HB 4887
Lalani Energy Fund Bill Deems Gas, Coal And Nuclear ‘Dispatchable’
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Carve-out
THE TEXT
“an electric generating facility that uses petroleum, natural gas, coal, geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy, or nuclear energy as the primary energy source is considered to be dispatchable”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill names specific fuel industries and deems their plants eligible for state energy fund money by definition, skipping the case-by-case human-control test. The caption says only 'certain electric generating facilities' and does not say which fuels get the automatic pass.
Carve-outInitial 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 provision of loans and grants from the Texas energy fund for certain electric generating facilities.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Listed fuels skip the human-control test and qualify by definition. Battery storage stays shut out.
The bill writes a list of fuel types into the Texas energy fund law and says any power plant running mainly on petroleum, natural gas, coal, geothermal, hydroelectric or nuclear energy counts as dispatchable. It touches power plant owners in the ERCOT region who want state loans or completion bonus grants from the fund, and the Public Utility Commission that hands them out. Plants using those listed fuels qualify automatically as dispatchable instead of having to pass the 'controlled by human forces' test, while battery storage stays shut out.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4887 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the provision of loans and grants from the Texas energy fund for certain electric generating facilities.
WHAT IT DOES
Listed fuels skip the human-control test and qualify by definition. Battery storage stays shut out.
The bill writes a list of fuel types into the Texas energy fund law and says any power plant running mainly on petroleum, natural gas, coal, geothermal, hydroelectric or nuclear energy counts as dispatchable. It touches power plant owners in the ERCOT region who want state loans or completion bonus grants from the fund, and the Public Utility Commission that hands them out. Plants using those listed fuels qualify automatically as dispatchable instead of having to pass the 'controlled by human forces' test, while battery storage stays shut out.
CHARGES
[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 45%
THE TEXT
“an electric generating facility that uses petroleum, natural gas, coal, geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy, or nuclear energy as the primary energy source is considered to be dispatchable”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill names specific fuel industries and deems their plants eligible for state energy fund money by definition, skipping the case-by-case human-control test. The caption says only 'certain electric generating facilities' and does not say which fuels get the automatic pass.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
“an electric generating facility that uses petroleum, natural gas, coal, geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy, or nuclear energy as the primary energy source is considered to be dispatchable”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill guarantees named energy industries a place in line for state loans and completion bonus grants from the Texas energy fund.
DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID
THE TEXT
…“a completion bonus grant for the construction of dispatchable electric generating facilities in the ERCOT power region”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill shapes which power plants on the ERCOT grid can get state money to build or expand.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 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.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$37,500.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$37,500.00
- Cash
- $37,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $37,500.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100987680, 101007262, 101030846, 101036309, 101069420.
Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee$11,569.08
Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee
$11,569.08
- Cash
- $7,000.00
- Paid by others
- $4,569.08
- Total
- $11,569.08
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Feb 3, 2026 to Jun 2, 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: 101040256, 101061992.
TSA PAC$10,000.00
TSA PAC
$10,000.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $10,000.00
Also funds 15 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 1, 2024 to Oct 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Sep 23, 2025 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.
Report IDs: 101030846, 101072241.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$37,500.00
- Cash
- $37,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $37,500.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100987680, 101007262, 101030846, 101036309, 101069420.
Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee
$11,569.08
- Cash
- $7,000.00
- Paid by others
- $4,569.08
- Total
- $11,569.08
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Feb 3, 2026 to Jun 2, 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: 101040256, 101061992.
TSA PAC
$10,000.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $10,000.00
Also funds 15 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 1, 2024 to Oct 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Sep 23, 2025 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.
Report IDs: 101030846, 101072241.
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 13, 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
Business & Commerce--General
Energy--Geothermal (IP9BV)
Utilities--Electric
Utilities--General
LOANS
PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
Text
The text as introduced · 348 words
89R16094 CS-D By: Lalani H.B. No. 4887 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the provision of loans and grants from the Texas energy fund for certain electric generating facilities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 34, Utilities Code, is amended by adding Section 34.01015 to read as follows: Sec. 34.01015. APPLICABILITY. For the purposes of this chapter: (1) an electric generating facility is considered to be dispatchable if the facility's output can be controlled primarily by forces under human control; and (2) an electric generating facility that uses petroleum, natural gas, coal, geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy, or nuclear energy as the primary energy source is considered to be dispatchable. SECTION 2. Section 34.0104(a), Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows: (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. [ 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. ] An electric energy storage facility is not eligible for a loan under this section. SECTION 3. Section 34.0105(a), Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The commission shall provide, using money available in the fund for the purpose without further appropriation, a completion bonus grant for the construction of dispatchable electric generating facilities in the ERCOT power region. [ 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. ] An electric energy storage facility is not eligible for a grant under this section. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.