HB 4584

Metcalf Bill’s 10-Megawatt Loan Floor Covers One Technology

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Will MetcalfRHouse 16

Why it's charged

Carve-out

THE TEXT

…“utilizing emerging technology sources of thermal dispatchable”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The new lower 10-megawatt loan threshold applies only to one technology class, emerging thermal dispatchable generation, while every other plant still has to reach 100 megawatts. The caption reads as general funding for generating facilities.

Carve-out

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 funding mechanisms to support the construction of electric generating facilities.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Emerging thermal dispatchable plants qualify at 10 megawatts. Every other plant still needs 100.

The bill lets the state utility commission use the existing state energy loan fund, without a new appropriation, to lend money for new power plants on the ERCOT grid that run on emerging thermal technology and are as small as 10 megawatts. That is in addition to the current loans for dispatchable plants or upgrades of at least 100 megawatts. It also narrows the storage exclusion from all electric energy storage to battery storage only, so other kinds of storage are no longer named as ineligible.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 12, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4584 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Will MetcalfRHouse 16

Rep. Jon E. RosenthalDHouse 135

ITEM

relating to funding mechanisms to support the construction of electric generating facilities.

WHAT IT DOES

Emerging thermal dispatchable plants qualify at 10 megawatts. Every other plant still needs 100.

CHARGES

[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 40%

THE TEXT

…“utilizing emerging technology sources of thermal dispatchable”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 12, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to State Affairs

FILED UNDER

CORPORATE WELFARE

THE TEXT

…“appropriation to provide loans to finance the construction of”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill widens state-funded loans to private power plant builders, including smaller emerging-technology projects.

DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID

THE TEXT

…“region that have a generation capacity of at least 10 megawatts”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill changes which ERCOT grid generation projects can get state loan money, and it narrows the storage exclusion to batteries only.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Will Metcalf

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$150K Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$54K Dustin Burrows Campaign$45K

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 · Nov 7, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$149,922.40

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$149,922.40

Cash: $70,000.00
Paid by others: $79,922.40
Total: $149,922.40

advertising $37,500.00polling $27,750.00mail $14,372.40fundraiser $300.00

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 · Nov 8, 2024 to Aug 12, 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: 100982185, 100998989, 101030949, 101035543, 101059927, 101068041.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$54,402.88

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$54,402.88

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $54,402.88
Total: $54,402.88

television $52,000.00text $1,402.88digital $1,000.00

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Jan 27, 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: 100998989, 101034987, 101035543.

Dustin Burrows Campaign$45,000.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $10,000.00
Total: $45,000.00

polling $10,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 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 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 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: 101030949, 101035543.

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$149,922.40

Cash: $70,000.00
Paid by others: $79,922.40
Total: $149,922.40

advertising $37,500.00polling $27,750.00mail $14,372.40fundraiser $300.00

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 · Nov 8, 2024 to Aug 12, 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: 100982185, 100998989, 101030949, 101035543, 101059927, 101068041.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$54,402.88

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $54,402.88
Total: $54,402.88

television $52,000.00text $1,402.88digital $1,000.00

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Jan 27, 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: 100998989, 101034987, 101035543.

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $10,000.00
Total: $45,000.00

polling $10,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 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 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 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: 101030949, 101035543.

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 12, 2025

04/03/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM

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

Energy--General

Utilities--Electric

LOANS

PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

Text

The text as introduced · 271 words

By: Metcalf
H.B. No. 4584

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to funding mechanisms to support the construction of

electric generating facilities.

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

SECTION 1. Section 34.0103, Utilities Code, is amended by

to read as follows:

Sec. 34.0104. LOANS FOR ERCOT POWER REGION. (a) The

commission may use money in the fund without further appropriation

to provide loans to finance upgrades to existing dispatchable

electric generating facilities providing power for the ERCOT power

region that result in a net increase of at least 100 megawatts of

capacity for each facility or the construction of dispatchable

electric generating facilities providing power for the ERCOT power

region that each have a generation capacity of at least 100

megawatts. The commission may use money in the fund without further

appropriation to provide loans to finance the construction of

electric generating facilities providing power for the ERCOT power

region that have a generation capacity of at least 10 megawatts

utilizing emerging technology sources of thermal dispatchable

electricity generation. For the purposes of this section, a

generating facility is considered to be dispatchable if the

facility's output can be controlled primarily by forces under human

control. A battery [ An electric ] energy storage facility is not

eligible for a loan under this section.

SECTION 2. 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.