HB 3824 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to fire safety standards and emergency operations plans for the operation of battery energy storage facilities; providing administrative penalties.

HB 3824 establishes fire safety standards and emergency plans for battery energy storage facilities in Texas, directly affecting companies operating these facilities with a capacity of 1 megawatt-hour or greater that begin operations on or after January 1, 2027. The bill requires the Insurance Commissioner to adopt fire safety rules based on nationally recognized standards like UL 9540A and NFPA 855, with periodic updates to reflect changes in those standards. Facilities must comply with these rules, and the bill includes administrative penalties for non-compliance. The law became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Mar 26, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 5 edits · Jun 20, 2025

MODERATE

This bill establishes new fire safety standards and emergency operations requirements for battery energy storage facilities in Texas. The enrolled version clarifies the effective date, expands the scope of required safety inspections, and adds provisions for ongoing compliance monitoring and first responder training.

Scope change

The bill now applies to battery energy storage facilities with a capacity of one megawatt hour or greater that have a commercial operations date on or after January 1, 2027 (previously September 1, 2025).

TIMELINE

The effective date for facility applicability was changed from September 1, 2025 to January 1, 2027, providing more time for facilities to comply with new safety standards.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for battery operators to conduct a fire safety inspection report at least once every five years, evaluating structural integrity, maintenance schedules, and emergency procedures.

Added mandatory education and annual training for local first responders at no cost to the responders, covering battery technology characteristics and incident response protocols.

Added requirement for battery operators to make emergency operations plans and safety data sheets accessible to both facility personnel and first responders at an on-site location.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that enforcement authority is delegated to the state fire marshal, with administrative penalties established according to existing Government Code procedures.

Floor votes · House May 15, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 20, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor

executive

May 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed in the Senate

upper

May 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed in the House

lower

May 28, 2025

Introduced

House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported

upper

May 28, 2025

Introduced

Text of Senate Amendment(s)

lower

May 28, 2025

Introduced

House concurs in Senate amendment(s)

lower

May 26, 2025

Introduced

Senate Amendments Analysis distributed

lower

May 26, 2025

Introduced

Senate Amendments distributed

lower

May 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate passage as amended reported

lower

May 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

May 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

May 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

May 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to Business & Commerce

upper

May 16, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

May 16, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

May 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed as amended

lower

May 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

May 15, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (137-0-6)

house

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment

lower

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

2 primary · 11 co-sponsors