Monitoring the Session

SB 2322

Generators Get School Tax Breaks Without The But-For Test

Did not pass

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Sen. Phil KingRSenate 10
Both charges, and why
Pitch: Data centers, water and the grid

ACTUALLY

…“described by Section 403.602(8)(A)(i)(b), the agreement is a compelling factor in a competitive site selection determination and”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The committee analysis says this class is energy generation facilities, which the bill excuses from the compelling factor test to make their school tax break easier to get.

Pitch: Data centers, water and the grid
Carve-out

THE TEXT

…“described by Section 403.602(8)(A)(i)(b), the agreement is a compelling factor in a competitive site selection determination and”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill pulls one uniquely described facility type out of the but-for test that every other JETI applicant must still pass. That makes the school tax break easier to get for one kind of business.

Carve-out

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the findings required to be made by the comptroller of public accounts in order to recommend for approval an application for a limitation on the taxable value of eligible property for school district maintenance and operations ad valorem tax purposes under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

The committee analysis calls it grid strength. No need to show they’d have built elsewhere.

This bill lets one class of project, the facility type described in Section 403.602(8)(A)(i)(b), skip the test that a JETI school tax break must be the deciding reason the company invests in Texas. The committee analysis says this class is certain energy generation facilities, and the change touches the comptroller, school districts and the companies applying for the tax limitation. Those facilities can now get a school maintenance and operations tax value limitation without showing they would have built elsewhere, for applications filed on or after September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on Apr 29, 2025. Died in the House: voted out of the Ways & Means committee 8-1, no floor vote.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2322 · 2025-03-11

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to the findings required to be made by the comptroller of public accounts in order to recommend for approval an application for a limitation on the taxable value of eligible property for school district maintenance and operations ad valorem tax purposes under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act.

WHAT IT DOES

The committee analysis calls it grid strength. No need to show they’d have built elsewhere.

This bill lets one class of project, the facility type described in Section 403.602(8)(A)(i)(b), skip the test that a JETI school tax break must be the deciding reason the company invests in Texas. The committee analysis says this class is certain energy generation facilities, and the change touches the comptroller, school districts and the companies applying for the tax limitation. Those facilities can now get a school maintenance and operations tax value limitation without showing they would have built elsewhere, for applications filed on or after September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[x] PITCH: DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID

ACTUALLY

…“described by Section 403.602(8)(A)(i)(b), the agreement is a compelling factor in a competitive site selection determination and”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The committee analysis says this class is energy generation facilities, which the bill excuses from the compelling factor test to make their school tax break easier to get.

[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 80%

THE TEXT

…“described by Section 403.602(8)(A)(i)(b), the agreement is a compelling factor in a competitive site selection determination and”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill pulls one uniquely described facility type out of the but-for test that every other JETI applicant must still pass. That makes the school tax break easier to get for one kind of business.

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · April 17, 2025

Passage of the bill would remove the compelling factor requirement for utility services projects under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation Act. As a result, taxable value would be decreased and the associated costs to the Foundation School Fund increased through the operation of the school finance formulas. Due to the unknown number of projects that could qualify for the program, the fiscal impact cannot be determined. However, based on an analysis of publicly available projects the fiscal impact could be a cost of ($0.8 million) in the biennium ending August 31, 2027, increasing to a cost of ($46.2 million) in the biennium ending August 31, 2031.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Economic Development
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Committee report printed and distributed
  13. Placed on intent calendar
  14. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  15. Record vote
  16. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  17. Record vote
  18. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  19. Record vote
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the Senate
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Ways & Means
  27. Considered in formal meeting
  28. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  29. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  30. Committee report distributed
  31. Committee report sent to Calendars
  32. Considered in Calendars
  33. Placed on General State Calendar
FILED UNDER

CORPORATE WELFARE

THE TEXT

…“described by Section 403.602(8)(A)(i)(b), the agreement is a compelling factor in a competitive site selection determination and”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

One facility class can get a school property tax value limitation without proving the break is what brings the investment to Texas.

DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID

THE TEXT

…“described by Section 403.602(8)(A)(i)(b), the agreement is a compelling factor in a competitive site selection determination and”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The committee analysis says this class is energy generation facilities, which the bill excuses from the compelling factor test to make their school tax break easier to get.

SIGNED FOR BY

Senate · 20 yea · 11 nay

Sources

Senate: Final passage · Apr 29, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$30KErle Nye, Jr.$20,000Gideon Powell$20,000

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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$30,300.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$30,300.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$300.00
Total
$30,300.00
fundraiser $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 · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 26, 2025. 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: 100982783, 101007450, 101026985.

