Monitoring the Session

HB 5590

Harris Nuclear Bill Waives Hookup Overruns, Doesn’t Say Who Pays

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Rep. Cody HarrisRHouse 8
Both charges, and why
Carve-out

THE TEXT

“This subsection does not apply to excess costs incurred to interconnect a generation resource that is an advanced nuclear reactor.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

One kind of generator, nuclear, is excused from paying its own excess hookup costs while every other generator still pays. The caption does name the beneficiary, so this favor is disclosed rather than hidden.

Carve-out
Caption mismatch

THE TEXT

“a large reactor, with a generation capacity between 400 and 1400 megawatts of electricity”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption promises an exemption for 'advanced' reactors. The definition sets no technology test, only a size range, so a conventional large fission reactor of ordinary size qualifies too.

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 a cost overage exemption for interconnection of advanced nuclear reactors to the ERCOT transmission system.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Every other generator still pays its overruns. Any reactor under 1,400 megawatts counts as “advanced.”

Under current law, when a power plant connects to the ERCOT grid and the hookup costs more than the utility's allowance, the plant itself must pay the extra. This bill exempts nuclear reactors from that rule, and it defines 'advanced nuclear reactor' by size alone, covering any fission reactor under 1,400 megawatts. Nuclear developers would no longer be directly billed for interconnection cost overruns, so those costs no longer fall on the plant and the bill does not say who pays them instead.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5590 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Cody HarrisRHouse 8

ITEM

relating to a cost overage exemption for interconnection of advanced nuclear reactors to the ERCOT transmission system.

WHAT IT DOES

Every other generator still pays its overruns. Any reactor under 1,400 megawatts counts as “advanced.”

Under current law, when a power plant connects to the ERCOT grid and the hookup costs more than the utility's allowance, the plant itself must pay the extra. This bill exempts nuclear reactors from that rule, and it defines 'advanced nuclear reactor' by size alone, covering any fission reactor under 1,400 megawatts. Nuclear developers would no longer be directly billed for interconnection cost overruns, so those costs no longer fall on the plant and the bill does not say who pays them instead.

CHARGES

[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

“This subsection does not apply to excess costs incurred to interconnect a generation resource that is an advanced nuclear reactor.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

One kind of generator, nuclear, is excused from paying its own excess hookup costs while every other generator still pays. The caption does name the beneficiary, so this favor is disclosed rather than hidden.

[x] CAPTION MISMATCHanalysis confidence 45%

THE TEXT

“a large reactor, with a generation capacity between 400 and 1400 megawatts of electricity”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption promises an exemption for 'advanced' reactors. The definition sets no technology test, only a size range, so a conventional large fission reactor of ordinary size qualifies too.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER

CORPORATE WELFARE

THE TEXT

“This subsection does not apply to excess costs incurred to interconnect a generation resource that is an advanced nuclear reactor.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill relieves nuclear plant developers of a cost that other generators must pay themselves.

DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID

THE TEXT

“Costs in excess of the transmission-owning utility allowance provided by Subsection (d-1) incurred to interconnect generation resources with the ERCOT transmission system must be directly assigned to and collected from the generation resource”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill removes nuclear plants from the rule that makes generators pay their own grid hookup overruns, which leaves those costs unassigned to the plant.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Cody Harris

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$131KTexas Sands PAC$59KTexas REALTORS Political Action Committee$53K

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 31, 2024 to Oct 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$131,199.90

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$131,199.90

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$66,199.90
Total
$131,199.90
grassroots $56,899.90polling $9,300.00

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 · Jun 27, 2025 to Sep 21, 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: 101008254, 101028696, 101039343, 101067574.

Texas Sands PAC$58,800.00

Texas Sands PAC

$58,800.00

Cash
$42,500.00
Paid by others
$16,300.00
Total
$58,800.00
polling $16,300.00

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 · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 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: 100985564, 101028696, 101039343, 101071425.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$52,590.39

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$52,590.39

Cash
$45,000.00
Paid by others
$7,590.39
Total
$52,590.39
digital $5,420.63text $1,960.28Other filed descriptions $209.48

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100985564, 101008254, 101028696, 101035469, 101039343, 101057705, 101067574.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$131,199.90

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$66,199.90
Total
$131,199.90
grassroots $56,899.90polling $9,300.00

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 · Jun 27, 2025 to Sep 21, 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: 101008254, 101028696, 101039343, 101067574.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$58,800.00

Cash
$42,500.00
Paid by others
$16,300.00
Total
$58,800.00
polling $16,300.00

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 · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 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: 100985564, 101028696, 101039343, 101071425.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$52,590.39

Cash
$45,000.00
Paid by others
$7,590.39
Total
$52,590.39
digital $5,420.63text $1,960.28Other filed descriptions $209.48

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100985564, 101008254, 101028696, 101035469, 101039343, 101057705, 101067574.

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 State Affairs: 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 · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 2315 by Parker (identical)

Subjects

Energy--Nuclear

ELECTRIC RELIABILITY COUNCIL OF TEXAS (ERCOT)

Text

The text as introduced · 187 words

89R9644 SCR-D

By: Harris
H.B. No. 5590

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a cost overage exemption for interconnection of

advanced nuclear reactors to the ERCOT transmission system.

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

SECTION 1. Section 35.004(d-2), Utilities Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(d-2) Costs in excess of the transmission-owning utility

allowance provided by Subsection (d-1) incurred to interconnect

generation resources with the ERCOT transmission system must be

directly assigned to and collected from the generation resource

interconnecting through the facilities. This subsection does not

apply to excess costs incurred to interconnect a generation

resource that is an advanced nuclear reactor. For purposes of this

subsection, an advanced nuclear reactor is a fission-based reactor

belonging to one of the following categories:

(1) a large reactor, with a generation capacity

between 400 and 1400 megawatts of electricity;

(2) a small modular reactor, with a generation

capacity between 50 and 400 megawatts of electricity; or

(3) a microreactor, with a generation capacity of less

than 50 megawatts of electricity.

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