Monitoring the Session

HB 3493

King Bill Bars City Rules On Home Backup Energy Systems

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Ken KingRHouse 88

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the authority of a municipality to regulate the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

No city rules or city inspections for systems up to 50 kilowatts or 100 kilowatt hours.

The bill bars Texas cities from adopting any ordinance, rule, or local change to the National Electrical Code that regulates installing or inspecting a home backup energy system. It covers homeowners, installers, and city building and electrical inspectors, with a home backup system defined as one that provides no more than 50 kilowatts or stores no more than 100 kilowatt hours. Starting September 1, 2025, new home backup systems would be installed without city-specific rules or city inspections.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3493 · 2025-02-27

SOLD BY

Rep. Ken KingRHouse 88

ITEM

relating to the authority of a municipality to regulate the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system.

WHAT IT DOES

No city rules or city inspections for systems up to 50 kilowatts or 100 kilowatt hours.

The bill bars Texas cities from adopting any ordinance, rule, or local change to the National Electrical Code that regulates installing or inspecting a home backup energy system. It covers homeowners, installers, and city building and electrical inspectors, with a home backup system defined as one that provides no more than 50 kilowatts or stores no more than 100 kilowatt hours. Starting September 1, 2025, new home backup systems would be installed without city-specific rules or city inspections.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 31, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to State Affairs
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER

DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID

THE TEXT

“A municipality may not adopt or enforce an ordinance, rule, or other measure that would regulate the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill strips cities of power over home backup power systems, which shapes how households keep the lights on when the grid fails.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ken King

Donors

Defend Rural Texas PAC$204KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$175KCoalition 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.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 31, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 27, 2025

04/02/2025 H Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 1252 by Schwertner (identical)

Subjects

City Government--Utilities

Utilities--Electric

Text

The text as introduced · 317 words

89R5334 CS-F

By: King
H.B. No. 3493

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of a municipality to regulate the

installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system.

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

SECTION 1. Section 214.211, Local Government Code, is

amended by adding Subdivision (6) to read as follows:

(6) "Residential energy backup system" means 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.

SECTION 2. Section 214.214, Local Government Code, is

amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) A municipality may not adopt or enforce an amendment to

the National Electrical Code that would regulate the installation

or inspection of a residential energy backup system.

SECTION 3. The heading to Subchapter C, Chapter 229, Local

Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER C. REGULATION OF SOLAR ENERGY AND BACKUP ENERGY DEVICES

SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 229, Local Government

Code, is amended by adding Section 229.102 to read as follows:

Sec. 229.102. REGULATION OF RESIDENTIAL ENERGY BACKUP

SYSTEMS. (a) In this section, "residential energy backup system"

means 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.

(b) A municipality may not adopt or enforce an ordinance,

rule, or other measure that would regulate the installation or

inspection of a residential energy backup system.

SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup

system initiated on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.