Erle Nye, Jr.$20,000.00
Gideon Powell$20,000.00
Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$30,300.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$300.00
Total
$30,300.00
fundraiser $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 · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 26, 2025. 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: 100982783, 101007450, 101026985.

Votes4

Senate Apr 29, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 29, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator King moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2322 at this time on its third reading and final passage: CSSB 2322, Relating to the findings required to be made by the comptroller of public accounts in order to recommend for approval an application for a limitation on the taxable value of eligible property for school district maintenance and operations ad valorem tax purposes under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 28, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 28, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator King moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2322 at this time on its second reading: CSSB 2322, Relating to the findings required to be made by the comptroller of public accounts in order to recommend for approval an application for a limitation on the taxable value of eligible property for school district maintenance and operations ad valorem tax purposes under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses15
For
13
Against
1
On
1
Names

For

  • Element Fuels1 registration
  • Entergy Texas1 registration
  • Greater Houston Partnership1 registration
  • North Texas Commissiom1 registration
  • Powering Texans1 registration
  • Self; Opportunity Austin1 registration
  • Texas Association of Business1 registration
  • Texas Association of Manufacturers1 registration
  • Texas Economic Development Council1 registration
  • Texas Hydrogen Alliance1 registration
  • Texas Taxpayers and Research Association1 registration
  • The Association of Electric Companies of Texas1 registration
  • Vistra Corporation1 registration

Against

  • Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club1 registration

On

  • Texas Economic Development & Tourism, Office of the Governor1 registration
Sources

15 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · April 17, 2025

Passage of the bill would remove the compelling factor requirement for utility services projects under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation Act. As a result, taxable value would be decreased and the associated costs to the Foundation School Fund increased through the operation of the school finance formulas. Due to the unknown number of projects that could qualify for the program, the fiscal impact cannot be determined. However, based on an analysis of publicly available projects the fiscal impact could be a cost of ($0.8 million) in the biennium ending August 31, 2027, increasing to a cost of ($46.2 million) in the biennium ending August 31, 2031.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 11, 2025

05/26/2025 H Placed on General State Calendar

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors

House committee · Ways & Means · Committee vote 8 aye, 1 nay, 4 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Economic Development · Committee vote 3 aye, 2 nay · Out of committee

Companion

HB 4149 by Button (similar)

Subjects

Economic & Industrial Development--General

COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Text

The text as introduced · 454 words

By: King
S.B. No. 2322

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the applicability of the compelling factor test within

the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act.

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

SECTION 1. Section 403.609(b), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 403.609. COMPTROLLER ACTION ON APPLICATION. (a) The

comptroller shall determine whether to recommend or not recommend

for approval an application submitted to the comptroller under

Section 403.607. The comptroller shall recommend an application

for approval if the comptroller makes the findings prescribed by

Subsection (b). The comptroller may not recommend an application

for approval if the comptroller is unable to make the findings

prescribed by that subsection.

(b) The comptroller may not recommend an application for

approval unless the comptroller finds that:

(1) the proposed project that is the subject of the

application is an eligible project;

(2) the proposed project is reasonably likely to

generate, before the 20th anniversary of the first day of the

construction period, state or local tax revenue, including ad

valorem tax revenue attributable to the effect of the project on the

economy of this state, in an amount sufficient to offset the school

district maintenance and operations ad valorem tax revenue lost as

a result of the agreement;

(3) for a project described by Section

403.602(8)(A)(i)(a), (c), (d) or (ii), the agreement is a

compelling factor in a competitive site selection determination and

that, in the absence of the agreement, the applicant would not make

the proposed investment in this state; and

(4) if the application indicates that the eligible

project is proposed to be located in a qualified opportunity zone,

the project is located in the zone.

(c) In making the finding required by Subsection (b)(3), the

comptroller shall consider factors related to the selection of the

proposed site for the project, including the workforce, the

regulatory environment, infrastructure, transportation, market

conditions, investment alternatives, and any specific incentive

information provided by the applicant related to other potential

sites.

(d) Not later than the 60th day after the date the

comptroller determines that an application is complete, the

comptroller shall take the action required by Subsection (a)

regarding the application and provide written notice of the action

to the governor, the school district in which the project is

proposed to be located, and the applicant.

(e) The comptroller shall send to the governor and the

applicable school district with the notice required by Subsection

(d) regarding an application recommended by the comptroller under

Subsection (a) a copy of the application and each document and item

of information the comptroller relied on to recommend the

application.

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