SB1468

The new subsection 85.24(d) adds the Brazos County construction and acquisition authority. The existing provisions already allowed improving and equipping existing power plants, constructing and acquiring steam plants, and constructing, extending and improving water and sewer systems. The act replaces “central power plants” with “power plants,” replaces acquisition of “land” with “property” for the purposes of subsection (a), and retains the board-approval language concerning cost, construction, capacity and plans in subsections (a) and (b). The new subsection’s geographic limit should not be read as a new statewide power-plant construction authorization. Final law; Prior utility authority.

The section continues to allow utility service to institutional buildings and facilities, allocation of those costs and pledging service revenues and other authorized charges to utility revenue bonds. Most of that financing language already existed; SB1468 does not itself issue bonds, set a project budget or order a particular plant to be built. The revised service language uses the general phrase “all buildings or facilities” instead of listing examples such as dormitories and dining halls. Final law, subsection (c); Existing service and financing provisions.

The Senate substitute changed the plant definitions to apply throughout the section and removed “and steam” from the new Brazos County power-plant provision. Steam-plant authority remains in subsection (a); the final definitions specify that steam plants exclude electrical generating facilities while power plants include them. The Senate-passed, House committee and enrolled versions retain that substitute’s operative text. No floor amendments are listed. Introduced; Senate substitute; Senate-passed; House committee; Final law; Version index; Amendment index.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

The regents gain explicit options for utility infrastructure on system property in Brazos County. Whether a project proceeds, how it is financed and what users pay depend on later decisions; this act alone does not establish a completed plant, lower utility bills or improved reliability. Existing authority to allocate utility costs and pledge authorized revenues remains relevant to those decisions. Final law; Prior cost and revenue authority.

The April 10 substitute fiscal note anticipates no significant state or local fiscal impact and assumes implementation costs can be absorbed within existing resources. It is not a cost estimate for a specific future utility project. The act makes no appropriation. Substitute fiscal note.