Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3071: Relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

HB 3071 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to cancel permits for municipal solid waste landfills that have not accepted waste for 25 consecutive years. It specifically applies to landfills located in counties with over 2.1 million people or within the main city area of a municipality with over 900,000 residents. The bill creates a clear, automatic cancellation mechanism for unused facilities in these high-population areas, without requiring additional regulatory action.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1663: Relating to notification procedures concerning groundwater contamination.

SB 1663 requires Texas water authorities to notify affected parties within 30 days of discovering groundwater contamination. It mandates written or electronic notice (via mail, email, or door notice) to private well owners potentially impacted, nearby groundwater conservation districts, and residents living within one mile of the contamination site. The bill updates Texas Water Code Section 26.408(b) to establish these specific notification procedures. This law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting well owners, local water districts, and nearby residents in contamination cases.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3966: Relating to requiring owners or operators of commercial passenger bus services to provide certain notifications to residents concerning operations.

This bill requires commercial bus service operators to notify residents living within one mile of a new bus stop, terminal, or installation at least 90 days before operations begin. The notice must be delivered by mail and include the location's address or description. It applies to all new facilities operated by commercial passenger bus services in Texas and takes effect on September 1, 2025. The law does not restrict bus operations but mandates advance community notification.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2601: Relating to the landowner compensation program.

SB 2601 creates a state program to compensate agricultural landowners and lessees for property damage caused by border-related criminal activities. It defines "border crime" as specific offenses involving transnational criminal activity (like drug trafficking or illegal border crossings) under Texas law. The attorney general will administer compensation for physical damage, debris, pollutants, or soil contamination, including costs to restore agricultural use. Insurance companies cannot factor such claims into rate-setting for policies delivered or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1598: Relating to the release of motor vehicle collision report information.

SB 1598 modifies Texas law to expand who can access motor vehicle collision reports. It allows drivers involved in collisions, their representatives, employers, property owners, and specific insurance companies (including those covering vehicles or people involved) to request reports upon written request and payment of a fee. The bill also permits access for qualifying news outlets - defined as free, weekly newspapers of general public interest that publish legal notices - under strict conditions. Previously confidential collision data will now be available to these specified groups, with the changes taking effect September 1, 2025. This directly affects drivers, insurers, and certain media organizations seeking collision information.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1266: Relating to Medicaid provider enrollment and credentialing processes.

SB 1266 requires Texas' Health and Human Services Commission to provide a dedicated support team to assist Medicaid providers with enrollment and credentialing through an online portal, aiming to reduce administrative burdens. The bill mandates annual evaluation of this support team's performance, with public reporting of results by September 1 each year. It also creates an electronic process for providers to submit complaints about enrollment processes and requires the Commission to give providers 30 days' notice and an opportunity to fix issues before disenrolling them for incomplete revalidation. These changes, effective September 1, 2025, directly impact Medicaid providers and the Commission's operational procedures.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 685: Relating to rates established by municipalities for water or sewer service for certain entities.

HB 685 prohibits Texas municipalities from charging higher water or sewer rates to tax-exempt entities (like nonprofits, schools, or government facilities) compared to similar non-exempt entities receiving the same service. It requires equal rate structures for comparable utility service regardless of an entity's tax-exempt status. The law, effective September 1, 2025, amends the Local Government Code to establish this non-discrimination standard for municipal utility rates. This directly affects municipalities setting utility rates and tax-exempt organizations receiving water/sewer service.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2900: Relating to certain advisory entities and work groups under the jurisdiction of the comptroller of public accounts or on which the comptroller's office is represented and to the repeal or redesignation of certain of those entities.

SB 2900 requires Texas' comptroller to review all advisory groups (like boards, committees, or task forces) directly under the comptroller's office by December 2026. The review assesses whether each group is necessary and promotes efficient operations of the comptroller's office. The comptroller must report to the legislature by that date any groups deemed unnecessary or inefficient. This bill streamlines government operations by evaluating existing advisory structures but does not change public policies or affect citizens directly.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1896: Relating to the provision of information regarding an arrested person and the victim of the offense to a magistrate for purposes of an order for emergency protection.

SB 1896 requires arresting officers or jail staff to provide specific information about both the arrested person and the victim to magistrates when making an arrest for offenses covered under Article 17.292(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This information, which includes details specified in Section 411.042(b)(6) of the Government Code, must be provided to help magistrates issue emergency protection orders. The bill mandates this information be shared at the time of arrest or custody transfer, using a standardized form if available. The law applies to cases where emergency protection orders are sought, ensuring magistrates have necessary details to make timely safety decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3185: Relating to investigations of certain cybercrimes.

HB 3185 creates Chapter 426 in Texas' Government Code to establish procedures for investigating cybercrimes. It allows prosecutors to issue administrative subpoenas requiring electronic service providers (like internet companies) to produce specific records - such as names, addresses, connection logs, and payment information - during cybercrime investigations, provided there's reasonable cause to believe an account was used in a crime. The bill prohibits providers from disclosing sensitive user data like passwords, in-transit messages, email content, contact lists, or browsing history in response to these subpoenas. This directly affects prosecutors conducting cybercrime investigations and service providers managing user data. The law became effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3092: Relating to a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct an electric transmission line.

HB 3092 exempts certain short electric transmission lines from requiring an amended certificate of public convenience and necessity. It applies specifically to lines under five miles connecting to load-serving substations or under two miles connecting to generation substations. The bill requires electric utilities to obtain written consent from directly affected landowners and purchase all necessary rights-of-way before construction. This change directly affects Texas electric utilities planning small-scale transmission projects connecting to existing facilities. The law took effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2038: Relating to the issuance by the Texas Medical Board of certain licenses to practice medicine and the authority of an insured to select certain license holders under the insured's health policy; requiring an occupational license; authorizing fees.

HB 2038, the DOCTOR Act, creates a provisional license for foreign-trained physicians who have job offers from Texas healthcare facilities like hospitals or clinics. To qualify, applicants must hold a valid medical license in their home country, meet minimum practice experience (5 years with residency or 10 years without), pass a Texas medical jurisprudence exam, and demonstrate English proficiency. The Texas Medical Board will issue these licenses to streamline the process for qualified foreign physicians seeking to practice in Texas. The bill becomes effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results