House Bill 3824
Relating to fire safety standards and emergency operations plans for the operation of battery energy storage facilities; providing administrative penalties.
Bill facts
Bill facts
- Authors
- King; Gerdes.
- Companion
- SB 1825 by Schwertner, Identical.
- Last action
- June 20, 2025. Effective on 9/1/25.
- Version analyzed
- Enrolled, posted May 29, 2025.
- Subjects
- City Government, County Government, Disaster Preparedness & Relief, Energy, Health, Safety, Utilities.
Bottom line
Bottom line
This version of HB3824 directs the commissioner of insurance to adopt fire safety standards, drawn from UL and NFPA standards, for battery energy storage facilities of one megawatt hour or more that begin commercial operation on or after January 1, 2027. Operators must meet the standards, prepare site emergency plans, offer first responder training and obtain independent fire safety inspections at least every five years, subject to state fire marshal penalties, and inconsistent local rules are preempted. The ratings point both ways: +1 Moderate on Grid hardening, Fraud prevention, and Zoning and land-use preemption; -1 Moderate on New licensing, permitting, or compliance requirements, Generation capacity, and Liability exposure.