[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6236120,"mediaKeyId","3378436-eb4d44dbf22a2b08d838d6743745f1ce","parentId",3378436,"title","PUC nominees outline consumer‑first approach, resiliency plans and new ERCOT oversight before Senate committee","audioSeconds",936,"startMs",2254000,"endMs",3190000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3378436-eb4d44dbf22a2b08d838d6743745f1ce&start=2254&end=3190","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3378436-eb4d44dbf22a2b08d838d6743745f1ce/thumbnail_2254000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6236120/Texas/PUC-nominees-outline-consumerfirst-approach-resiliency-plans-and-new-ERCOT-oversight-before-Senate-committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236120-370f4f510bf7d202d4211ba4025eb661/orig.mp4?Expires=1770397388&Signature=Ttunr5Klsn1zBpoa9iDncsLZQtSJAXEQMFNjlFCxdhrhzUWqBvMRMkqTxTRHDnXd7a0CENX8rfoOEW5oQO~GFxZKXUHzi3jfUHUxLlrvsc7FjbdcUY7sMBdjXjcaG4ypzPxvogsB8B-PmXuEe1-Pxf42w5pbPqIBJLBnR1LfN6wA44iRQ4riVwbCZyfusUlnFqpKfqpDO1-GkpTDFe0HRLrcfgX1YYuNKOL88fat5HFJ15VyyOT1dTa4zlUqoehXWV3plgScCQwRAAmKPOU~NJm20EW9a0PFZw7SzTMwght7CTjxH2rfr-XvUhm3HRjWj~SijinmExTM6TXUekC0tw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Legislature","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","Two nominees to the Public Utility Commission of Texas appeared before the Senate Committee on Nominations and were favorably recommended to the full Senate following questioning about post‑storm reforms, agency transparency, and oversight of ERCOT and utilities.

Commissioner Courtney Haltman (introduced by Senator Eckhart) described her consumer‑first approach, saying, “I always take that at the forefront,” and outlined the commission’s broader responsibilities beyond electricity, including water, wastewater and telecommunications. Haltman told senators that about “60% of the casework our office and agency does is water,” noting that many water utilities are small and require significant staff attention.

Chairman Thomas J. Gleason, who was introduced as the commission’s chairman and described his prior roles in agency operations, said the commission’s mission is “to protect customers, foster competition, and promote high quality infrastructure.” Gleason described continuity of leadership at the agency after recent crises and credited staff with helping the commission regain stability and reduce turnover.

Senators focused questions on measures taken after Winter Storm Uri and hurricanes such as Beryl. Both nominees described the commission’s work on system resiliency plans and on greater oversight of ERCOT. Haltman said the Legislature’s recent resiliency framework allows utilities to come before the PUC with pre‑approved resiliency proposals; the commission has reviewed several such plans. Gleason explained that the PUC now has a stronger check on ERCOT protocol changes and has returned some protocol items for further work to ensure the commission and ERCOT operate with the same information.

Vegetation management and operational spending were a major focus. Senators said reduced vegetation budgets and reliance on outside contractors had magnified damage after storms. Gleason and Haltman said staff now flags reductions in vegetation spend and that the commission will scrutinize vegetation expenditures in rate cases and system resiliency filings so that operations and maintenance are not the first items cut.

The committee also questioned the nominees on transmission planning and cost allocation. Gleason said the commission has taken a cautious, staged approach to extra‑high‑voltage transmission proposals, approving a plan for the Permian Basin but delaying a full statewide adoption while seeking more analysis of costs and benefits. He noted that projected costs for expanded extra‑high‑voltage lines have risen in recent projections and that the commission is working to avoid overbuilding that would unduly burden ratepayers.

Both nominees said the commission has increased transparency and stakeholder engagement since 2021, hired additional staff after Uri, and is completing several administrative items from the agency’s Sunset review such as a centralized case management system and a precedent manual. Gleason pointed to reductions in turnover—from prior years’ 25–30% down to about 10% most recently—as evidence of improved agency stability.

With public testimony closed and no severance requests, the committee voted to favorably recommend the nominees to the full Senate for confirmation.

