Texas Bills

signed · Texas · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 3063: Relating to the creation of the Bayou Belle Municipal Management District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

SB 3063 would create the Bayou Belle Municipal Management District No. 1 in Liberty County, Texas. The district would have limited authority to use eminent domain for public projects, issue bonds for financing, and collect assessments, fees, or taxes from property owners within its boundaries. Its purpose is to promote economic development, including job creation, tourism, transportation, and public safety, while supplementing rather than replacing existing county services. The bill establishes governance through a board of directors and aligns with constitutional provisions for special districts focused on community welfare.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Texas · House May 21, 2025

HB 5691: Relating to the creation of the Wolf Creek Municipal Management District No. 1; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

HB 5691 creates the Wolf Creek Municipal Management District No. 1, a special district in Hunt County, Texas, to promote economic development and public welfare in the area. The district gains authority to issue bonds, impose property assessments, fees, and taxes on land within its boundaries, and exercise limited eminent domain for project-related land acquisition. It is designed to supplement - rather than replace - existing city and county services, focusing on advancing employment, commerce, transportation, and community safety. The bill explicitly states its purpose is to serve public interests by fostering economic growth while ensuring property owners in the district bear the associated financial obligations.

signed · Texas · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 2231: Relating to requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to waive fees for admission applications submitted to public institutions of higher education during certain periods.

SB 2231 requires Texas public colleges and universities to waive application fees during the second full week of October each year, designated as "Free College Application Week." This policy directly affects Texas students applying for undergraduate admission to any public higher education institution in the state. The bill mandates the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish this annual fee waiver period, with implementation beginning for the 2025-2026 academic year. The provision applies to all public institutions of higher education in Texas and removes a financial barrier during the designated week. The law took effect immediately after Governor's signature on May 21, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Texas · House May 21, 2025

HB 5700: Relating to the board of directors, operations, and territory of the Palo Pinto County Municipal Water District No. 1.

HB 5700 requires Palo Pinto County residents to vote in a 2026 election on whether to annex most of the county into the Palo Pinto County Municipal Water District No. 1 (excluding territory already in two other water districts). It changes the district's governance by establishing staggered two-year terms for its five-member board, requiring elections every May, and specifying that directors must own taxable property within the district. The bill also outlines procedures for filling vacancies, including holding special elections for vacancies with more than one year remaining in a term or allowing appointments by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality if the board falls below a majority. This bill directly affects water district residents and board operations in Palo Pinto County.

signed · Texas · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 1744: Relating to the designation of State Loop 255 in Camp County as the Camp County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.

SB 1744 designates a specific segment of State Loop 255 in Camp County (between FM 1520 and U.S. Highway 271) as the "Camp County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the highway and at appropriate intermediate locations along the route. This designation is purely commemorative and does not alter existing highway management or funding. The bill took effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Texas · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 3066: Relating to the boundaries of, and validating certain acts and proceedings of, the Driftwood Conservation District.

SB 3066 clarifies the exact boundaries of the Driftwood Conservation District in Hays County, Texas, by updating its legal description to match existing property records. It validates past actions and proceedings of the district within these newly defined boundaries. The bill directly affects the Driftwood Conservation District and landowners within the clarified area by establishing clear jurisdiction for future management. This is a procedural boundary correction with no new policy changes or financial impacts.

signed · Texas · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 906: Relating to the authority of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to commission peace officers.

This bill grants the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo the authority to hire and commission peace officers to enforce state laws within their reservation. It amends the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to include the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo alongside two other Native American tribes that already have this power. The law allows tribal peace officers to enforce state statutes on tribal lands, expanding their jurisdiction beyond tribal codes. The legislation takes effect on September 1, 2025, and was signed into law by the Governor.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 1316: Relating to a prohibition on e-cigarette advertising in certain locations.

SB 1316 prohibits e-cigarette advertising on signs located within 1,000 feet of schools or churches in Texas. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to require this distance, measured from the nearest property line of the institution to the sign. It includes an exception for signs already advertising e-cigarettes within 500-1,000 feet of such institutions before September 1, 1997. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting businesses that advertise e-cigarettes near schools or churches.

signed · Texas · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 1364: Relating to the repeal of wheelbase and horsepower restrictions for the state's passenger vehicle fleet.

SB 1364 repeals existing restrictions on wheelbase and horsepower for Texas state government passenger vehicles by removing Section 2158.003 from the Government Code. This bill directly affects the Texas state government's vehicle procurement process, eliminating specific limits on vehicle size and engine power. The change takes effect September 1, 2025, allowing state agencies to purchase passenger vehicles without adhering to those prior specifications.

signed · Texas · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 1229: Relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 69 in Smith County as the Veterans Memorial Highway.

SB 1229 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 69 in Smith County (between South State Loop 323 and Bullard's northern limits) as the Veterans Memorial Highway. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the route and at appropriate intermediate locations. This is a commemorative designation with no substantive policy changes, intended to honor veterans through highway signage.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Texas · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 855: Relating to the authority of certain medical consenters to assume financial responsibility for certain out-of-network medical care provided to children in foster care.

This bill allows authorized caregivers (like foster parents or guardians) to cover costs for out-of-network medical care - such as specialists outside Medicaid networks - for children in foster care. It requires caregivers to notify the child's caseworker within 10 business days of assuming responsibility, while ensuring the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services remains non-liable unless a court orders otherwise. The law preserves foster children’s access to Medicaid benefits and does not affect parental rights or court authority to mandate department coverage. It became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 3064: Relating to the creation of the Colmena Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

SB 3064 creates the Colmena Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1 in Collin County, Texas, to promote economic development and public welfare in the area. The bill grants the district limited authority to exercise eminent domain for public projects, issue bonds to fund improvements, and impose assessments, fees, and taxes on property within the district. It explicitly states the district is intended to supplement, not replace, existing county services like public safety and infrastructure. This procedural bill establishes a framework for local economic growth and community development in the Colmena Ranch area.

Bill results