The bill, H.B. No. 144, aims to enhance the management and inspection of transmission and distribution poles by requiring electric cooperatives, utilities, and municipally owned utilities to submit a comprehensive plan to the Public Utility Commission of Texas. This plan must detail the scope and objectives, roles and responsibilities of personnel, processes for managing and inspecting poles, training protocols, and documentation procedures for addressing landowner complaints. Additionally, the plan must include specific timelines for inspections and remedial actions for any poles identified as unreliable or unsafe, along with a proposed budget for implementation.

The bill also mandates that these entities provide regular updates to the commission, including a monthly report on inspection results and compliance with the plan's objectives. The commission is tasked with reviewing the submitted plans within 180 days and may approve, modify, or reject them. Furthermore, entities must submit a comprehensive update every three years detailing their compliance and inspection results. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

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