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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Electric Truck Advisory |
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Council. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter H-2 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER H-2. ELECTRIC TRUCK ADVISORY COUNCIL |
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Sec. 201.681. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Council" means the Electric Truck Advisory |
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Council established by this subchapter. |
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(2) "Electric truck" includes any electric vehicle |
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with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,501 pounds or more. |
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Sec. 201.682. ESTABLISHMENT; COMPOSITION. (a) The |
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Electric Truck Advisory Council is established. |
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(b) Subject to Subsection (c), the council is composed of: |
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(1) at least one representative appointed by each of |
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the following agencies and entities: |
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(A) the governor's office; |
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(B) the department; |
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(C) the Public Utility Commission of Texas; |
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(D) the Electric Reliability Council of Texas; |
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(E) the Texas Commission on Environmental |
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Quality; |
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(F) the Texas Department of Licensing and |
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Regulation; and |
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(G) the Texas A&M Transportation Institute; |
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(2) at least two representatives from privately owned |
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utilities providing electric service, appointed by the executive |
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director of the Public Utility Commission of Texas; |
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(3) at least one representative from a publicly owned |
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utility providing electric service, appointed by the executive |
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director of the Public Utility Commission of Texas; and |
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(4) at least three members from the private sector, |
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appointed by the director. |
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(c) The director shall determine the number of |
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representatives that each appointing authority under Subsection |
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(b) may appoint to serve on the council. |
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(d) A council member serves at the pleasure of the |
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appointing authority. |
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Sec. 201.683. TERMS; VACANCY. (a) Council members serve |
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six-year terms. |
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(b) A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same |
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manner as the original appointment. A council member appointed to |
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fill a vacancy on the council shall serve the remainder of the |
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unexpired term. |
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Sec. 201.684. PRESIDING OFFICER. The representative of the |
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department appointed under Section 201.682(b)(1) shall serve as the |
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presiding officer. |
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Sec. 201.685. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least |
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once a month or more frequently at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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Sec. 201.686. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT; FUNDING. (a) The |
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council is administratively attached to the department. |
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(b) The council shall be funded using existing funds of the |
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department. |
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Sec. 201.687. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The council |
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shall: |
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(1) provide guidance on policies and incentives that |
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encourage the adoption of electric trucks and the proliferation of |
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required charging infrastructure; |
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(2) provide guidance on regulatory issues specific to |
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electric trucks to ensure that electric trucks maintain safety and |
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performance standards; |
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(3) serve as a forum for promoting technological |
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advancements in battery technology, electric drivetrains, |
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autonomous driving features, and other innovations; |
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(4) facilitate discussions and coordination among |
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private entities, governmental entities, and research institutions |
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to develop and test new electric truck technologies, share best |
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practices, and support industry-wide adoption of those |
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technologies and practices; and |
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(5) lead initiatives to educate stakeholders, |
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including fleet operators, logistics companies, utilities, and |
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policymakers, regarding electric trucks. |
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Sec. 201.688. STATEWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN AND RELATED |
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IMPLEMENTATION PLANS. (a) The council shall develop a strategic |
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plan for the statewide implementation of electric truck charging |
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infrastructure. The plan must: |
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(1) identify strategic locations for electric truck |
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charging infrastructure and the requirements for their development |
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and construction, including high-capacity power sources, freight |
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routes, and the ability to construct operation hubs; |
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(2) specify each agency subject to the plan; and |
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(3) make recommendations for each agency subject to |
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the plan relating to the agency's role and responsibilities under |
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the plan. |
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(b) The council shall submit the strategic plan to the |
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administrative head of each agency subject to the plan. |
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(c) Not later than the 90th day after receiving the |
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strategic plan, the administrative head of each agency subject to |
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the plan shall develop and submit to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, and the legislature a plan for implementing the |
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recommendations applicable to the agency under the strategic plan. |
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An implementation plan must include a justification for any |
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recommendation the agency declines to implement. |
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Sec. 201.689. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The council is |
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subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). The |
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council shall be reviewed during the period in which the department |
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is reviewed under Section 201.204. Unless continued in existence |
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as provided by Chapter 325, Government Code, the council is |
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abolished and this subchapter expires on the date on which the |
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department is subject to abolishment under that section. |
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Sec. 201.690. APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110, |
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Government Code, does not apply to the composition or duration of |
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the council or to the designation of the council's presiding |
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officer. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 31, 2026, the |
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appropriate appointing authorities shall appoint the members of the |
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Electric Truck Advisory Council as required by Section 201.682, |
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Transportation Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Not later than March 31, 2026, the Electric Truck |
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Advisory Council established under Subchapter H-2, Transportation |
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Code, as added by this Act, shall hold its initial meeting. |
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(c) Not later than March 1, 2027, the Electric Truck |
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Advisory Council shall submit the strategic plan required under |
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Section 201.688, Transportation Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |