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Committee adopts amendment giving municipalities longer net‑metering finance term; bill reported with unanimous support
Summary
The Finance Committee adopted an amendment (1788) to extend municipal net‑metering financing terms toward a 20‑year alignment and then reported Senate Bill 538 as 'ought to pass' (committee roll reported 24–0); supporters said the change helps municipal solar projects complete financing.
The Finance Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 538 FN, a measure that extends net‑metering eligibility terms for municipal energy projects. Representative Kimbroughs presented the bill and Representative Abel moved amendment 17‑88 to align the financing term with the committee‑of‑conference recommendation (20 years); the amendment was discussed, moved and seconded and then adopted in committee. The committee later voted the underlying 'ought to pass' motion unanimously and placed the bill on the regular calendar/consent.
Representative Abel, arguing for the amendment, said many municipalities and counties budget on a 20‑year recoupment schedule and extending the term will allow projects already under way to complete construction and financing without being forced to remove panels later. “So I'd like to move amendment 17‑88,” Abel said during discussion.
Representative Carol McGuire said the amendment provides an option that aligns with the committee‑of‑conference report and noted it applies narrowly to municipal projects already underway.
The clerk recorded the committee action and the transcript reports the committee tally on the final motion as 24–0; the bill was designated for consent or the regular calendar accordingly.
Supporters said the change makes municipal projects more bankable and gives local governments time to complete projects; no substantial fiscal appropriation beyond rearranging existing terms was reported in the committee discussion.
The bill now moves forward in the House process.
