SB 970
Sparks Bill Gives 750-Megawatt Plants Energy Fund Priority
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 the prioritization of awarding grants and loans from the Texas Energy Fund for certain electric generating facilities.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Big plants go to the front of the line for grants and loans. Smaller ones rank behind.
The bill tells the Public Utility Commission to put big power plants, those with at least 750 megawatts of capacity, at the front of the line for Texas Energy Fund grants and loans. It touches companies applying to the fund to build or run power plants, and it favors large projects over smaller ones. Starting September 1, 2025, new applications for these grants and loans will be ranked with large plants given priority.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 149 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 149 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 Jan 29, 2025 and referred to the Senate Business & Commerce committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB970 · 2025-01-29
SOLD BY
+ 2 coauthors
ITEM
relating to the prioritization of awarding grants and loans from the Texas Energy Fund for certain electric generating facilities.
WHAT IT DOES
Big plants go to the front of the line for grants and loans. Smaller ones rank behind.
The bill tells the Public Utility Commission to put big power plants, those with at least 750 megawatts of capacity, at the front of the line for Texas Energy Fund grants and loans. It touches companies applying to the fund to build or run power plants, and it favors large projects over smaller ones. Starting September 1, 2025, new applications for these grants and loans will be ranked with large plants given priority.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Co-author authorized
- Read first time
- Referred to Business & Commerce
- Co-author authorized
FILED UNDER
DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID
THE TEXT
…“shall prioritize the award of a grant or loan under this subchapter for an electric generating facility with a generation capacity of at least 750 megawatts”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill steers state grid-building money toward large power plants, shaping which generation gets built.
THE TEXT
…“shall prioritize the award of a grant or loan under this subchapter for an electric generating facility with a generation capacity of at least 750 megawatts”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill moves the largest power plant developers to the front of the line for state grants and loans.
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 25, 2024 to Oct 23, 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$60,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 23, 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: 101012623, 101029380, 101072732.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 23, 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: 101012623, 101029380, 101072732.
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 Jan 29, 2025
02/13/2025 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 3676 by Guillen (identical)
Subjects
Utilities--Electric
Utilities--General
PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
Text
The text as introduced · 149 words
89R4420 CS-D By: Sparks S.B. No. 970 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the prioritization of awarding grants and loans from the Texas Energy Fund for certain electric generating facilities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 34, Utilities Code, is amended by adding Section 34.0111 to read as follows: Sec. 34.0111. PRIORITIZATION OF AWARDS. The commission shall prioritize the award of a grant or loan under this subchapter for an electric generating facility with a generation capacity of at least 750 megawatts. SECTION 2. Section 34.0111, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an application for a grant or loan submitted to the Public Utility Commission of Texas under Subchapter A, Chapter 34, Utilities Code, on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.