HB 5558
Zwiener Utility Bill Adds Elected Seats Near The Capitol
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Both charges, and why
Bracket bill
THE TEXT
…“that contains the Capitol, and in a county that is adjacent to the”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill amends a statewide chapter, but a geographic descriptor aims it at utility agencies in the Capitol's county and the county next door. The caption does say "certain" agencies, so the narrowing is partly disclosed.
Bracket billDelayed start
The effective date lands after the November 3, 2026 general election, so the new elected seats wait more than a year and a half after session.
Delayed startInitial 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 board of directors of certain public utility agencies.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Aimed at the Capitol’s county and next door. Nobody elected before January 1, 2027.
The bill adds elected seats to the board of a public utility agency that sits in both the county containing the Capitol and a neighboring county. Right now every director is appointed by the local governments that make up the agency; this adds one director elected by voters from each of those counties who live inside the agency's service area. It does not take effect until January 1, 2027, so voters choose no one under this bill until after the 2026 general election.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the House Natural Resources committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB5558 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the board of directors of certain public utility agencies.
WHAT IT DOES
Aimed at the Capitol’s county and next door. Nobody elected before January 1, 2027.
The bill adds elected seats to the board of a public utility agency that sits in both the county containing the Capitol and a neighboring county. Right now every director is appointed by the local governments that make up the agency; this adds one director elected by voters from each of those counties who live inside the agency's service area. It does not take effect until January 1, 2027, so voters choose no one under this bill until after the 2026 general election.
CHARGES
[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 55%
THE TEXT
…“that contains the Capitol, and in a county that is adjacent to the”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill amends a statewide chapter, but a geographic descriptor aims it at utility agencies in the Capitol's county and the county next door. The caption does say "certain" agencies, so the narrowing is partly disclosed.
[x] DELAYED STARTanalysis confidence 45%
The effective date lands after the November 3, 2026 general election, so the new elected seats wait more than a year and a half after session.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Natural Resources
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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 27, 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$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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 13, 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: 101012412, 101032309, 101061964, 101072091.
Texas Sands PAC$22,000.00
Texas Sands PAC
$22,000.00
- Cash
- $22,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $22,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 13, 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: 101012412, 101032309, 101061964, 101072091.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 13, 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: 101012412, 101032309, 101061964, 101072091.
Texas Sands PAC
$22,000.00
- Cash
- $22,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $22,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 13, 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: 101012412, 101032309, 101061964, 101072091.
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 14, 2025
04/07/2025 H Referred to Natural Resources: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM
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 · Natural Resources · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Elections--General
Utilities--General
Text
The text as introduced · 191 words
By: Zwiener H.B. No. 5558 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the board of directors of certain public utility agencies. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 572.057, Local Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: (b) Except as provided by Subsection (f), each [ Each ] director must be appointed by place by the governing bodies of the participating public entities. Each participating public entity is entitled to appoint at least one director. (f) In addition to the directors provided for in Subsection (b), for a public utility agency that is located both in the county that contains the Capitol, and in a county that is adjacent to the county that contains the Capitol, one director will be elected by the qualified voters of the respective county, for each county under this Subsection. For the purposes of this Subsection, “ qualified voter” means a registered voter of the county underlying the public utility agency’s service area who resides within the service area. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2027.