Texas Bills

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 2078: Relating to the regulation of composting in certain counties; authorizing a civil penalty.

SB 2078 prohibits depositing food waste subject to a commercial food waste composting ordinance (which requires businesses and multifamily properties to divert food waste from landfills) at composting facilities in counties without a municipality that has such an ordinance. It directly affects businesses with food permits and multifamily residential properties in counties with the ordinance, preventing them from sending that waste to composting facilities in counties without the ordinance. Violations carry a $1,000 civil penalty per incident, enforceable by the attorney general. The law excludes agricultural operations from its requirements.

Topics ✗ Environment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 2206: Relating to a franchise tax credit for, and the application of sales and use taxes to, certain research and development expenses.

SB 2206 creates a state franchise tax credit for businesses conducting qualifying research and development (R&D) activities within Texas. It applies to companies that incur R&D expenses attributable to Texas operations, linking the credit to the federal R&D tax credit reported on IRS Form 6765. The bill defines "qualified research expense" as the portion of federal R&D costs tied to Texas activities, excluding non-Texas expenses. This policy change makes Texas R&D more financially accessible by allowing businesses to claim a state tax credit for eligible local expenses, effective January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · House Jun 22, 2025

HB 5659: Relating to the procedural requirements applicable to interbasin transfers of water involving the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District.

HB 5659 requires the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District to hold public hearings and obtain approval from a majority of cities that appoint its directors before entering water transfer contracts or seeking permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The bill mandates that the District's Board provide public notice of these hearings following standard meeting notice procedures. It directly affects the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District and the cities with voting rights on its Board. The law adds procedural safeguards to water transfer decisions, ensuring public input and local government approval before such transfers proceed.

vetoed · Texas · House Jun 22, 2025

HB 305: Relating to the time period for conducting pretrial hearings after a criminal defendant has been restored to competency.

HB 305 would have required Texas courts to hold pretrial hearings on key issues (like evidence or procedure) within 14 days after a defendant is restored to competency. This directly affects criminal defendants who regain competency and the courts managing their cases. The bill amended the Code of Criminal Procedure to set this specific deadline, ensuring cases progress more promptly after competency restoration. However, the bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 22, 2025, so this requirement never took effect.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 22, 2025

HB 766: Relating to the ballot application requirements for the election of a precinct chair.

HB 766 requires candidates for precinct chair in Texas elections to provide either an email address, a phone number, or both in their ballot applications. This rule applies to all candidates running for precinct chair positions and adds to existing ballot requirements. The bill also makes this contact information confidential, preventing it from being disclosed as public records under Texas law. The changes take effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.

SB 646 creates a program to repay education loans for mental health professionals working in underserved areas of Texas. It defines eligible professionals as psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, social workers, and other licensed providers who complete 1-3 consecutive years of practice in a state-designated mental health shortage area and provide services to Medicaid recipients. The bill requires applicants to apply through the Texas State Board of Examiners and specifies that repayment assistance is tied to service in designated shortage regions. This policy, effective September 1, 2025, aims to address workforce shortages by reducing education debt for providers serving Medicaid patients in underserved communities.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 1968: Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain real estate professionals by the Texas Real Estate Commission.

SB 1968 amends Texas law to define specific required training topics for real estate professionals seeking licenses through the Texas Real Estate Commission. It details 10 course categories (like agency law, property management, and appraisal) and mandates minimum topics within each, such as fair housing laws, contract elements, and ethics. The bill directly affects real estate license applicants and educators by standardizing the curriculum content for pre-licensing courses. The Texas Real Estate Commission will enforce these updated course requirements for all new license applicants.

signed · Texas · House Jun 22, 2025

HB 4042: Relating to the applicability of certain safety provisions and regulatory fees administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas to gas distribution pipelines.

HB 4042 amends Texas law to adjust regulatory fees and safety provisions for gas distribution pipelines operated by utilities. It requires pipeline operators to pay annual fees based on service lines ($1 per line) or master metered systems ($100 per system), due March 15 or June 30 each year. Operators must recover these fees through rate surcharges, excluding them from municipal franchise fees, certain taxes, and sales tax calculations. The bill directly affects investor-owned and cooperative natural gas distribution companies in Texas. These changes take effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 22, 2025

HCR 143: Congratulating Aaron F. Reitz on his appointment as assistant attorney general of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy.

HCR 143 is a concurrent resolution passed by the Texas Legislature to formally congratulate Aaron F. Reitz on his appointment as Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy. The resolution recognizes his background as a former Texas Deputy Attorney General, former Chief of Staff to Senator Ted Cruz, and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. It does not create any new laws or policies - it simply expresses the Legislature’s approval of his federal appointment through a formal congratulatory statement. The resolution was enacted and signed by the Governor on June 22, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 22, 2025

HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.

HB 4325 amends Texas law to increase civil penalties for prohibited barratry (the act of unnecessarily promoting or instigating lawsuits). It raises the penalty for successful plaintiffs from $10,000 to $50,000 per violation, adds recovery for actual damages caused by the conduct, and includes reasonable attorney fees. The law applies only to lawsuits filed on or after September 1, 2025, with pre-existing cases governed by prior law. This directly affects parties involved in civil litigation where barratry is proven, increasing financial consequences for those engaging in the prohibited practice.

vetoed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 1032: Relating to the eligibility of postsecondary educational institutions to participate in the governor's university research initiative.

SB 1032 expands eligibility for Texas universities to join the Governor's University Research Initiative by including private and independent colleges alongside public institutions. It specifically prohibits participating schools from using state research funds to recruit distinguished researchers from other eligible institutions or private colleges. The bill modifies two sections of the Education Code to define "eligible institution" broadly and restrict grant usage for recruitment. These changes apply only to new agreements entered after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025).

Topics ✓ Education

vetoed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 268: Relating to the procedure for certain complaints against health care practitioners.

SB 268 requires licensing agencies to forward complaints about healthcare practitioners to the agency that issued the practitioner's license if the complaint involves a different licensing entity. It prevents the receiving agency from taking disciplinary action unless the other agency refers the complaint back for investigation. The law applies only to complaints filed on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate effect). This change clarifies jurisdiction between licensing agencies handling healthcare practitioner complaints.

Bill results