SB 326 requires Texas public schools and colleges to use the state's official definition of antisemitism (from Government Code Section 448.001, including its examples) when determining if a student's conduct violation under school rules was motivated by antisemitism. It applies to disciplinary actions for behavior violating student codes in both K-12 schools and higher education institutions. The law mandates this specific definition be used starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill was signed into law on May 20, 2025, and took effect immediately. This policy change standardizes how schools assess antisemitism-related conduct without creating new definitions or penalties.
SB 856 amends Texas labor law to clarify how specific entities can use the skills development fund for workforce training. It directly affects public community colleges, workforce boards, and Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station/Extension Service by allowing them to recover costs for customized training programs when there’s a local labor shortage and wages meet prevailing rates. Key provisions require that training programs address unmet workforce needs and that Texas A&M entities prioritize statewide initiatives or programs unavailable through local colleges. The bill also permits fund use for business networks and consortiums, effective September 1, 2025.
HB 5692 creates the Palangana Energy District in Duval County to enhance energy security, economic development, and resource conservation in South Texas. The district gains limited eminent domain authority for specific projects, the power to issue bonds for funding, and the ability to impose assessments, fees, or taxes to support its operations. It will provide infrastructure like water, wastewater, roads, and recreational facilities while promoting community health, safety, and economic vitality. The bill directly affects Duval County residents, businesses, and energy stakeholders within the district boundaries. This legislation establishes a new local government entity with specific financial tools to achieve constitutional public purposes related to energy and economic development.
This bill changes the duration of emergency protection orders in Texas criminal cases. Orders issued under most circumstances now remain effective for 61 to 91 days (up from 31-61 days), while certain orders (under Subsection b(2)) last 91 to 121 days (up from 61-91 days). The law requires courts to modify orders only after notice, a hearing, and finding that changes won't endanger victims or increase risk. These changes apply only to orders issued on or after September 1, 2025, affecting defendants subject to these orders and victims protected under them.
SB 1169 clarifies how local governments and water/sanitation agencies can jointly operate shared water and sewer systems. It amends Texas law to define "public entity" to include water/sewer corporations and establishes "public utility agencies" as legal entities for joint projects. Key provisions allow participating entities to jointly finance facilities through bonds, acquire land (including via eminent domain), and transfer property among partners. The law directly affects counties, municipalities, and water districts seeking to collaborate on infrastructure, streamlining their ability to plan, build, and manage shared utility systems under defined legal authority.
SB 769 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to produce a report by September 1, 2027, on enrollment and success rates for students with disabilities in Texas colleges and universities. The report must identify enrollment numbers, barriers to access, supportive institutional policies, available accommodations, and how schools inform students about their disability rights under federal law. It directly affects all public and private Texas institutions of higher education, which must provide requested data to the Board. The law, effective September 1, 2025, expires September 1, 2028, and aims to inform future policy based on documented needs and practices.
HCR 128 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD), established in 1975. It acknowledges HGSD’s work over five decades in managing land subsidence (sinking due to groundwater use) through regulations, monitoring, and conservation programs, which protects over 5.1 million residents in Harris and Galveston Counties from flooding risks. The resolution formally commends HGSD’s service and directs that an official copy be presented to the district as a gesture of recognition by the Texas Legislature. This is purely commemorative with no new policy or funding changes.
SB 1967 expands eligibility for Texas Water Development Board flood infrastructure funding to include nature-based flood mitigation projects and multi-purpose systems that capture stormwater or treated wastewater for water supply. It redefines "flood project" in the Water Code to explicitly cover planning, regulatory approval, structural construction, and nonstructural projects using natural features. This change directly affects communities, municipalities, and water districts seeking financial assistance for qualifying flood control and water management infrastructure. The bill amends the Water Code to include these expanded project types under the existing flood infrastructure fund, effective September 1, 2025.
This bill prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage, limiting coverage, or charging higher rates to individuals who are widowed or whose marital status reflects the death of a spouse, compared to married individuals. It directly affects widowed people applying for or renewing insurance policies. The law requires insurers to treat widowed customers the same as married customers for rate-setting and coverage availability. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not apply to policies delivered or renewed before that date.
This bill designates El Paso as Texas's official "Boot Capital" for a 10-year period ending in 2035. It recognizes El Paso's long-standing role as a hub for renowned boot manufacturers like Lucchese, Tony Lama, and Caboots, which have preserved Western footwear craftsmanship for generations. The resolution, passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by the governor, formally acknowledges the industry's cultural significance and economic impact on the region. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a ceremonial recognition under Texas Government Code Section 391.003(e).
HB 912 requires electric utilities to conduct a cost-benefit analysis before changing how they compensate solar panel owners and other small-scale renewable energy producers in areas not served by ERCOT's grid. The bill mandates that utilities submit this analysis to the Public Utility Commission, which must review it before approving new compensation rates or continuing current net metering policies. It directly affects homeowners and businesses with rooftop solar or small wind systems outside ERCOT's service area. The law ensures any changes to compensation rates reflect the actual value of renewable energy to the grid and customers. The bill takes effect September 1, 2026.
SB 463 amends Texas law to define "facility" for workplace violence prevention rules, specifically including home health agencies (with ≥2 RNs), hospitals, nursing facilities, surgical centers, emergency care facilities, mental hospitals, intellectual disability care centers, and state supported living centers. This definition requires these facilities to comply with workplace violence prevention requirements by September 1, 2026. The bill directly affects healthcare providers operating under these specific facility types, mandating safety protocols to protect staff. It became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor in May 2025.
