Representative Davis withdraws proposed constitutional amendment to let Texans tap Energy Fund; enabling bill postponed

Representative Davis told the House she had filed HJR 2 18 to permit Texans to vote to redirect part of the Texas Energy Fund toward energy‑efficiency programs that retail electric customers could access. She argued the measure would let citizens participate directly in reliability solutions and described the Texas Energy Fund as a reservoir of funds set aside earlier by the Legislature and voters.

During floor remarks Representative Davis framed the proposal as a way to allow households to weatherize and otherwise reduce demand: “This HJR would allow us to take a billion dollars for the citizens to make a decision about being part of the solution,” she said. The resolution would have allowed an election on dedicating a portion of existing funds toward consumer‑facing efficiency measures rather than exclusively to generation and transmission projects.

Representative Davis later said she was withdrawing the resolution from action on the floor, and she filed a motion to postpone further consideration of both HJR 2 18 and companion enabling legislation HB 56 23 until June 3, 2025. The House accepted her postponement motion without objection. Floor debate included supporters who urged citizen participation and opponents and questioners who sought additional detail about how funds would be administered and whether the constitutional text would achieve the speaker’s stated goals.

Members emphasized several points during discussion: the overall Energy Fund balance cited on the floor (described as up to $10 billion in session testimony), the difference between grants and loans to industry versus direct access to retail customers, and implementation questions about which state agencies would administer any consumer programs if a constitutional change and enabling law were approved.

Representative Davis said she would bring the idea back after more work, while others present urged prompt action; the House postponed HB 56 23 and recorded the postponement to the June 3, 2025 date referenced on the floor.