Texas Bills

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 3051: Relating to the creation of the Grassland Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Collin County; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

SB 3051 creates the Grassland Municipal Utility District No. 1 in Collin County, Texas, to provide utility services (like water, sewer, and electricity) to residents and property owners within its boundaries. The district will have the authority to issue bonds for infrastructure projects, impose fees and taxes on properties, and use a limited power of eminent domain to acquire land for utility facilities. Before the district is confirmed, it must obtain consent from local municipalities and secure a service contract for police, fire, and emergency services that is approved by Collin County's Commissioners Court. The bill also requires an election to confirm the district's creation and elect five permanent directors.

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 1437: Relating to the eligibility of certain individuals for certification as certain juvenile officers or employees of a juvenile facility.

SB 1437 modifies Texas law to clarify eligibility for certification as juvenile officers or employees at juvenile facilities. It applies to current or former staff/volunteers of juvenile departments, probation departments, or registered juvenile facilities. The bill allows the state department to permanently deny certification if someone: (1) violated rules while working in these roles, or (2) a three-member panel determines their certification would threaten juveniles in the system. Individuals denied certification are entitled to an administrative hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings. The law took effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 2032: Relating to certain requirements regarding a contract between a single source continuum contractor and the Department of Family and Protective Services.

SB 2032 modifies Texas Family Code requirements for contracts between the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and single source continuum contractors. It shortens the notice period for early contract termination: contractors must provide 60 days' notice (down from 180), and DFPS must provide 30 days' notice (down from 180). The bill allows DFPS to immediately contract with a new provider during termination without following standard competitive bidding rules under Government Code or Human Resources Code. This directly affects contractors providing continuum services to DFPS and streamlines the transition process when contracts end early. The law took effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 65: Relating to the adoption of uniform rules for hours of work for certain county employees.

SB 65 requires counties with populations of 265,000 or more to establish uniform work hour rules for specific employees, including department heads, assistants, deputies, and other staff whose pay is set by the commissioners court. The bill amends the Local Government Code to mandate that commissioners courts adopt and enforce these consistent scheduling standards. It directly affects county employees in larger jurisdictions (over 265,000 residents) whose compensation is approved by the court. The law took effect immediately after Governor's signature on May 19, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 2077: Relating to the qualifications of members of the board of directors of the Texas Mutual Insurance Company.

SB 2077 amends Texas Insurance Code to restrict who can serve on the board of directors of Texas Mutual Insurance Company. It prohibits individuals who are licensed insurance agents, employees or directors of insurers (especially those writing workers' compensation), have financial ties to insurers, receive substantial benefits from the company, or work for insurance associations. The bill directly affects Texas Mutual board members by adding these conflict-of-interest restrictions to existing qualifications. Key provisions clarify that board members cannot have direct ties to the insurance industry they regulate. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 922: Relating to the disclosure of certain medical information by electronic means.

SB 922 requires healthcare providers to wait until the third business day after a sensitive medical test result is finalized before disclosing it electronically to patients or their representatives. Sensitive results include pathology/radiology reports indicating possible cancer or genetic test results. The law, effective September 1, 2025, applies to electronic disclosures via patient portals or email but does not impose penalties for non-compliance. This directly affects doctors, hospitals, and health systems using electronic health records to share patient information.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 1341: Relating to the regulation of manufactured homes.

SB 1341 updates Texas definitions and consumer protections for manufactured homes. It clarifies that "manufactured home" and "HUD-code manufactured home" follow federal standards (42 U.S.C. §5402(6)), aligning state law with federal rules for home size, construction, and design. The bill requires retailers to provide written disclosures to buyers before sales, covering costs, financing, ownership obligations, and the right to rescind the purchase. It also creates a limited exception allowing consumers to waive the rescission period if they provide written proof of a "bona fide personal emergency." These changes directly affect manufactured home retailers and buyers in Texas.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 767: Relating to creating a database of the firefighting equipment in the state available for use in responding to wildfires.

SB 767 requires the Texas A&M Forest Service to create and maintain a real-time statewide database tracking all firefighting equipment available for wildfire response. The database must list equipment types, department contact information, allow searches by location or equipment, and be accessible for fire departments to update annually or after changes. It directly affects all fire departments in Texas, including volunteer departments and emergency services districts, which must report their available equipment. This policy change aims to improve coordination during wildfires by providing instant access to shared resources across the state.

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 1366: Relating to the inclusion of information about construction or maintenance work zones in the curriculum of driver education and driving safety courses.

SB 1366 requires all Texas driver education and driving safety courses to include specific information about construction and maintenance work zones starting September 1, 2026. The curriculum must cover the dangers of violating traffic rules in these zones and the penalties for such violations under Texas law. This affects all licensed driver education providers and courses offered in Texas. The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation must adopt the required rules by May 1, 2026, to implement the changes. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, but the new curriculum requirement applies to courses held on or after September 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 412: Relating to defenses to prosecution for certain offenses involving material or conduct that is obscene or otherwise harmful to children.

SB 412 amends Texas Penal Code sections 43.24 and 43.25 to add new affirmative defenses for certain offenses involving material or conduct harmful to children. It allows judicial or law enforcement officers to use their official duties as a defense when prosecuted under specific sections, and adds two other defenses: being the child’s spouse or being no more than two years older than the child. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, and does not affect past cases. These changes directly affect prosecutors, defendants in such cases, and law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 1151: Relating to an insurer's responsibility to review and audit a third-party administrator.

SB 1151 requires Texas insurance companies to conduct semiannual reviews and biennial on-site audits of third-party administrators (TPAs) managing benefits for more than 100 clients (such as policyholders or injured workers) on their behalf. This law directly affects insurers using large-scale TPAs, mandating regular oversight to ensure proper administration of benefits. The key provisions set specific timelines: insurers must review TPA operations at least twice a year and perform in-person audits at least once every two years. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and amends Section 4151.1042 of the Texas Insurance Code.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 1745: Relating to the name, rights, powers, and privileges of the Cedar Port Navigation and Improvement District.

SB 1745 officially renamed "Chambers County Improvement District No. 1" to the "Cedar Port Navigation and Improvement District" in Texas law. The bill updates all legal references to the district in the Special District Local Laws Code to reflect this new name, without changing the district's existing powers or responsibilities. This is a purely administrative renaming bill, not a policy change affecting residents or services. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on May 19, 2025, and is now effective.

Bill results