By: Menéndez S.B. No. 799               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the installment of electric school buses and solar   panels in Texas public schools.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:   ARTICLE 1: FINDING AND PURPOSE          SECTION 1.01.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. The   legislature finds that:                (1)  The legislature is committed to ensuring federal   funding and state resources are equitably allocated to prevent a   disaster such as Winter Storm Uri from occurring once again.                (2)  The legislature equally commits to reviewing and   utilizing efficient methods such as battery storage and   dispatchable energy, to the best of its ability to ensure all Texas   residents have access to energy in the case of another state   disaster.                (3)  The legislature finds that public school   facilities are in a unique position because of the hours of   operation to serve as an energy storage facility. Solar panels can   be installed on these public schools and electric school buses may   be reliable form for energy to be stored, distributed, and reserved   daily and/or dispatched in case of an emergency.                (4)  The legislature is committed to appropriating   funds to assist in the updated infrastructure of our public schools   and to ensure the reliability of the Texas grid.                (5)  The federal government has created new programs   and tax credits allowing public schools to benefit from the use of   electric school buses and clean energy measures such as solar   panels. These benefits include nearly $5 billion dollars to replace   school buses with electric models. Additionally, there are at least   51 Texas projects amounting to $164 million that have been   waitlisted, demonstrating a strong interest and need for assistance   in applying for these methods.                (6)  The legislature understands that in a state of   disaster public schools may be able to serve as an emergency shelter   because of the storage generated by the electric school buses and   solar panels on public schools.                ARTICLE 2: USE OF THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL   QUALITY OFFICE          SECTION 2.  Sec. 447.002. and 447.003., Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 447.002.  INFORMATION; PROCEDURES AND RULES; MEASURES   AND PROGRAMS. (a) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality   office shall develop and provide energy and water conservation   information for the state.          (b)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality office   may establish procedures and adopt rules relating to the   development and implementation of energy and water conservation   measures and programs applicable to state buildings and facilities.          (c)  A procedure established or a rule adopted under   Subsection (b) may include provisions relating to:                (1)  the retrofitting of existing state buildings and   facilities with energy-saving or water-saving devices; and                (2)  the energy-related or water-related renovation of   those buildings and facilities; and                (3) assistance to public school districts to submit   applications for federal and state funding for the installation   and purchase of electric school buses and solar panels in public   schools.           Sec. 447.003.  LIAISON TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. The Texas   Commission on Environmental Quality is the state liaison to the   federal government for the implementation and administration of   federal programs relating to state agency energy matters. The   office shall administer state programs established under:                (1)  Part D, Title III, Energy Policy and Conservation   Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6321 et seq.), and its subsequent   amendments;                (2)  Part G, Title III, Energy Policy and Conservation   Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6371 et seq.), and its subsequent   amendments; and                (3)  other federal energy conservation programs   including the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure   Investment and Jobs Act, and other state sources of funding as   assigned to the office by the governor or the legislature.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.