Texas Bills

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 835: Relating to the enforceability of certain nondisclosure or confidentiality provisions with respect to an act of sexual abuse.

SB 835, known as Trey's Law, invalidates any nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement that prevents someone from disclosing an act of sexual abuse. The law directly affects survivors of sexual abuse who may have signed such agreements, making those specific clauses unenforceable. Key provisions state that agreements cannot prohibit disclosure of sexual abuse details (defined using existing Texas Penal Code and Family Code offenses), though other settlement terms like payment amounts remain valid. This change applies to all agreements entered into before, on, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Morgan Meyer (R) Jeff Leach (R) Angela Paxton (R) Mitch Little (R) · 26 co-sponsors

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 721: Relating to the applicability of certain laws requiring health care cost disclosures by health benefit plan issuers and administrators.

HB 721 clarifies which health benefit plans must provide cost disclosures to consumers. It specifies that disclosure requirements apply to plans like small employer health benefit plans, standard health plans, basic coverage plans, and primary care plans, but explicitly excludes health reimbursement arrangements, workers' compensation insurance, and certain regional health programs. This bill affects health benefit plan issuers and administrators by defining the scope of existing disclosure laws, ensuring they know which plans require cost transparency. The changes take effect on September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 764: Relating to the procedure for a hearing by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on the denial of an electrician's license or disciplinary action against an electrician.

SB 764 changes the procedure for hearings when the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation denies an electrician's license or takes disciplinary action against one. It directs that these hearings be governed by Chapter 2001 of the Texas Government Code (which outlines administrative hearing rules), rather than existing licensing procedures. This change applies only to hearings starting on or after September 1, 2025, meaning existing cases follow the old rules. The bill affects electricians facing license denial or discipline by shifting their hearing process to a standardized administrative framework.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1660: Relating to the retention and preservation of toxicological evidence of certain intoxication offenses.

SB 1660 requires Texas crime laboratories to annually notify prosecutors' offices in the county where an intoxication offense (like DWI) occurred about toxicology evidence they hold, including the date the evidence was received. It also establishes a 90-day window for prosecutors to deny requests to destroy evidence after the retention period expires, after which labs may proceed with destruction. The law applies only to evidence with retention periods expiring on or after September 1, 2025, and became effective on that date. This bill directly affects crime labs, prosecutors, and defense attorneys by standardizing evidence retention and destruction procedures for intoxication cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1314: Relating to price estimates and billing requirements for certain health care facilities.

HB 1314 requires Texas healthcare facilities to provide patients with written price estimates for nonemergency elective procedures (like surgeries or outpatient services) before scheduling. Facilities must deliver these estimates within five business days of a patient's request, including disclaimers about potential cost variations based on medical condition and coverage. The bill also mandates that facilities include information on how patients can dispute bills exceeding the estimate by $400 or more. This law directly affects patients seeking cost transparency and healthcare facilities that must comply with new billing requirements, effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4226: Relating to exemptions from the taxes imposed on the sale, use, or rental of a motor vehicle for a vehicle purchased, used, or rented by a nonprofit food bank or a provider of housing and related services.

HB 4226 exempts nonprofit food banks and specific housing providers from Texas state sales, use, and rental taxes on motor vehicles they purchase, use, or rent. It directly affects food banks (as defined in Section 162.001) and housing providers serving homeless individuals with disabilities who meet strict criteria (continuously homeless for 1+ year or four homelessness episodes in 3 years). The bill adds new Tax Code sections requiring vehicles to be used "primarily" for the organization's core services. This exemption applies only to vehicles acquired on or after its September 1, 2025 effective date. The law was signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1558: Relating to the liability of nonprofit entities contracted with the Department of Family and Protective Services or with a single source continuum contractor to provide community-based care or child welfare services.

SB 1558 limits liability for nonprofit organizations contracted by Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) or single-source continuum contractors providing child welfare services. The bill creates a legal defense if these nonprofits meet specific safety requirements: conducting timely background checks, confirming eligibility to work with children, reporting misconduct, taking disciplinary action for performance issues, and requiring annual child abuse prevention and reporting training for staff. It does not apply to claims involving gross negligence, and nonprofits remain liable for claims authorized under other state or federal laws. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects nonprofits delivering community-based child welfare services in Texas.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SCR 8: Expressing opposition to the creation of a central bank digital currency.

SCR 8 is a Texas Senate Concurrent Resolution expressing the state legislature's opposition to the Federal Reserve's potential creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The resolution cites concerns about privacy risks, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and the potential for increased government surveillance of financial transactions that a CBDC could enable. It does not create new law or directly affect any individuals or entities, as it is solely a statement of legislative position. The resolution was passed by the Texas Senate and House and signed by the governor in June 2025.

Topics ✗ Technology

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1451: Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of stealing or receiving a stolen check or similar sight order.

SB 1451 increases the criminal penalty for stealing or receiving a stolen check or similar sight order from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony under Texas Penal Code Section 32.24(b). This change directly affects individuals convicted of these specific financial crimes, making the offense more severe. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date. It does not alter the definition of the crime but raises the potential punishment for those convicted.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1894: Relating to designating November as Veterans Month.

HB 1894 designates November as "Veterans Month" in Texas to celebrate and honor military veterans' achievements and sacrifices. The bill amends the Government Code to establish November as an official month for recognizing veterans, encouraging state agencies and communities to hold appropriate programs and activities. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects all Texans by creating a formal observance period for veterans' contributions, without changing existing benefits or creating new obligations.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2294: Relating to reimbursement rates for child-care providers participating in the Texas Rising Star Program.

HB 2294 changes how Texas reimburses child-care providers in the Texas Rising Star Program. It allows providers to receive reimbursement at the state's maximum rate based on their program rating level - not their own published rates - provided this doesn't reduce the commission's target for daily children served in subsidized care. The bill directly affects child-care providers participating in the program and the state commission managing subsidy targets. The key provision ensures providers can be paid more fairly without undermining existing daily child care targets. This law took effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1606: Relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission or distribution line.

HB 1606 requires Texas electric utilities to include clear instructions in customer bills about how to request vegetation management near power lines. This applies to all retail electric customers receiving bills from utilities, cooperatives, or municipally owned providers. The bill mandates that utilities periodically provide this information alongside billing statements, detailing the specific procedure for customers to request trimming of trees or plants near transmission or distribution lines. The law aims to improve customer access to information about maintaining safe clearance around power infrastructure. The bill became effective September 1, 2025.

Bill results