HB 842 – Study at taxpayer expense

HB 842 requires Texas to spend $1 million to study the possibility of burying power lines along the Gulf Coast. While billed as a response to storm damage, the study area spans 150 miles inland—potentially including areas that may not be impacted by hurricanes. This one-time expense could pave the way for billions in future infrastructure mandates or incentives that increase utility costs for ratepayers or taxpayers. The bill prioritizes speculative savings and federal technology partnerships over immediate fiscal discipline. The report’s potential use to justify subsidies or mandates conflicts with a limited government approach. For fiscal conservatives, this bill opens the door to future boondoggles under the guise of resilience.