88R HB 3179
by Rep. Rosenthal, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 15, 2023: Referred to State Affairs
Relating to electric power purchased for the ERCOT power region.
Caption, 88R bill history
HB 608
Rosenthal Bill Caps ERCOT Purchases At Each Plant’s Base Capacity
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
No flagsInitial review
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 electric power purchased for the ERCOT power region.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Once the commission declares a peak demand event, the cap is off.
The bill orders the Public Utility Commission to stop ERCOT, the grid operator, from buying more electricity each day from any power plant than that plant's base generation capacity. It touches ERCOT and every power plant that sells into the ERCOT grid. The limit is lifted whenever the commission declares a peak demand event, and the rule starts September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 3179 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 3179 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.QUICK READ: 134 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 134 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB608 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to electric power purchased for the ERCOT power region.
WHAT IT DOES
Once the commission declares a peak demand event, the cap is off.
The bill orders the Public Utility Commission to stop ERCOT, the grid operator, from buying more electricity each day from any power plant than that plant's base generation capacity. It touches ERCOT and every power plant that sells into the ERCOT grid. The limit is lifted whenever the commission declares a peak demand event, and the rule starts September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID
THE TEXT
…“the commission shall prohibit an independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region from purchasing more electricity on a daily basis from a facility capable of generating electricity for the ERCOT power region than the facility's base generation capacity”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill caps how much power the ERCOT grid operator can buy from each plant per day, except during commission-declared peak demand events.
No flags
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 · Jul 2, 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.
Susan Sarofim$100,000.00
Lone Star Project Nonfederal$85,000.00
Lone Star Project Nonfederal
$85,000.00
- Cash
- $75,000.00
- Paid by others
- $10,000.00
- Total
- $85,000.00
Other filed descriptions $10,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 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: 101056369, 101068193.
Donald Henley$59,000.00
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Lone Star Project Nonfederal
$85,000.00
- Cash
- $75,000.00
- Paid by others
- $10,000.00
- Total
- $85,000.00
Other filed descriptions $10,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 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: 101056369, 101068193.
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.
FILED BEFORE
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/04/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Mar 4 2025 3:37PM
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
Utilities--Electric
ELECTRIC RELIABILITY COUNCIL OF TEXAS (ERCOT)
PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
Text
The text as introduced · 134 words
89R3503 CXP-D By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 608 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to electric power purchased for the ERCOT power region. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is amended by adding Section 39.171 to read as follows: Sec. 39.171. RESTRICTION ON POWER PURCHASED FOR ERCOT POWER REGION. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall prohibit an independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region from purchasing more electricity on a daily basis from a facility capable of generating electricity for the ERCOT power region than the facility's base generation capacity. (b) This section does not apply during a peak demand event declared by the commission. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.