A proposal to let Texas residents tap a portion of the voter-approved Texas Energy Fund for home and community energy-efficiency projects drew hours of debate on the House floor Tuesday before the author postponed further consideration.

Representative Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas, introduced HJR 218, a constitutional amendment she said would allow a portion of the funds already set aside for grid reliability to be used for energy-efficiency grants and loans that directly “benefit retail electric customers.” She said the change would let Texans participate in improving grid reliability "by helping homeowners come up with ways to, secure their homes with lower rates of weatherization, windows, all of the things that families struggle with." (Representative Yvonne Davis)

Why it matters: The Texas Energy Fund has been used to support generation and transmission projects; Davis said allowing a slice of that money to pay for weatherization and other household-level measures could reduce peak demand and make the grid more resilient. Opponents and some questioners pressed for detail on program design, eligibility and oversight — asking who would administer funds, how much would be reallocated, and whether the change would reduce money available for new generation.

Discussion highlights: Davis repeated that the fund was voter‑approved and largely unspent, and said she proposed “taking a billion dollars” as a citizen-focused component of the larger pot (she referenced roughly $10 billion already in the fund). Representative Goodwin and others supported the idea of including citizens in the solution; Representative Weiner and others asked technical questions about whether existing constitutional language already authorized grants and loans and whether the amendment’s wording would accomplish the intended result.

Davis acknowledged the politically charged atmosphere and said she would withdraw the pending motion and bring the measure back later: “I will bring this back. And hopefully, we’ll become more mature and more committed to a greater Texas and get more people involved…” (Representative Yvonne Davis). She then moved — and the House adopted without objection — a postponement of HJR 218 and companion enabling legislation, HB 56-23, until June 3, 2025.

Decision and next steps: Both the constitutional resolution (HJR 218) and the related enabling bill (HB 56-23) were postponed without recorded opposition; the author said she would return with the measure for further consideration. The transcript leaves unresolved details about program administration, precise dollar amounts to be reallocated and the mechanics for ensuring accountability.

What lawmakers and staff pressed for: Multiple members asked for clarity about whether the constitutional text would allow awards to individual households versus only to entities, which office would oversee grants, and how the measure would interact with existing PUC (Public Utility Commission) programs and the voter‑approved fund structure.

Ending: The author framed the proposal as an effort to reconnect Texans with public policy decisions and to give households tools to reduce both bills and stress on the grid; lawmakers deferred judgment pending further drafting and review.