Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4134: Relating to a convenience fee for processing electronic payments for motor vehicles.

HB 4134 allows car dealerships or lenders to charge a convenience fee for electronic payments (like credit/debit cards) on motor vehicle purchases or financing. The fee must not exceed $10 or 5% of the payment amount and must be reasonably tied to processing costs. Dealers must inform buyers about the fee, offer free non-electronic payment options (like cash or check), and cannot require electronic payments as the default. This law directly affects car buyers making electronic payments and applies to all motor vehicle transactions starting September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1579: Relating to the appointment of a receiver for and sale of certain parcels of land that are abandoned, unoccupied, tax delinquent, and undeveloped in certain municipalities.

SB 1579 establishes a process for certain Texas municipalities (in counties containing a city over 500,000 and adjacent to an international border) to administratively determine if land parcels are abandoned, unoccupied, and undeveloped. To qualify, a parcel must be undeveloped for 25+ years, have an assessed value under $1,000, and meet subdivision criteria (e.g., 50% of parcels in a subdivision being undeveloped and ≤10 acres). Before making a determination, the municipality must hold a public hearing, notify owners/lienholders, and publish a notice; owners may appeal the decision in court within 60 days. The bill does not require land sales but creates a framework for municipalities to address tax-delinquent, underutilized properties.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2510: Relating to assisted living facility operations and provision of certain services to assisted living facility residents without a license; creating a criminal offense.

HB 2510 requires that individuals providing personal assistance services to assisted living facility residents must hold a state-issued license, and it creates criminal penalties for doing so without one. The bill also mandates that assisted living facilities operate under a valid license, with similar penalties for operating without authorization. Violations are classified as a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense, escalating to a third-degree felony for repeat violations. This law directly affects service providers and facility operators in Texas, taking effect on September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5693: Relating to the election of the commissioners of the Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7.

HB 5693 changes the voting schedule for commissioners of Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7. It requires two commissioners to be elected in November 2025 and three in November 2027, with current commissioners (elected in 2022 and 2024) serving until their successors qualify. Commissioners serve staggered four-year terms, and the district must hold elections on uniform statewide election dates. This bill directly affects residents within Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7 who vote in these local elections. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2037: Relating to permit application review and contested case procedures for environmental permits involving a project to construct or modify a liquefied natural gas export terminal; authorizing a fee.

SB 2037 creates a faster review process for environmental permits needed to build or modify liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals in Texas. It requires the state commission to respond to permit applications within 120 days after public comments end and establishes a new expedited review track. Applicants who choose this faster process must pay an additional fee, which covers administrative costs and is deposited into a special account. The bill also sets specific rules for resolving disputes about permit approvals, including requiring applicants to respond to concerns within 20 days if a hearing is requested. This law applies only to LNG terminal projects and took effect on September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1330: Relating to billing and reimbursement for certain medical equipment, devices, and supplies provided to Medicare enrollees; creating a criminal offense.

SB 1330 limits how nonparticipating medical equipment suppliers (those not enrolled in Medicare as participating providers) can bill Medicare enrollees. It prohibits charging more than 115% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment, orthotic devices, or prosthetic devices without the enrollee’s written agreement and prior payment of the full amount. Suppliers must also disclose that Medicare covers 80% of the approved amount and that supplemental plans won’t cover amounts over 115%. Violating these rules constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by a $500-$1,000 fine, effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1275: Relating to the issuance of permits for bovine producer dairy farms in certain areas of this state.

HB 1275 prohibits the Texas Department of Health from issuing permits for new or existing bovine dairy farms in areas designated as infected with or at high risk for bovine tuberculosis. This directly affects dairy farm operators seeking permits in specific high-risk zones identified by the Texas Animal Health Commission through epidemiological assessment. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to require the department to deny permits in these designated areas, based on rules established by the Commission. The policy change is a direct restriction on permit issuance, not a new program or funding measure.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4214: Relating to public access to the mailing address and electronic mail address designated by a governmental body to receive a request for public information under the public information law.

HB 4214 requires all Texas governmental bodies to annually report their official mailing and email addresses for public information requests to the Attorney General by October 1 each year. The Attorney General must then create and maintain a publicly accessible online database of these addresses on their website. This bill directly affects all state and local government entities that handle public records requests under Texas public information law. It takes effect immediately upon the Governor's signature (June 20, 2025), streamlining how the public finds government contact points for information requests.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5515: Relating to restrictions on freight and shipping costs included in the price of instructional materials for public schools.

HB 5515 requires publishers of instructional materials sold to Texas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools to stop charging inflated freight and shipping fees. Specifically, it prohibits including shipping costs that exceed actual carrier rates or adding unrelated handling charges, ensuring these costs match standard industry rates nationwide. The bill also mandates price matching for materials sold elsewhere in the U.S., guarantees delivery 10 business days before school starts, and requires error-free materials. This law directly affects publishers by changing how they price and ship educational materials to Texas schools, aiming to reduce costs for school districts. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3214: Relating to eligibility for a master plumber license.

HB 3214 modifies Texas' master plumber license eligibility requirements by reducing the required journeyman plumber experience from four years to two years. It allows applicants to qualify with either two years of experience or one year of experience plus completion of a nationally recognized apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. The bill applies only to new license applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing applications and current license holders unaffected. All other requirements - including passing exams and supervision duties - remain unchanged under the revised rules.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2221: Relating to certain trade practices related to life insurance, annuity contracts, and accident and health coverage.

HB 2221 creates Chapter 1702 in Texas' Insurance Code to establish uniform standards for prohibited trade practices in life insurance, annuity contracts, and accident/health coverage. It defines key terms like "agent," "consumer," and "loss-control or value-added product/service" to clarify what practices are restricted and what value-added services (like free wellness programs) may be offered at no cost. The law aims to standardize rules for insurers and agents while allowing recognized value-added services under existing model laws. This bill directly affects insurance companies, agents, and consumers purchasing these coverage types, effective September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 968: Relating to the licensing and regulation of the practice of podiatry.

SB 968 amends Texas law to update the process for issuing temporary licenses to podiatry applicants. It allows the licensing commission to establish rules for these temporary licenses, including eligibility criteria and maximum validity periods, while repealing two existing sections (202.061 and 202.260) related to provisional licensing. The bill directly affects podiatry applicants seeking temporary practice authorization, particularly those who would have previously qualified under repealed Section 202.260. The changes take effect September 1, 2025, and do not impact licenses issued before that date. This is a procedural adjustment to licensing rules, not a broad policy change.

Bill results