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HB 5396

AN ACT CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS FOR LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF THE COMBINED PUBLIC BENEFITS CHARGE.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tina Courpas and 3 co-sponsors

HB 5396 would require legislative approval before the Combined Public Benefits Charge can be imposed, changed, or allocated, adding oversight and potential funding delays.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Energy and Technology
#electricdistributioncompanies #generalassembly #publicdeposits
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Bill Summary · HB 5396

Summary — HB 5396

Title: AN ACT CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS FOR LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF THE COMBINED PUBLIC BENEFITS CHARGE
Bill Number: HB 5396
Status: Referred to Joint Committee on Energy and Technology (introduced March 14, 2025)
Companion: SB 699

Note: The full bill text was not provided. The summary below describes the bill’s apparent purpose based on its title and available legislative history, outlines likely or typical provisions such a bill would contain, and identifies the primary parties and impacts to monitor. For definitive details, consult the bill text, committee substitute language, committee report, and fiscal note when available.

Main purpose / intent

HB 5396 appears intended to change how the state's Combined Public Benefits Charge (CPBC) is authorized or adjusted by requiring some form of approval or re-authorization by the General Assembly before the charge may be established, modified, continued, or its uses changed. The CPBC is typically a non-bypassable charge on electric bills that funds energy efficiency, low-income assistance, renewable energy development, and other public-purpose energy programs.

Key provisions likely included (by subject)

Because the bill text is unavailable, the following are plausible provisions consistent with the bill title and similar proposals in other jurisdictions:
- Require affirmative legislative authorization (e.g., statute or appropriations act) before a CPBC may be imposed, increased, extended, or its structure materially changed.
- Establish a reauthorization or sunset schedule for the CPBC, necessitating periodic legislative review.
- Require legislative approval of the allocation or use of CPBC revenues among program categories (energy efficiency, low-income programs, renewables, etc.).
- Mandate reporting and transparency: program performance reports, proposed budgets, and fiscal impact statements submitted to the General Assembly prior to approval.
- Specify which entity (General Assembly vs. utility regulator or agency) has primary authority over rate-setting, collection, and program oversight.
- Provide an effective date and transition rules if current CPBC collections are in effect.

Who or what would be affected

  • Ratepayers: residential, commercial and industrial electricity customers could see changes in how CPBC charges are set, renewed, or capped.
  • Electric distribution companies: responsibility for billing and collecting the charge may remain but could face new statutory constraints or reporting requirements.
  • State regulators and agencies (e.g., Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, Department of Energy/Environment): potential shifts in authority or added requirements to seek legislative approval.
  • Energy program administrators and recipients: funding certainty for efficiency, low-income assistance, and renewable programs could be affected by legislative timetable and appropriations process.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Increased legislative oversight could enhance accountability and transparency but may introduce budgetary uncertainty for programs reliant on CPBC funding.
  • Timing mismatches between program funding needs and legislative sessions could disrupt program continuity.
  • If legislative approval becomes required for rate changes, the process may be slower than regulatory mechanisms, potentially delaying program responses to evolving needs.
  • Possible legal or administrative adjustments required to reconcile regulator authority with any new statutory approval requirements.

Procedural / timeline notes (legislative actions to date)

  • 2025-01-17: Referred to Joint Committee on Energy and Technology
  • 2025-03-14: Filed
  • 2025-04-07: Read first time; referred to Human Services
  • 2025-04-29 & 2025-05-06: Committee substitute considered; testimony taken; reported favorably as substituted
  • 2025-05-10: Committee report distributed and sent to Calendars
  • 2025-05-11: Considered in Calendars
  • 2025-05-13: Placed on General State Calendar

Next steps / where to find more information

  • Review the full bill text and committee substitute (available from the legislature’s website) for exact statutory changes.
  • Check the committee report and fiscal note for estimated budgetary impacts and administrative changes.
  • Monitor scheduled calendar actions and any floor debate/amendments.
  • Compare companion bill SB 699 for differences.

If you want, I can: (1) locate and summarize the full text and committee substitute when available, (2) compare HB 5396 with SB 699, or (3) prepare a short briefing on likely fiscal impacts and stakeholder positions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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