Texas Bills

vetoed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent defendant.

SB 2111 requires Texas courts to appoint lawyers for indigent defendants who have a potentially meritorious claim in post-conviction habeas corpus proceedings. It specifically covers claims of actual innocence, lesser offenses, unconstitutional convictions, or constitutional violations. The bill amends court procedures to ensure defendants with these claims receive legal representation to file or pursue habeas corpus applications. This directly affects indigent individuals seeking relief after conviction who meet the defined criteria for a "potentially meritorious claim." The bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 22, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

vetoed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 614: Relating to the authority of the Texas Forensic Science Commission to review and refer certain cases to the office of capital and forensic writs.

SB 614 amends Texas law to expand the Texas Forensic Science Commission's authority to refer specific cases to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs. It allows the Commission to refer cases under investigation for forensic evidence issues (as defined in existing law) or dismissed cases with prior published reports covering the same forensic topic. The bill, effective September 1, 2025, creates a formal mechanism for these referrals but does not change the Commission's investigative powers or the Office's responsibilities. The bill was passed by the Texas Legislature but vetoed by the Governor on June 22, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 22, 2025

HB 1052: Relating to health benefit plan coverage of telemedicine, teledentistry, and telehealth appointments with an originating site or distant site located outside this state.

HB 1052 requires Texas health insurance plans to cover telemedicine, teledentistry, and telehealth services provided by out-of-state providers on the same terms as in-state services. It applies to Texas residents who primarily live in the state and receive care from providers licensed in Texas with a physical office in Texas. The law ensures equal coverage for out-of-state telehealth visits without additional cost-sharing, but only if the provider meets Texas licensing and office requirements. This bill became effective September 1, 2025, and applies to health plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · House Jun 22, 2025

HB 1056: Relating to the recognition of gold and silver specie as legal tender and the establishment of a transactional currency based on gold and silver; authorizing a fee.

HB 1056 recognizes physical gold and silver coins meeting specific weight and purity standards as legal tender in Texas for debt payments, while prohibiting government markings except for identifying refiners. It authorizes the state comptroller to establish electronic payment systems backed by bullion held in depositories, allowing transactions using gold/silver-based currency. The bill explicitly states it does not replace U.S. dollars, restrict federal currency, or require businesses to accept gold/silver tender. It also permits the comptroller to set reasonable administrative fees for the system. This law applies to Texas residents and businesses using the state-administered electronic currency system, operating alongside existing federal currency.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 25: Relating to health and nutrition standards to promote healthy living, including requirements for food labeling, primary and secondary education, higher education, and continuing education for certain health care professionals; authorizing a civil penalty.

SB 25 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide daily moderate or vigorous physical activity for students in prekindergarten through grade 8. Specifically, it mandates at least 30 minutes daily for grades K-5 and 30 minutes daily for at least four semesters in grades 6-8, with alternatives for scheduling challenges (e.g., 135 minutes weekly). The bill prohibits schools from restricting student participation in physical activity as punishment for academic or behavioral issues. It directly affects K-8 students and school employees responsible for implementing physical education curricula, effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 22: Relating to the Texas moving image industry incentive program and the establishment and funding of the Texas moving image industry incentive fund.

SB 22 establishes the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Fund to provide financial support for film and television productions filmed in Texas. It requires the Music, Film, Television, and Multimedia Office to deny grants for projects containing "inappropriate content" or portraying Texas/Texans "in a negative fashion," while also prohibiting grants for pornography, news programming, religious content, non-commercial projects, and state advertising. The bill explicitly lists ineligible project types, including political ads, sporting events, and video games used in gambling. It creates a dedicated funding mechanism for eligible productions and authorizes the Office to administer grants using money from the incentive fund or other approved sources. The law directly affects production companies seeking financial support for qualifying Texas-based film and TV projects.

vetoed · Texas · House Jun 22, 2025

HB 2243: Relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention.

This bill would have created the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention, a 13-member body tasked with developing recommendations to improve teacher retention and job satisfaction across Texas public schools. The commission would be appointed with specific representation: five members by the governor (including at least three current or former teachers with 10+ years experience), four by the lieutenant governor, and four by the speaker of the house, with geographic diversity as a consideration. Members would not receive salary but could be reimbursed for expenses, and the commission could hire staff and legal counsel to carry out its work. The bill passed the legislature but was vetoed by the governor on June 22, 2025, so it did not become law.

Topics ✓ Education

vetoed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 1278: Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution.

SB 1278 would have created a legal defense for individuals prosecuted under Texas law who were victims of human trafficking (Section 20A.02) or compelled prostitution (Section 43.05). The bill would have allowed victims to claim this defense if they engaged in criminal conduct due to coercion, duress, or threats of death/serious injury to themselves or their family. It would not apply if the coercion wouldn't affect a reasonable person or if the victim was merely given an opportunity to commit the act. This defense would only apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 22, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

vetoed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 1253: Relating to impact and production fees for certain water projects and to the regulation of certain wells; authorizing a fee.

SB 1253 allows cities and counties in Texas to offer credits against water and wastewater impact fees for developers who build qualifying water conservation or reuse projects. These credits apply to facilities that reduce per-unit water use, decrease wastewater infrastructure needs, or improve stormwater management beyond standard requirements. The bill requires local governments to establish fair procedures for calculating and approving these credits. It directly affects builders and developers constructing eligible water-saving infrastructure, while political subdivisions implement the credit system. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · House Jun 22, 2025

HB 2853: Relating to student union building fees at The University of Texas at El Paso.

HB 2853 allows The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to charge students a fee for its student union building, with specific limits: up to $30 per student per regular semester or long summer session, and $15 for shorter summer sessions. The bill requires that annual fee increases cannot exceed 10% over the prior year's amount unless approved by a majority of students in a vote. These fees are in addition to other existing student fees and apply starting with the 2026 spring semester. The bill directly affects UTEP students who pay the fee and governs how the university can adjust it.

vetoed · Texas · Senate Jun 22, 2025

SB 974: Relating to the eligibility of a person employed by a school district as a teacher to serve on the appraisal review board of an appraisal district; creating a criminal offense.

SB 974 removes a restriction preventing school district teachers from serving on appraisal review boards, which are local bodies that handle property tax disputes. It amends Texas Tax Code Section 6.412(c) to explicitly state that teachers employed by school districts are eligible for these boards. The bill also creates a criminal offense related to violations of the new eligibility rules (though specific details are not provided in the text). As of June 22, 2025, the bill was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Education

vetoed · Texas · House Jun 22, 2025

HB 2520: Relating to the open meetings law.

HB 2520 amends Texas' open meetings law to expand the definition of "governmental body" subject to public meeting requirements. It adds entities like reinvestment zone boards, workforce development boards, certain nonprofit water corporations, and local workforce boards to the list of groups required to follow open meeting rules. The bill also requires more specific meeting notices, including detailed agendas that clearly identify topics of public interest and any items discussed in closed sessions. This legislation, which passed both chambers in May 2025, was vetoed by the Governor on June 22, 2025.

Bill results