SB 2984
bill requiring utility plans for inspecting distribution poles
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 plans for the management and inspection of distribution poles.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Every utility files a pole plan with the Public Utility Commission.
The bill requires every electric cooperative, electric utility, and city-owned utility that delivers power to the public to file a plan with the Public Utility Commission for managing and inspecting its distribution poles. Each plan must spell out scope, who is responsible, inspection and inspector-training processes, and a proposed budget, and the commission must approve, modify, or reject it within 180 days. Plans are due by January 1, 2026, and each utility must file a compliance and cost update at least every three years after that.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2984 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to plans for the management and inspection of distribution poles.
WHAT IT DOES
Every utility files a pole plan with the Public Utility Commission.
The bill requires every electric cooperative, electric utility, and city-owned utility that delivers power to the public to file a plan with the Public Utility Commission for managing and inspecting its distribution poles. Each plan must spell out scope, who is responsible, inspection and inspector-training processes, and a proposed budget, and the commission must approve, modify, or reject it within 180 days. Plans are due by January 1, 2026, and each utility must file a compliance and cost update at least every three years after that.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
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
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Top donors to Texans for Kelly Hancock SPAC during his Senate service. Not tied to this bill.
Sources
Gifts to Texans for Kelly Hancock SPAC dated July 1, 2024 to June 18, 2025, while he served in the Senate.
Derived from itemized gifts. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
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 14, 2025
04/07/2025 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
Companion
HB 144 by King (identical)
HB 2745 by King (identical)
Subjects
City Government--Utilities
Utilities--Electric
PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
Text
The text as introduced · 368 words
89R9316 CXP-F By: Hancock S.B. No. 2984 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to plans for the management and inspection of distribution poles. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER E. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE [ REPORT ] SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is amended by adding Section 38.103 to read as follows: Sec. 38.103. DISTRIBUTION POLE PLAN. (a) Each electric cooperative, electric utility, and municipally owned utility that distributes electric energy to the public shall submit to the commission a plan for the management and inspection of distribution poles in the entity's distribution system. (b) Each plan submitted under Subsection (a) must include: (1) a statement of the plan's scope and objectives; (2) the roles and responsibilities of individuals responsible for overseeing and executing the plan; (3) a description of the cooperative's or utility's processes for: (A) the management and inspection of distribution poles on the entity's distribution system; and (B) the training and certifying of personnel, including third-party vendors, who inspect distribution poles; and (4) a proposed budget for implementing the plan. (c) The commission shall approve, modify, or reject a plan submitted to the commission under Subsection (a) not later than the 180th day after the date the plan is submitted. (d) At least once every three years, an entity to which this section applies shall submit an update to the commission detailing the entity's compliance with the plan's objectives and the costs of implementing the plan. An electric utility may submit the update in a report required under Section 38.101. SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2026, each entity to which Section 38.103, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, applies shall submit the plan required by that section to the Public Utility Commission of Texas. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.