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2 Document(s) [ Subject: Texas Energy Fund ]

Committee:	Senate Business and Commerce
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Artificial intelligence \| Demand Response Program \| Digital currencies \| Electric power plants \| Electric Reliability Council of Texas \| Electricity transmission and distribution \| Energy conservation \| Insurance industry \| Noncompete agreements \| Public Utility Commission of Texas \| Texas Energy Fund \|
Library Call Number:	L1836.88 B963
Session:	88th R.S. (2023)
Online version:	View report [32 pages File size: 594 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Electricity Market Design: Assess state efforts to provide incentives for new thermal generation. Review and report on the state of the electricity market in Texas and issues impacting the reliability and resiliency of the Texas electric grid. Consider rulemaking related to wholesale market design, including the impact of these changes on grid reliability, market revenues, costs to consumers, and the efficiency of operations. Examine and report on the direct and indirect impacts that variable resources, such as wind and solar, have on grid resiliency, consumer prices, and market uncertainty. Monitor the implementation of HB 1500, 88th R.S.
2.	Texas Energy Fund: Review and report on the impact of SB 2627, 88th R.S., the Powering Texas Forward Act, as passed by the 88th Legislature, which established the Texas Energy Fund (TEF) to provide grants and loans to finance the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric facilities in Texas.
3.	Innovative Power Generation: Explore emerging technologies with the potential to add new dispatchable power to our electric grid including, but not limited, to small modular nuclear reactors, advanced batteries, and new developments in hydrogen and geothermal resources. Identify and recommend regulatory and policy actions required to deploy emerging technologies within the state's electric grid.
4.	Transmitting Texas Power: Identify the future electric transmission and distribution system needs of the state and recommend ways to reduce barriers to constructing the necessary electric infrastructure to support the growing demand and changes in technology. Review and make any necessary recommendations to enhance legislation passed during the 88th legislative session, including the status of projects to improve the safety and resiliency of the transmission system, as well as the effect of current and future projects on consumer costs.
5.	Managing Texas Sized Growth: Evaluate the state's ability to keep pace with increasing electricity demand related to population growth and energy intensive technologies such as electric vehicles and data centers. Recommend ways to increase reliability via demand-side response programs. Study ERCOT's forecasting methodology and recommend ways to increase transparency. Monitor ongoing efforts at the Public Utility Commission related to energy efficiency programs and distributed energy resources, including the implementation of SB 1699, 88th R.S.
6.	Impact of Bitcoin Mining on the Texas Electric Grid: Study the impact of energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining facilities on the Texas electric grid. Report on whether any changes should be made to ERCOT demand response programs and large flexible load registration requirements to limit the impact of these facilities on system reliability and consumer costs.
7.	Addressing the Rising Cost of Insurance: Assess the impact of rising property and casualty insurance costs on Texas property owners, real estate lenders, and commercial and industrial development. Identify ways to increase consumer transparency to better inform coverage decisions and make recommendations to ensure a competitive and affordable insurance market for consumers.
8.	Artificial Intelligence: Examine the development and utilization of artificial intelligence (AI). Evaluate the implications of AI adoption across the public and private sectors. Make recommendations for a responsible regulatory framework for AI development, including data privacy, industry standards, consumer protections, risk mitigation, and compliance processes. Propose any necessary changes to state law to protect the Texas radio, television, music, and film industries against unauthorized use by AI. Monitor the findings of the Texas Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council.
9.	Non-Compete Agreements: Examine the impact of the Federal Trade Commission’s final rule on non-compete agreements on Texas employers including, but not limited to, contractual exceptions and limitations on independent contractors, for-profit and non-profit businesses, and senior executives. Identify ways to address balancing legitimate business interests of employers while also protecting employment mobility, increasing innovation, and fostering new business formation. Report on whether any changes should be made to existing law on the criteria, procedures, and remedies on enforcing non-compete and alternative agreements.
Committee:	Senate Finance
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Broadband infrastructure \| Centennial Parks Conservation Fund \| Electric Reliability Council of Texas \| Electricity transmission and distribution \| Film Commission, Texas \| Film industry \| Foundation School Program \| Homestead exemptions \| Mental health services \| Parks and Wildlife, Texas Department of \| Property taxes \| Public Utility Commission of Texas \| Recapture (School finance) \| School enrollment \| School finance \| State hospitals \| State parks \| Tax relief \| Texas Broadband Infrastructure Fund \| Texas Energy Fund \| Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program \| Texas State Water Plan \| Texas Water Fund \| Water Development Board, Texas \| Water service \| Winter Storm Uri \| Winter weather \|
Library Call Number:	L1836.88 F49
Session:	88th R.S. (2023)
Online version:	View report [68 pages File size: 2,276 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Continue Cutting Property Taxes: Identify the best combination to further increase the amount of homestead exemption and compression to continue cutting Texans' property taxes. Additionally, establish and report on the cost of eliminating: School maintenance and operation property taxes; All school property taxes; and All property taxes. Determine the fiscal consequences of each action, including whether revenue reallocations would be required for public education funding and local government funding, and impacts on the state's ability to respond to disasters and other urgent priorities. For example, determine the effect on other state programs if general revenue were used to fully replace school property taxes, particularly during economic downturns. Evaluate and report on how much state revenue would need to be generated to replace foregone property tax revenue, and from what source.
2.	Mental Health Services and Inpatient Facilities: Monitor the implementation of SB 30, 88th R.S., with regard to appropriations made for expanding mental health services and inpatient facilities across the state. Report on the progress of inpatient facility construction projects. Assess and report on the effectiveness of spending on mental health services.
3.	Monitor Property Tax Relief and Infrastructure Funds: Monitor the appropriations supporting, and implementation of, the following legislation passed during the 88th Legislature, Regular or Special Sessions, and approved by voters, amending the Texas Constitution: Property Tax Relief: SB 2, 88th 2nd C.S. and HJR 2, 88th 2nd C.S.; Texas Energy Fund: SB 2627, 88th R.S. and SJR 93, 88th R.S.; Texas Water Fund: SB 28, 88th R.S. and SJR 75, 88th R.S.; Centennial Parks Conservation Fund: SB 1648, 88th R.S. and SJR 74, 88th R.S.; and Broadband Infrastructure Fund: HB 9, 88th R.S. and HJR 125, 88th R.S.
4.	School Enrollment Trends: Study post-pandemic student enrollment trends, and examine the possible causes behind the shift in student enrollment, including the rise in homeschooling, micro-schools, and other parental choice options. Make recommendations to ensure parents and educators have the tools and resources needed to respond to the projected enrollment changes and ensure that every child has the best educational options available to learn.
5.	Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program: Review the expenditure of funds appropriated to the Texas Film Commission for the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) by the 88th Legislature and assess the effectiveness of the program in promoting media production and stimulating local economies through job creation and business growth. Analyze application trends before and after the appropriation, with attention to high- profile or large-budget productions. Additionally, review other states and international incentive programs and evaluate Texas's workforce and educational needs in media production. Provide recommendations to improve the TMIIIP’s transparency and enhance Texas's competitive position.

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