Rep. Drew Darby introduced HB 2678, a bill on Energy, State Agencies, Boards & Commissions, and Utilities, to the Texas House on Tuesday, Feb. 11 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.
More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’relating to the establishment of the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Authority and a Texas nuclear permitting officer’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
This bill establishes the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Authority to strengthen and expand the nuclear industry in Texas by integrating advanced nuclear technology into the state’s economy. The authority will collaborate with educational institutions, industries, and regulatory bodies to develop a strategic plan, identify obstacles, and provide recommendations to state leadership. An executive committee will govern the authority and hire a nuclear permitting officer to assist stakeholders in navigating the permitting process. Additionally, the Texas Advanced Nuclear Innovation Fund is created to support research, development, and economic projects related to advanced nuclear energy. The bill, effective Sept. 1, 2025, mandates biennial reporting of activities and legislative recommendations.
Drew Darby, the chair of the House Committee on Energy Resources, proposed another 13 bills during the 89(R) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on House Administration and a member of the House Committee on State Affairs.
Drew Darby is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state’s 72nd House district. He replaced previous state representative Scott Edward Campbell in 2007.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(R) | HB 2663 | 02/11/2025 | Relating to the affirmation required to be made by an operator as part of an application to the Railroad Commission of Texas for an extension of the deadline for plugging an inactive well; providing an administrative penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 2525 | 02/06/2025 | Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain property owned by a charitable organization that is engaged in providing housing and related facilities and services to persons who are at least 62 years of age |
| 89(R) | HB 2438 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the operations and administration of the Concho County Hospital District |
| 89(R) | HB 2379 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to the selection by the board of directors of the West Coke County Hospital District of a depository bank for the district |
| 89(R) | HB 2349 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to exempting certain transactions from regulation by the Texas Real Estate Commission |
| 89(R) | HB 2037 | 01/23/2025 | Relating to repairs made pursuant to a residential or manufactured home tenant’s notice of intent to repair and the provision of notice regarding a residential or manufactured home tenant’s security deposit |
| 89(R) | HB 2002 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of an organization to receive surplus agricultural products under certain grants awarded by the Department of Agriculture |
| 89(R) | HB 1971 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to an exemption for drillers or operators of closed-loop geothermal injection wells from certain requirements applicable to persons involved in activities under the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas |
| 89(R) | HB 1926 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to organization of, meetings of, and voting by condominium unit owners’ associations and property owners’ associations |
| 89(R) | HB 1769 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to the classification of certain entities as primarily engaged in retail trade for purposes of the franchise tax |
| 89(R) | HB 1749 | 01/07/2025 | Relating to the jurisdiction of municipal courts over health and safety and nuisance abatement ordinances |
| 89(R) | HB 1748 | 01/07/2025 | Relating to the appointment of spoken language interpreters for certain court proceedings |
| 89(R) | HB 1716 | 12/30/2024 | Relating to the provision of counseling services by certain providers under Medicaid and reimbursement for those services |
| 88(R) | HB 1000 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the composition of districts for the election of members of the Texas House of Representatives |
| 88(R) | HB 4775 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the operations of certain local health care provider participation programs |
| 88(R) | HB 4856 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality over certain recharge injection wells |
| 88(R) | HB 4910 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the access by a certificated telecommunications provider to the rights-of-way and pole charges of an electric cooperative |
| 88(R) | HB 4970 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to guardianship matters |
| 88(R) | HB 5015 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the disposition of surplus real property no longer needed for state highway purposes |
| 88(R) | HB 5160 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the authority of the board of directors to select a depository bank for the West Coke County Hospital District |
| 88(R) | HB 4557 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to liability for capturing and storing carbon dioxide |
| 88(R) | HB 4559 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to the application of statutes that classify political subdivisions according to population |
| 88(R) | HB 3206 | 03/02/2023 | Relating to the maximum allowable cost of certain items eligible for a sales and use tax exemption for a limited period |
| 88(R) | HB 2847 | 02/24/2023 | Relating to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas over and a study of the production, pipeline transportation, and storage of hydrogen |
| 88(R) | HB 2848 | 02/24/2023 | Relating to the approval of a certificate of public convenience and necessity for certain transmission projects |
| 88(R) | HB 2747 | 02/23/2023 | Relating to a requirement that each appraisal district periodically confirm that recipients of residence homestead exemptions qualify for those exemptions |
| 88(R) | HB 2447 | 02/17/2023 | Relating to private transfer fee obligations |
| 88(R) | HB 2363 | 02/15/2023 | Relating to the designation of the portion of Farm-to-Market Road 765 in Concho County as the Sergeant Stephen Jones Memorial Highway |
| 88(R) | HB 2364 | 02/15/2023 | Relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 87 in Concho County as the Deputy Samuel Leonard Memorial Highway |
| 88(R) | HB 2262 | 02/13/2023 | Relating to gas utility alternative gas expenses and infrastructure investments |
| 88(R) | HB 2263 | 02/13/2023 | Relating to the authority of a natural gas local distribution company to offer energy conservation programs |
| 88(R) | HB 2026 | 02/08/2023 | Relating to the Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program |
| 88(R) | HB 2056 | 02/08/2023 | Relating to a severance tax exemption for oil and gas produced from certain restimulation wells; providing a civil penalty |
| 88(R) | HB 1879 | 02/03/2023 | Relating to the provision of counseling services by certain providers under Medicaid and reimbursement for those services |
| 88(R) | HB 1766 | 01/27/2023 | Relating to the issuance of private activity bonds for qualified residential rental projects |
| 88(R) | HB 1777 | 01/27/2023 | Relating to the regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas of closed-loop geothermal injection wells |
| 88(R) | HB 1598 | 01/25/2023 | Relating to local government and other political subdivision regulation of certain solid waste facilities |
| 88(R) | HB 1518 | 01/23/2023 | Relating to the examination of appraisal services for an appraisal management company |
| 88(R) | HB 1508 | 01/20/2023 | Relating to certain powers and duties in relation to information resources at public institutions of higher education and other state agencies |
| 88(R) | HB 1336 | 01/13/2023 | Relating to the ownership by a landowner of the geothermal energy and associated resources below the surface of the landowner’s land |
| 88(R) | HB 1318 | 01/12/2023 | Relating to the regulation of brine mining wells |
| 88(R) | HB 1254 | 01/10/2023 | Relating to certificates of public convenience and necessity for certain transmission projects |
| 88(R) | HB 1158 | 01/03/2023 | Relating to advanced clean energy projects and certain other projects that reduce or eliminate emissions of carbon dioxide or other pollutants |
| 88(R) | HB 1025 | 12/16/2022 | Relating to the release of a reversionary interest in certain real property by the Health and Human Services Commission |
| 88(R) | HB 617 | 11/14/2022 | Relating to a pilot project to provide emergency telemedicine medical services and telehealth services in rural areas |
| 88(R) | HB 618 | 11/14/2022 | Relating to the treatment, recycling for beneficial use, or disposal of drill cuttings |
