Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 117: Relating to the establishment of the governor's task force on the governance of early childhood education and care.

HB 117 establishes a governor's task force to address governance and operational challenges in Texas' early childhood education and care system. The task force, composed of state agency leaders (like the Education Agency and Health Services commissioners), educators, child-care providers, and community stakeholders, must review existing regulations and programs - including federal and local child-care services - to identify ways to improve efficiency. It directly affects state agencies, public and private early childhood programs, and providers operating under current systems. The bill creates no new funding or regulations but mandates a structured review process to inform future policy decisions.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 739: Relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes of certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications.

SB 739 clarifies which law enforcement personnel can legally use tracking devices and access certain communications under Texas law. It expands the definition of "authorized peace officer" to include specific roles like county constables, municipal police officers, state park rangers, juvenile justice investigators, and state alcohol agency agents. This change ensures these officers can operate under existing legal frameworks without ambiguity when using tracking equipment or accessing communications data. The bill directly affects local, county, and state law enforcement agencies across Texas that rely on these tools for investigations.

Topics ✗ Technology

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2402: Relating to the determination of fees, charges, and rates for certain benefits under Medicaid.

HB 2402 sets new rules for how Texas Medicaid pays for medical services. It requires that fees, charges, or rates for Medicaid-covered benefits must match the "usual and customary" rates in the local community, unless federal law restricts them. The bill also explicitly excludes fees from monthly membership discount programs when determining payments. This directly affects healthcare providers who accept Medicaid by changing how they are reimbursed, and beneficiaries who receive covered services through Medicaid. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5682: Relating to the creation of the Colmena Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments and fees.

HB 5682 creates the Colmena Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1 in Collin County, Texas. The district can use limited eminent domain to acquire land, issue bonds for projects, and collect assessments and fees from property owners within its boundaries. Its purpose is to support economic development, improve community services like housing and transportation, and supplement - without replacing - county services in the Colmena Ranch area. This special district will focus on promoting public welfare, employment, and safety through locally funded initiatives.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 506: Relating to requirements for certain ballot propositions and to related procedures and provisions.

SB 506 requires ballot propositions in Texas to use clear, neutral wording that avoids misleading voters. It mandates the Secretary of State to review propositions within seven days for clarity and fairness, and directs cities to revise or replace misleading language. If cities fail to correct issues, the Secretary of State can draft the ballot language instead. This law directly affects home-rule cities, petitioners, and voters by standardizing ballot language for city charter amendments, initiatives, and referendums. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after passing both chambers and receiving gubernatorial approval.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5323: Relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee.

HB 5323 creates the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee to coordinate state efforts in reducing energy waste and improving efficiency across key agencies. The committee, composed of seven ex officio members from agencies like the Public Utility Commission, ERCOT's independent operator, comptroller, and environmental quality commission, will meet quarterly to review programs and make recommendations. It specifically targets reducing electricity demand during high-risk hours in the ERCOT power region to enhance grid reliability. The committee will provide input to state agencies including the State Energy Conservation Office and Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1940: Relating to authorizing a beneficiary designation that transfers a manufactured home classified as personal property at the owner's death.

Texas Senate Bill 1940 (SB 1940) allows owners of manufactured homes classified as personal property under Texas law to designate beneficiaries who automatically inherit the home upon the owner's death. It creates a new legal mechanism (Chapter 116 of the Estates Code) that enables this transfer without requiring a will, court approval, or beneficiary acceptance during the owner's lifetime. The bill specifies that such beneficiary designations are revocable by the owner at any time and override any conflicting provisions in a will. This directly affects owners of manufactured homes treated as personal property, streamlining inheritance for these properties. The law took effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 3047: Relating to the creation of certain municipal management districts; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

SB 3047 creates the Pura Vida Municipal Management District No. 1 in Mustang Ridge, Texas, to promote economic development, tourism, and community infrastructure. The district can issue bonds, impose fees and taxes, and use limited eminent domain authority to fund improvements like pedestrian pathways, landscaping, water systems, and recreational facilities within its defined boundaries. It directly affects property owners and businesses in the district area, supplementing (not replacing) city services. The bill emphasizes the district’s role in enhancing public welfare, safety, and economic vitality while requiring it to serve public interests without acting as an agent for private interests.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 783: Relating to civil liability for online impersonation.

HB 783 creates civil liability for intentional online impersonation in Texas, defining it as using someone's name, voice, signature, photo, or likeness on social media without consent (or with a minor's guardian's consent). It allows affected individuals to sue for actual damages - including counseling or identity theft costs - and minimum $500 punitive damages if the impersonation was done with intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten. The law excludes liability for satire or parody (Sec. 98C.004(b)) and preserves Section 230 protections for social media platforms (Sec. 98C.003). It applies to private individuals, not law enforcement acting in investigations, and became effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 243: Relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities; changing the amount of a civil penalty.

SB 243 increases civil penalties for violations of migrant labor housing regulations by reducing the minimum fine from $200 to $50 per person per day. It directly affects housing facility operators who fail to meet safety standards and qualifying migrant agricultural workers who live in those facilities. The bill adds a new provision allowing workers to sue for fines if they submit a complaint, live in the facility, and are not on an H-2A visa. It also specifies that enforcement actions cannot proceed while other legal processes (like inspections or relocation) are pending for the same facility. The law became effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Housing ✓ Immigration ✗ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 467: Relating to a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of the appraised value of an improvement to a residence homestead that is completely destroyed by a fire.

SB 467 creates a temporary property tax exemption for homeowners whose primary residence improvements (like a kitchen or roof) are completely destroyed by fire. The exemption amount equals the appraised value of the destroyed improvement multiplied by the fraction of the tax year remaining after the fire date (e.g., 100 days left = 100/365 of the value). Homeowners must apply within 180 days of the fire, with verification from fire marshals or insurance adjusters. This exemption applies only to the tax year the fire occurs and reduces property taxes for affected homeowners.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2477: Relating to certain municipal regulation of conversion of certain office buildings to mixed-use and multifamily residential occupancy.

SB 2477 creates new rules for converting office buildings into housing in large Texas cities (those with over 150,000 residents in counties with over 300,000 residents). It defines "mixed-use residential" as requiring at least 65% of a building's square footage to be residential and "multifamily residential" as three or more dwelling units. The law sets requirements for municipal regulations on such conversions but does not override historic preservation rules or short-term rental restrictions. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

Bill results