Monitoring the Session

HB 407

Morales Solar Bill’s Builder Duty Waits Until September 2027

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Rep. Christina MoralesDHouse 145
Why it's charged
Delayed start

THE TEXT

…“apply only to new residential construction that begins on or after September 1, 2027.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The key duty on builders first applies two years after the session ends and after the November 3, 2026 general election. Until then the law is on the books but nobody has to build a solar-ready home.

Delayed start

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to municipal and county requirements for solar energy device compatibility for certain residential construction; creating criminal offenses.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

New homes must be solar-ready and inspected, or it’s a Class C misdemeanor.

The bill orders every Texas city and county to add a rule to its building code that new one- to four-family homes must be built ready to accept a solar energy device that can connect to the local power grid. It reaches home builders, who must have the new homes inspected by the city or county, and it makes failing to meet the rule or skipping the inspection a Class C misdemeanor offense. Nothing changes on the ground until homes that start construction on or after September 1, 2027, even though the law itself takes effect in 2025.

Labels

Labels: CREATES AN OFFENSE. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to municipal and county requirements for solar energy device compatibility for certain residential construction; creating criminal offenses.”PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House Land & Resource Management committee on May 1, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB407 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Christina MoralesDHouse 145

ITEM

relating to municipal and county requirements for solar energy device compatibility for certain residential construction; creating criminal offenses.

WHAT IT DOES

New homes must be solar-ready and inspected, or it’s a Class C misdemeanor.

The bill orders every Texas city and county to add a rule to its building code that new one- to four-family homes must be built ready to accept a solar energy device that can connect to the local power grid. It reaches home builders, who must have the new homes inspected by the city or county, and it makes failing to meet the rule or skipping the inspection a Class C misdemeanor offense. Nothing changes on the ground until homes that start construction on or after September 1, 2027, even though the law itself takes effect in 2025.

CHARGES

[x] DELAYED STARTanalysis confidence 75%

THE TEXT

…“apply only to new residential construction that begins on or after September 1, 2027.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The key duty on builders first applies two years after the session ends and after the November 3, 2026 general election. Until then the law is on the books but nobody has to build a solar-ready home.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 29, 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 Land & Resource Management
  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

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Christina Morales

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$23KTexas Organizing Project Political Action Committee$8KKickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas$5K

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 2, 2024 to Oct 10, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$22,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$22,500.00

Cash
$22,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$22,500.00

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 · Oct 23, 2024 to Sep 28, 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: 100987507, 101030051, 101061699, 101072155.

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee$7,711.42

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee

$7,711.42

Cash
$500.00
Paid by others
$7,211.42
Total
$7,711.42
Other filed descriptions $5,122.42printing $2,089.00

Also funds 4 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 30, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 26, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100987507, 101030051, 101072150.

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas$5,000.00

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

Also funds 53 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 15, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Aug 24, 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: 100987507, 101072150.

Money

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

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$22,500.00

Cash
$22,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$22,500.00

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 · Oct 23, 2024 to Sep 28, 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: 100987507, 101030051, 101061699, 101072155.

×

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee

$7,711.42

Cash
$500.00
Paid by others
$7,211.42
Total
$7,711.42
Other filed descriptions $5,122.42printing $2,089.00

Also funds 4 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 30, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 26, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100987507, 101030051, 101072150.

×

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

Also funds 53 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 15, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Aug 24, 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: 100987507, 101072150.

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 · April 29, 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 Nov 12, 2024

05/01/2025 H Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:38 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Land & Resource Management · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

City Government--Utilities

County Government--General

Energy--Solar

Utilities--Electric

Utilities--General

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

Text

The text as introduced · 633 words

89R2015 SCL-D

By: Morales of Harris
H.B. No. 407

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to municipal and county requirements for solar energy

device compatibility for certain residential construction;

creating criminal offenses.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 214, Local Government

Code, is amended by adding Section 214.222 to read as follows:

Sec. 214.222. SOLAR ENERGY DEVICE COMPATIBILITY REQUIRED.

(a) In this section:

(1) "Electric cooperative" means an electric

cooperative organized under Chapter 161, Utilities Code, or a

predecessor statute to that chapter.

(2) "Electric utility" has the meaning assigned by

Section 31.002, Utilities Code.

(3) "Municipally owned utility" has the meaning

assigned by Section 11.003, Utilities Code.

(4) "Solar energy device" has the meaning assigned by

Section 171.107, Tax Code.

(b) The governing body of a municipality by ordinance shall

incorporate into its municipal building code a requirement that the

construction of a new residential building suitable for one to four

families must be compatible with the installation of a solar energy

device that may be interconnected with an electric distribution

system operated by the electric cooperative, electric utility, or

municipally owned utility providing electric distribution service

in the area in which the building is constructed, subject to:

(1) any applicable interconnection requirements of

the electric cooperative, electric utility, or municipally owned

utility;

(2) the rules of the Public Utility Commission of

Texas; and

(3) as applicable, the protocols of an independent

organization certified under Section 39.151, Utilities Code.

(c) A person who builds new residential construction

described by Subsection (b) shall have the construction inspected

by the municipality to ensure compliance with the building code

provisions required by this section.

(d) A person who fails to comply with the requirement

described by Subsection (b) or violates Subsection (c) commits an

offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.

SECTION 2. Chapter 233, Local Government Code, is amended

by adding Subchapter E to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER E. RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CODE STANDARDS

Sec. 233.101. SOLAR ENERGY DEVICE COMPATIBILITY REQUIRED.

(a) In this section:

(1) "Electric cooperative" means an electric

cooperative organized under Chapter 161, Utilities Code, or a

predecessor statute to that chapter.

(2) "Electric utility" has the meaning assigned by

Section 31.002, Utilities Code.

(3) "Municipally owned utility" has the meaning

assigned by Section 11.003, Utilities Code.

(4) "Solar energy device" has the meaning assigned by

Section 171.107, Tax Code.

(b) The commissioners court of a county by order shall

incorporate into its county building code a requirement that the

construction of a new residential building suitable for one to four

families in the unincorporated area of the county must be

compatible with the installation of a solar energy device that may

be interconnected with an electric distribution system operated by

the electric cooperative, electric utility, or municipally owned

utility providing electric distribution service in the area in

which the building is constructed, subject to:

(1) any applicable interconnection requirements of

the electric cooperative, electric utility, or municipally owned

utility;

(2) the rules of the Public Utility Commission of

Texas; and

(3) as applicable, the protocols of an independent

organization certified under Section 39.151, Utilities Code.

(c) A person who builds new residential construction

described by Subsection (b) shall have the construction inspected

by the county to ensure compliance with the building code

provisions required by this section.

(d) A person who fails to comply with the requirement

described by Subsection (b) or violates Subsection (c) commits an

offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.

SECTION 3. Sections 214.222 and 233.101, Local Government

Code, as added by this Act, apply only to new residential

construction that begins on or after September 1, 2027.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.