as follows:

Sec. 38.103. DISTRIBUTION POLE PLAN. (a) Each electric

cooperative, electric utility, and municipally owned utility that

distributes electric energy to the public shall submit to the

commission a plan for the management and inspection of distribution

poles in the entity's distribution system.

(b) Each plan submitted under Subsection (a) must include:

(1) a statement of the plan's scope and objectives;

(2) the roles and responsibilities of individuals

responsible for overseeing and executing the plan;

(3) a description of the cooperative's or utility's

processes for:

(A) the management and inspection of

distribution poles on the entity's distribution system; and

(B) the training and certifying of personnel,

including third-party vendors, who inspect distribution poles; and

(4) a proposed budget for implementing the plan.

(c) The commission shall approve, modify, or reject a plan

submitted to the commission under Subsection (a) not later than the

180th day after the date the plan is submitted.

(d) At least once every three years, an entity to which this

section applies shall submit an update to the commission detailing

the entity's compliance with the plan's objectives and the costs of

implementing the plan. An electric utility may submit the update in

a report required under Section 38.101.

SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2026, each entity to

which Section 38.103, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, applies

shall submit the plan required by that section to the Public Utility

Commission of Texas.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: Smells

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Defend Rural Texas PAC

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Coalition for Working Families PAC

Defend Rural Texas PAC

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Coalition for Working Families PAC

House May 29, 2025

Senate May 26, 2025

Senate May 26, 2025

Senate May 26, 2025

House Apr 29, 2025

House Apr 28, 2025

House Apr 28, 2025

For

Against

On

Companion