HB 4353

Patterson’s Solar Vote Bill Lets Counties Regulate Existing Facilities Too

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Jared PattersonRHouse 106

Why it's charged

Caption mismatch

THE TEXT

“The commissioners court of a county by order may regulate the construction, installation, and operation of a wind power, solar power, or energy storage facility only if:”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption covers only voter approval of new projects. This clause also gives counties power to regulate how these facilities are built and operated, including facilities that already exist, and the caption does not mention it.

Caption mismatch

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 voter approval of a project to construct or install a wind power, solar power, or energy storage facility in certain counties.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Caption: voter approval. Bill: counties also regulate how they’re built and run.

The bill bars anyone from building a wind, solar, or energy storage facility that sells power or grid services at wholesale in a county of more than 10,000 people unless a majority of county voters approve it at an election. The developer must ask the commissioners court for that election, and the court may order it but is not required to, with a separate vote on each facility. It also lets the commissioners court regulate how such facilities are built and run, but only for facilities voters approved or facilities built before September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 11, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4353 · 2025-03-11

SOLD BY

Rep. Jared PattersonRHouse 106

ITEM

relating to voter approval of a project to construct or install a wind power, solar power, or energy storage facility in certain counties.

WHAT IT DOES

Caption: voter approval. Bill: counties also regulate how they’re built and run.

CHARGES

[x] CAPTION MISMATCHanalysis confidence 45%

THE TEXT

“The commissioners court of a county by order may regulate the construction, installation, and operation of a wind power, solar power, or energy storage facility only if:”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 11, 2025Filed
Apr 1, 2025Read first time
Apr 1, 2025Referred to State Affairs

FILED UNDER

DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID

THE TEXT

“A person may not construct or install a wind power, solar power, or energy storage facility unless the construction or installation is approved by a majority of the voters voting at an election held in the county”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill puts new wholesale wind, solar, and battery power plants in most counties behind a county-wide vote, which shapes what power gets built for the grid.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Jared Patterson

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$133K Texas Sands PAC$85K Texas Conservative Majority PAC$58K

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 28, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$132,750.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$132,750.00

Cash: $100,000.00
Paid by others: $32,750.00
Total: $132,750.00

polling $32,750.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 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: 100996442, 101018590, 101035748, 101067950, 101072483.

Texas Sands PAC$84,800.00

Texas Sands PAC

$84,800.00

Cash: $68,000.00
Paid by others: $16,800.00
Total: $84,800.00

polling $16,800.00

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 4, 2024 to Oct 15, 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: 100976997, 101018590, 101035748, 101072483.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$57,950.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$57,950.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $57,950.00
Total: $57,950.00

canvassing $35,000.00polling $22,950.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 12, 2026 to Sep 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.

Report IDs: 101035748, 101067950.

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$132,750.00

Cash: $100,000.00
Paid by others: $32,750.00
Total: $132,750.00

polling $32,750.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 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: 100996442, 101018590, 101035748, 101067950, 101072483.

Texas Sands PAC

$84,800.00

Cash: $68,000.00
Paid by others: $16,800.00
Total: $84,800.00

polling $16,800.00

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 4, 2024 to Oct 15, 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: 100976997, 101018590, 101035748, 101072483.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$57,950.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $57,950.00
Total: $57,950.00

canvassing $35,000.00polling $22,950.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 12, 2026 to Sep 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.

Report IDs: 101035748, 101067950.

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 11, 2025

04/01/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 1 2025 12:28PM

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

County Government--General

Elections--General

Energy--General

Energy--Solar

Energy--Wind (IA9YE)

Text

The text as introduced · 375 words

89R10293 CS-D

By: Patterson
H.B. No. 4353

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to voter approval of a project to construct or install a

wind power, solar power, or energy storage facility in certain

counties.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 240, Local Government

Code, is amended by adding Section 240.911 to read as follows:

Sec. 240.911. VOTER APPROVAL OF WIND POWER, SOLAR POWER, OR

ENERGY STORAGE FACILITY. (a) In this section:

(1) "Ancillary services" has the meaning assigned by

Section 35.004, Utilities Code.

(2) "Solar power facility" has the meaning assigned by

Section 302.0001, Utilities Code.

(3) "Wind power facility" has the meaning assigned by

Section 301.0001, Utilities Code.

(b) This section applies only to a wind power, solar power,

or energy storage facility that is:

(1) proposed to be located in a county with a

population of more than 10,000; and

(2) intended to be used to sell at wholesale energy or

ancillary services.

(c) A person may not construct or install a wind power,

solar power, or energy storage facility unless the construction or

installation is approved by a majority of the voters voting at an

election held in the county in which the facility is proposed to be

constructed or installed.

(d) On the written request of a person proposing to

construct or install a wind power, solar power, or energy storage

facility, the commissioners court of the county in which the

facility is proposed to be constructed or installed may order an

election on the question of whether to approve the construction or

installation of the facility. The election order must:

(1) include a description of the facility; and

(2) allow voters to vote separately on each proposed

facility if there is more than one facility on the ballot.

(e) The commissioners court of a county by order may

regulate the construction, installation, and operation of a wind

power, solar power, or energy storage facility only if:

(1) the voters of the county have approved the

construction or installation of the facility as required by this

section; or

(2) the facility was constructed or installed before

September 1, 2025.

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