TX HB1359

Creates the Income-Based Assistance Fund as an account in the general revenue fund to provide bill payment assistance for low-income electric customers during extreme weather emergencies

Establishes eligibility requirements for bill payment assistance: customers must be identified as low-income by the Health and Human Services Commission and reside in a county affected by an extreme weather emergency during the billing period

Provides one-time bill payment assistance for critical care residential customers who have received disconnection notices for nonpayment

Requires the Public Utility Commission to reimburse electric cooperatives, municipally owned utilities, electric utilities, and retail electric providers for bill payment assistance provided to eligible customers

Prohibits providers from charging customers fees for receiving bill payment assistance and requires automatic enrollment as an option for customers identified as low-income under Section 17.007