Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5155: Relating to the continuation of the maternal opioid misuse model of care for certain Medicaid recipients.

HB 5155 extends a healthcare program for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid recipients with opioid use disorder and their children. It requires Texas' Health and Human Services Commission to continue this specific model of care using funds from the opioid abatement account, if available. The program, originally funded through federal grants, will operate until September 1, 2029, and applies to Medicaid enrollees during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This bill does not create new funding but ensures the continuation of an existing federal-matched healthcare model.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 482: Relating to the offenses of assault, harassment, and interference with public duties committed against certain employees or agents of a utility.

SB 482 modifies Texas Penal Code sections to prevent enhanced penalties for assault or harassment against utility employees working in disaster or evacuated areas. It specifically prohibits prosecutors from applying stricter punishments (such as felony charges) under certain circumstances when the victim is a utility worker performing duties during emergencies. The bill directly affects utility company employees, contractors, and agents who provide essential services in crisis zones. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025, ensuring these workers face standard penalties rather than enhanced ones for related offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 827: Relating to the audit of an election using an electronic voting system.

SB 827 amends the title of Section 127.201 in the Texas Election Code to explicitly clarify that it governs audits of elections conducted using electronic voting systems. The revised heading specifies that the general custodian (a designated election official) will conduct these audits. This technical correction, effective September 1, 2025, updates the law's language without changing existing audit procedures or requirements.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2844: Relating to the regulation of food service establishments, including retail food stores and mobile food vendors; requiring an occupational license; imposing fees; authorizing an administrative penalty.

HB 2844 requires mobile food vendors (like food trucks) to obtain a state-issued license and pay regulatory fees, while authorizing administrative penalties for violations. It exempts small-scale food businesses - defined as those with under $1.5 million in annual revenue (including farmers, sole proprietors, and small retail stores) - from local permit or fee requirements if they already hold a state department permit or food manufacturing license. The bill preempts local governments from imposing conflicting regulations on these exempt businesses. It also establishes new state-level rules for mobile food vendor operations under Chapter 437B of the Health and Safety Code.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 869: Relating to the deadline for the Texas Ethics Commission to resolve certain complaints.

SB 869 limits the Texas Ethics Commission's ability to delay resolving ethics complaints by restricting when its resolution deadline can be paused. Specifically, the bill states that the commission may only pause the deadline during active court litigation involving the complaint, and cannot extend the deadline for any other reason. This change applies only to complaints filed on or after September 1, 2025, with pre-existing complaints governed by prior rules. The law aims to prevent indefinite delays in resolving ethics complaints by enforcing a strict timeline.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3986: Relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 83 in Mission as the Corporal Speedy Espericueta Memorial Highway.

HB 3986 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 83 within Mission, Texas, as the "Corporal Speedy Espericueta Memorial Highway" to honor a military member. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the designated highway segment and at appropriate intermediate locations. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or direct impact on residents, businesses, or government programs. The designation becomes effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4384: Relating to the recovery of certain costs associated with a gas utility's plant, facilities, or equipment placed in service.

HB 4384 allows gas utilities to defer certain unrecovered costs - like interest on unpaid infrastructure, depreciation, and property taxes - associated with facilities already in service. These deferred costs become "regulatory assets" that must later be recovered through customer rates. The Railroad Commission of Texas will review these costs during rate proceedings and may require refunds if costs are disallowed. This bill directly affects Texas gas utilities by changing how they account for and recover legacy infrastructure costs, without altering current rate structures.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1242: Relating to the acquisition of land and facilities by the Texas State Technical College System.

SB 1242 amends Texas Education Code Section 135.02(c) to allow the Texas State Technical College System to acquire land and facilities in counties where it has campuses. The bill requires the coordinating board to review and approve acquisitions only if the property value exceeds $300,000 or if the board of regents requests adding it to the system's inventory. This change streamlines the process for the college system to obtain property while adding a threshold for larger acquisitions. The law took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature on June 20, 2025. It directly affects the college system’s property management operations, not students or general public policy.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1893: Relating to the disclosure under the public information law of a motor vehicle license plate number captured in a video recording obtained or maintained by a law enforcement agency.

HB 1893 modifies Texas law to require law enforcement agencies to disclose motor vehicle license plate numbers visible or audible in video recordings they obtain or maintain. The bill specifies that these license plate numbers are not confidential under public information laws and must be included without redaction when releasing such videos to the public. This directly affects law enforcement agencies, which must now provide unaltered video recordings containing license plate numbers in response to public information requests. The policy change took effect September 1, 2025, after the bill was signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Topics ✗ Technology

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 7: Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board.

SB 7 requires the Texas Water Development Board to coordinate planning for water infrastructure projects to maximize use of existing utility corridors and minimize land acquisition through eminent domain. It mandates the Board to develop standardized specifications for water infrastructure, ensure different water systems can connect and operate together, and recommend building extra capacity during construction to accommodate future projects. The bill directly affects water project developers, utilities, and local governments working with the Board on infrastructure planning and financing. Key provisions include creating interconnectivity standards and facilitating collaboration between project sponsors and transportation/utility entities.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1520: Relating to the Angelina and Neches River Authority, following recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission; specifying grounds for the removal of a member of the board of directors.

HB 1520 requires new members of the Angelina and Neches River Authority board to complete mandatory training before voting. The training covers operations law, budget details, recent audits, ethics rules, and conflict-of-interest requirements. Directors must annually receive and acknowledge a training manual distributed by the authority's general manager. The bill also adjusts the authority's Sunset review schedule to prevent termination under Texas law.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1084: Relating to certain mammography reports providing required breast density information.

This bill requires Texas mammography facilities to provide patients with clear, standardized information about breast density following a mammogram. It directly affects patients receiving mammograms and the facilities performing them, mandating specific notices based on density results. The key provision requires facilities to include a notice explaining that dense breast tissue can obscure cancer detection and increase risk, along with guidance to discuss supplemental screening options with a healthcare provider. The notice also clarifies that dense tissue is common and not a cause for alarm, but should prompt discussion about individual risk factors. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results