The full Senate will consider the confirmations and the commission will continue to implement and review resiliency filings, vegetation and maintenance oversight, and ERCOT protocol reviews.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Nominations May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Committee on Nominations heard testimony from Public Utility Commission nominees Commissioner Courtney Haltman and Chairman Thomas J. Gleason. Senators questioned the nominees on grid resiliency, system resiliency plans passed by the Legislature, vegetation management, ERCOT oversight and water and telecommunications responsibilities.","taxTitle","Committee on Nominations, Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16928,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6236124,"Senate committee favorably recommends J. B. Goodwin for Texas Real Estate Commission",2074,166000,2240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3378436-eb4d44dbf22a2b08d838d6743745f1ce&start=166&end=2240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3378436-eb4d44dbf22a2b08d838d6743745f1ce/thumbnail_166000.jpg","/articles/6236124/Texas/Senate-committee-favorably-recommends-J-B-Goodwin-for-Texas-Real-Estate-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236124-ee30b9dca5d765e99fae4b4609e966f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770397388&Signature=nPOuXNyK3TGRwrxkLP0J7g2IrfZw1z3GTlIJNppQKpzyrdUjmg2pkRwviu-dPuTijexvzfNlHaMDNUqZgLtLWk3w38~d024DCxCDO5rIF4N~btIUJVrKbzLk95L49apRmzyrXK5zjUOYOmbvs-o5gEzhC5ULdX-7pbYiB6DDjEUblcqWzpxKtaE4YnJAmezk5oO~GZ-Q2XWnNeuzRd0Vgb8rS3BRJ5ohizEE-XONDszrIloO80xtXxkBgLZpar2HwkYf8HmGzyNIMhnV2ancRxwij62qDsWO3giefeoL91SNKr6TPoxtxcHp3SwCe0k2XTC~Jlod3T0oof7oDKGFJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","J. B. Goodwin, the founder and chief executive of JB Goodwin Realtors, was favorably recommended by the Texas Senate Committee on Nominations for confirmation to the Texas Real Estate Commission after a nomination hearing and roll call vote.

The committee voted to send the nominees on its agenda to the full Senate; the clerk recorded the committee’s motion to favorably report the nominees, moved by Vice Chair Hagenboo, and the committee concluded with a favorable recommendation to the full Senate.

The hearing combined Goodwin’s introduction and questioning with a larger discussion of the commission’s oversight role and recent reviews. Senator Birdwell introduced Goodwin on behalf of Senator Eckhart, noting Goodwin’s long tenure in the real estate business and civic involvement. Goodwin told the committee he founded JB Goodwin Realtors in 1972 and said the firm now employs “over 850 agents across 8 offices between Austin and San Antonio.”

Committee members pressed Goodwin about the Texas Real Estate Commission’s Sunset review and its status as a semi‑independent state agency (SDSI). Senator Birdwell and other members asked whether Goodwin had reviewed the Sunset report and what steps he would take to maintain legislative trust given past criticisms that SDSI agencies can lose a customer‑service focus. Goodwin said he had reviewed the report and told members that, “as an outsider looking in…those [problems] have all been solved. I have not heard out of the 850 real estate agents and the 45 staff members we have, I have not heard a complaint…in the last 5 years.”

Members also questioned Goodwin about housing affordability and the growing role of institutional investors that buy single‑family homes. Goodwin described large institutional buyers as a “relatively new phenomenon” and said some firms have negatively affected neighborhood upkeep; he added that some institutional owners have exited the strategy after disappointing returns. When asked whether cash purchases by investment firms were pricing out first‑time buyers, Goodwin answered, “No, ma’am. I don’t.” He emphasized, however, that maintenance and neighborhood care can decline under some institutional ownership.

Committee members raised related concerns about rising insurance costs and property tax increases that affect homeownership. Goodwin recounted client examples of steep premium increases and said those changes can push households into financial distress. He suggested advising buyers to obtain homeowners insurance quotes before completing costly inspections or appraisals.

Members also asked about disclosure forms and a prior Sunset‑sparked effort to revise seller disclosure forms. Goodwin said he believed required disclosures should include obligations such as private‑road maintenance and that he would follow up with members’ offices on specific disclosure questions.

The hearing included discussion of the 2020–2023 national court case commonly reported as Burnett v. National Association of Realtors; members asked whether the decision had changed local practice. Goodwin responded that fee transparency was already standard practice in Texas and that Texas agents typically discuss compensation and fiduciary duties with clients at initial consultations.

With public testimony closed and no requests to sever nominees, the committee clerk called the roll and the committee issued a favorable recommendation to the full Senate for confirmation of the nominees on the agenda.

The nomination now moves to the full Senate for consideration.","The Senate Committee on Nominations voted to favorably recommend the nomination of J. B. Goodwin to the Texas Real Estate Commission after a hearing that focused on Sunset-review findings, the commission's semi‑independent funding status, and housing market pressures including institutional buyers and rising insurance costs.","actionData","errors"]

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PUC nominees outline consumer‑first approach, resiliency plans and new ERCOT oversight before Senate committee

Senate committee favorably recommends J. B. Goodwin for Texas Real Estate Commission