Overall Vote Recommendation

Neutral

Principle Criteria

Free Enterprise

Property Rights

Personal Responsibility

Limited Government

Individual Liberty

In Layman's Terms

SB 764 updates the process for handling electrician licensing disputes by requiring them to follow Texas's standard administrative hearing procedures. The bill changes only how these cases are heard, not the grounds for licensing or discipline.

Digest

SB 764 modifies the procedures governing hearings related to the denial of an electrician's license or disciplinary action against a licensed electrician. The bill removes language in current law that expressly authorizes the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to designate a hearings officer to conduct these proceedings, leaving such matters to be governed by the contested case procedures established under Chapter 2001, Government Code.

By eliminating the statutory reference to commission-designated hearings officers, the bill aligns electrician licensing disputes with the general administrative hearing process applicable under the Texas Administrative Procedure Act. The legislation does not alter the substantive grounds for denying, suspending, or disciplining an electrician's license; instead, it changes only the procedural framework under which those cases are heard.

The bill applies prospectively to hearings that commence on or after its effective date. Hearings that begin before September 1, 2025, continue to be governed by the law in effect when the proceeding commenced.

Author (1)

Judith Zaffirini

Sponsor (1)

Dade Phelan

Contact the Author

Sen. Judith Zaffirini

Capitol Phone:

(512) 463-0121

Capitol Office:

CAP 1E.13

E-Mail:

[email protected]

Visit Official Website

Fiscal Notes

According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), SB 764 is not expected to have any fiscal impact on the state. The bill makes a procedural change to the hearing process for electrician license denials and disciplinary actions by removing the statutory authorization for commission-designated hearing officers and relying instead on the general contested case procedures under Chapter 2001, Government Code. The LBB concludes that implementing this procedural change will not require additional state expenditures or generate any change in state revenue.

The fiscal note does not identify any need for additional staffing, appropriations, or administrative resources to implement the bill. As a result, the LBB anticipates that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation can administer the revised hearing procedures within its existing resources.

The LBB also reports that no fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated, indicating that the bill's procedural changes are not expected to impose costs or produce savings for local governments.

Vote Recommendation Notes

SB 764 is a technical, procedural measure that removes obsolete statutory language governing hearings for electrician license denials and disciplinary actions. The bill analysis explains that licensure hearings for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation have been conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings since 1999, and the legislation simply eliminates outdated references to commission-designated hearing officers to bring the Occupations Code into conformity with current practice.

From a liberty perspective, the bill does not materially alter the substantive rights or obligations of licensed electricians. It does not expand occupational licensing requirements, create new disciplinary grounds, increase penalties, or reduce existing due process protections. Likewise, it does not meaningfully reduce government regulation or administrative oversight, instead making a procedural adjustment within the existing licensing framework. As a result, the bill's effects on liberty are limited and largely offsetting.

The LBB reports that the bill will have no fiscal impact on either state or local government, indicating that implementation can be accomplished within existing resources. Because the legislation primarily modernizes statutory language without significantly expanding or limiting government authority or individual liberty, Texas Policy Research remains NEUTRAL.

Free Enterprise

The bill does not create new licensing requirements, expand occupational regulation, or impose additional compliance costs on electricians or businesses. It simply updates hearing procedures within the existing licensing framework.

Property Rights

The bill does not affect ownership, use, or control of private property, nor does it alter contractual or property rights. Its scope is limited to administrative hearing procedures for professional licensure.

Personal Responsibility

The bill reinforces accountability by maintaining a consistent and standardized hearing process for licensed electricians facing disciplinary action. It supports the expectation that licensed professionals remain responsible for complying with professional standards while ensuring disciplinary proceedings follow established administrative procedures.

Limited Government

Although primarily technical, the bill removes statutory language allowing hearings to be conducted by a commission-designated hearings officer and instead relies exclusively on the broader administrative hearing process under Chapter 2001, Government Code. While this aligns statute with existing practice, it does not reduce government involvement and may modestly reinforce centralized administrative procedures.

Individual Liberty

The bill does not expand or restrict an individual's substantive rights. It modifies only the procedural mechanism for hearings involving electrician license denials and disciplinary actions while preserving existing due process protections under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Committee Vote Information

Senate Committee on Business & Commerce: 11Y/0N
House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures: 13Y/0N

View Bill Text and Status