SB 2110
Coastal Utilities Get Until 2045 To Replace Wooden Poles
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Delayed start
THE TEXT
“replace all wooden transmission or distribution poles in the service area of the utility in seacoast territory before January 1, 2045”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill's main hardening duty, replacing coastal wooden poles, has a deadline 20 years after the session. Only the plan is due soon. The vegetation duties and plan filing take effect quickly, so this is a long compliance window rather than a dodge.
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 electric grid resiliency measures, including a study by the Public Utility Commission of Texas of the cost of burying overhead power lines.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Plan due 2026. Poles get 20 years. A tree trim you request gets 30 days!
The bill orders the Public Utility Commission to study the cost of burying overhead power lines on the coast and statewide, with a report due by December 31, 2026. It also requires electric utilities in coastal territory to file a plan by September 1, 2026, and to replace all wooden poles there before 2045, and it requires every electric utility to clear vegetation from lines at least every three years. Customers get a way to request tree trimming that must be done within 30 days unless it cannot legally or safely be done, and utilities must file yearly vegetation reports.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 10, 2025 and referred to the Senate Business & Commerce committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2110 · 2025-03-10
SOLD BY
+ 4 more authors
ITEM
relating to electric grid resiliency measures, including a study by the Public Utility Commission of Texas of the cost of burying overhead power lines.
WHAT IT DOES
Plan due 2026. Poles get 20 years. A tree trim you request gets 30 days!
The bill orders the Public Utility Commission to study the cost of burying overhead power lines on the coast and statewide, with a report due by December 31, 2026. It also requires electric utilities in coastal territory to file a plan by September 1, 2026, and to replace all wooden poles there before 2045, and it requires every electric utility to clear vegetation from lines at least every three years. Customers get a way to request tree trimming that must be done within 30 days unless it cannot legally or safely be done, and utilities must file yearly vegetation reports.
CHARGES
[x] DELAYED STARTanalysis confidence 45%
THE TEXT
“replace all wooden transmission or distribution poles in the service area of the utility in seacoast territory before January 1, 2045”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill's main hardening duty, replacing coastal wooden poles, has a deadline 20 years after the session. Only the plan is due soon. The vegetation duties and plan filing take effect quickly, so this is a long compliance window rather than a dodge.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Business & Commerce
FILED UNDER
DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID
THE TEXT
“replace all wooden transmission or distribution poles in the service area of the utility in seacoast territory before January 1, 2045”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill sets grid-hardening and tree-trimming duties for electric utilities, which affects how well the lights stay on and who pays for upgrades.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Donors report through Friends of Paul Bettencourt.
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 Jun 30, 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.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
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 Senate · Filed Mar 10, 2025
03/24/2025 S Referred to Business & Commerce
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Coastal Affairs & Beaches
Interim Studies
Utilities--Electric
PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
Text
The text as introduced · 497 words
2025S0069-1 02/04/25 By: Bettencourt, et al. S.B. No. 2110 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to electric grid resiliency measures, including a study by the Public Utility Commission of Texas of the cost of burying overhead power lines. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "commission" means the Public Utility Commission of Texas. (b) The commission shall evaluate: (1) the potential costs of burying existing overhead power lines in seacoast territory, as defined by Section 2210.003, Insurance Code; and (2) the potential costs of burying all existing overhead power lines in this state. (c) The commission shall submit a report of the results of the study conducted under Subsection (b) of this section and any associated recommendations to the legislature not later than December 31, 2026. (d) This section expires January 1, 2027. SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is amended by adding Sections 38.080 and 38.081 to read as follows: Sec. 38.080. WOODEN POLE REPLACEMENT IN SEACOAST TERRITORY. (a) The commission by rule shall require an electric utility operating in seacoast territory, as defined by Section 2210.003, Insurance Code, to: (1) replace all wooden transmission or distribution poles in the service area of the utility in seacoast territory before January 1, 2045; and (2) not later than September 1, 2026, submit to the commission a plan for the replacement. (b) Each plan must prioritize the replacement of poles: (1) located within 10 miles of the coast; or (2) that serve critical infrastructure facilities, as defined by Section 424.001, Government Code. Sec. 38.081. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT SCHEDULE AND REPORTING. (a) Each electric utility shall submit to the commission a vegetation management plan that provides for the clearing at least every three years of trees, tree limbs, and other vegetative growth from utility line easements and utility structures in the entire service area of the utility. (b) Each electric utility shall establish: (1) a procedure for a customer to request vegetation management service; and (2) a procedure to ensure the performance of a service requested under Subdivision (1) not later than the 30th day after the date the customer makes the request, unless the requested service cannot legally or safely be performed. (c) The commission by rule may adopt a standard vegetation management service request procedure for the purposes of this section. (d) Not later than May 1 of each year, each electric utility shall submit to the commission a report describing the utility's vegetation management activities. SECTION 3. Section 38.101(a), Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) Not later than May 1 of each year, each electric utility shall submit to the commission a report describing the utility's activities related to: (1) identifying areas that are susceptible to damage during severe weather and hardening transmission and distribution facilities in those areas; and (2) [ vegetation management; and [ (3) ] inspecting distribution poles. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.