HB 5475

Guillen Bill Orders An Underground Utility Line Report, Due 2027

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Ryan GuillenRHouse 31

Why it's charged

Study, task force, commission, report

THE TEXT

“Not later than December 1, 2027, the commission shall”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill's only duty is a study and a report due in late 2027. Any real change to damage-prevention rules waits for a future Legislature to act on it.

Study, task force, commission, report

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 a study and report on the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

The study and report are the whole job. Nothing changes until a later Legislature acts.

The bill orders the Railroad Commission, working with the board of the Texas Underground Facility Notification Corporation, to study how well the state prevents damage to underground utility lines. The study covers the leading causes of damage, whether there are enough resources to locate and mark lines, best practices from other places, and ways to improve communication and safety standards. A written report with findings and recommendations is due to state leaders by December 1, 2027, and nothing in the current rules changes until a later Legislature acts on it.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the House Energy Resources committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5475 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Ryan GuillenRHouse 31

Rep. Stan GerdesRHouse 17

Rep. Ray LopezDHouse 125

+ 1 more author, 3 coauthors

ITEM

relating to a study and report on the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act.

WHAT IT DOES

The study and report are the whole job. Nothing changes until a later Legislature acts.

CHARGES

[x] STUDY, TASK FORCE, COMMISSION, REPORTanalysis confidence 90%

THE TEXT

“Not later than December 1, 2027, the commission shall”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill's only duty is a study and a report due in late 2027. Any real change to damage-prevention rules waits for a future Legislature to act on it.

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

Mar 14, 2025Filed
Apr 7, 2025Read first time
Apr 7, 2025Referred to Energy Resources

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ryan Guillen

Donors

Frontera Texas PAC$160K Texas Sands PAC$121K Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$23K

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 1, 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.

Frontera Texas PAC$160,007.97

Frontera Texas PAC

$160,007.97

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $160,007.97
Total: $160,007.97

Other filed descriptions $73,500.00mail $40,000.00mailing $19,429.94texting $18,144.37digital $8,211.55printing $722.11

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 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.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.

Texas Sands PAC$120,875.00

Texas Sands PAC

$120,875.00

Cash: $113,500.00
Paid by others: $7,375.00
Total: $120,875.00

polling $7,375.00

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 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$22,795.90

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$22,795.90

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $22,795.90
Total: $22,795.90

polling $15,000.00Other filed descriptions $7,352.14texting $443.76

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 · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 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: 101033369, 101070155.

Money

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

Frontera Texas PAC

$160,007.97

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $160,007.97
Total: $160,007.97

Other filed descriptions $73,500.00mail $40,000.00mailing $19,429.94texting $18,144.37digital $8,211.55printing $722.11

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 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.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.

Texas Sands PAC

$120,875.00

Cash: $113,500.00
Paid by others: $7,375.00
Total: $120,875.00

polling $7,375.00

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 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$22,795.90

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $22,795.90
Total: $22,795.90

polling $15,000.00Other filed descriptions $7,352.14texting $443.76

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 · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 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: 101033369, 101070155.

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 Mar 14, 2025

04/07/2025 H Referred to Energy Resources: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Erin GámezDHouse 38

Oscar LongoriaDHouse 35

Armando "Mando" MartinezDHouse 39

House committee · Energy Resources · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Interim Studies

Utilities--General

RAILROAD COMMISSION

UNDERGROUND FACILITY NOTIFICATION CORPORATION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 295 words

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 5475

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study and report on the Underground Facility Damage

Prevention and Safety Act.

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

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) "Commission" means the Railroad Commission of

Texas.

(2) "Board" means the board of directors of the Texas

Underground Facility Notification Corporation under Section

251.055, Utilities Code.

SECTION 2. STUDY AND REPORT REGARDING THE UNDERGROUND

FACILITY DAMAGE PREVENTION AND SAFETY ACT.

(a) In collaboration with the board, the commission shall

conduct a study to assess the effectiveness of the state's system of

underground facility damage prevention and safety.

(b) The study must:

(1) identify and examine the leading causes of

underground utility damage in Texas;

(2) examine whether sufficient resources for locating

and marking utility facilities exist in the state, and recommend

possible solutions to address the issues;

(3) identify and examine best practices across the

country from public and private institutions to reduce the risk of

damages to underground facilities and minimize waste; and

(4) identify methods to improve communication,

processes and safety standards.

(c) Not later than December 1, 2027, the commission shall

submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the

house of representatives, and the commissioners of the Railroad

Commission of Texas a written report that includes the study's

findings and any recommendations for legislative or other action.

(d) This section expires January 1, 2028.

SECTION 3. 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.