HB 4162

ERCOT gets an anonymous tip line for power plant workers

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

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 creation of an anonymous reporting program for employees of certain generation facilities.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Workers flag threats to plant reliability. ERCOT runs the inspections.

The bill orders ERCOT to set up an anonymous tip line for workers at power plants in the ERCOT region. Employees of power generation companies, city-owned utilities and electric co-ops can use it to report possible threats to their plant's reliability. ERCOT must then run any inspections needed to look into each reported issue, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: QUICK READ: 145 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 145 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 10, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4162 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

Rep. Ron ReynoldsDHouse 27

ITEM

relating to the creation of an anonymous reporting program for employees of certain generation facilities.

WHAT IT DOES

Workers flag threats to plant reliability. ERCOT runs the inspections.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 10, 2025Filed
Mar 31, 2025Read first time
Mar 31, 2025Referred to State Affairs

FILED UNDER

DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID

THE TEXT

…“report potential threats to the facility's reliability”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill creates a worker reporting channel and an inspection duty at ERCOT aimed at keeping grid generation reliable.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ron Reynolds

Donors

Texas Sands PAC$30K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$25K Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee$7K

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 · Oct 29, 2024 to Oct 19, 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 Sands PAC$30,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 5, 2024 to Feb 19, 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: 100982635, 101040208.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$25,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

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 · Nov 27, 2024 to Jan 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: 100982635, 101028685, 101035822.

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee$7,000.00

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee

$7,000.00

Cash: $7,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $7,000.00

Also funds 9 other sitting lawmakers.

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

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

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Apr 30, 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: 101057584.

Money

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

Texas Sands PAC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 5, 2024 to Feb 19, 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: 100982635, 101040208.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

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 · Nov 27, 2024 to Jan 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: 100982635, 101028685, 101035822.

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee

$7,000.00

Cash: $7,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $7,000.00

Also funds 9 other sitting lawmakers.

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

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

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Apr 30, 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: 101057584.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

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 Mar 10, 2025

03/31/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Mar 31 2025 4:34PM

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

Subjects

Utilities--Electric

Utilities--General

ELECTRIC RELIABILITY COUNCIL OF TEXAS (ERCOT)

Text

The text as introduced · 145 words

89R15685 SCR-D

By: Reynolds
H.B. No. 4162

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of an anonymous reporting program for

employees of certain generation facilities.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is

amended by adding Section 39.920 to read as follows:

Sec. 39.920. ANONYMOUS REPORTING PROGRAM FOR GENERATION

FACILITIES. The independent organization certified under Section

39.151 for the ERCOT power region shall establish an anonymous

reporting program that enables an employee of a power generation

company, municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative

operating a generation facility in the ERCOT power region to report

potential threats to the facility's reliability. The independent

organization shall conduct any necessary inspections to

investigate an issue identified by a report received through the

program.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.