Texas Bills

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2366: Relating to a grant program to fund certain short line railroad projects.

SB 2366 creates a state grant program to fund specific improvements for smaller railroads (Class II or III as defined by federal law). The program provides grants to railroad companies or local transportation districts to replace tracks/bridges, improve rail capacity, or restore rail lines, aiming to enhance safety, economic development, and reduce traffic. Grants require at least 10% non-state matching funds and must be approved by the Texas Transportation Commission. Funding comes only from state appropriations or federal grants - not highway funds - and the program became law on June 20, 2025.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1281: Relating to certain criminal offenses involving mail or a mail receptacle key or lock; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty.

SB 1281 amends Texas Penal Code Section 31.20 to create a new criminal offense for intentionally taking mail without consent when intending to deprive someone of it or steal negotiable instruments. The bill increases penalties based on the scale of the crime: stealing mail from 50+ addressees or 50+ negotiable instruments becomes a first-degree felony, while smaller-scale offenses range from state jail felonies to third-degree felonies. This law directly affects individuals who steal mail from residential or business mailboxes, including packages, letters, or sealed items delivered by carriers. The policy change clarifies and escalates criminal penalties for mail theft to better address thefts targeting multiple victims or financial instruments. The bill was signed into law and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4145: Relating to the timely billing of health care services related to a personal injury claim.

HB 4145 modifies Texas law to allow health care providers to bill a patient's attorney directly for services related to a personal injury claim, instead of billing the patient or responsible person, when the patient has legal representation. This applies within the same 10-month deadline (by the first day of the 11th month after services are provided) that currently applies to standard billing. The bill directly affects health care providers, patients with injury claims represented by attorneys, and their legal representatives. It streamlines billing by shifting the responsibility to the attorney while maintaining the existing timeframe for submitting bills.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 213: Relating to prohibiting insurers from requiring the tying of residential property and personal automobile insurance policies.

SB 213 prohibits Texas insurers from requiring customers to purchase multiple personal insurance policies (like home and auto) from the same company or bundling them as a condition for coverage. It directly affects consumers who buy residential property or auto insurance, ensuring they can choose insurers separately for each policy type. The key provision bans insurers from using "unfair methods of competition" by forcing policy bundling, making it illegal to require multiple policies from one provider or tie one policy to another. This creates a clear rule for insurers to follow, promoting consumer choice without restricting how insurers offer policies. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2569: Relating to the reporting requirement for certain law enforcement agencies regarding the agencies' use or operation of an unmanned aircraft.

SB 2569 requires state law enforcement agencies and county or municipal agencies in areas with populations over 150,000 that used drones in the past 24 months to submit annual reports to the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature by January 15 each odd-numbered year. The reports must detail the agency's drone usage and be made publicly available online or through other accessible means. This law directly affects larger law enforcement agencies in Texas that operate unmanned aircraft, imposing a structured reporting obligation. The bill aims to increase transparency around drone use by public safety agencies without altering drone operation policies.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 823: Relating to labeling and representation of imported shrimp; authorizing an administrative penalty.

SB 823 requires sellers of meat, poultry, and shrimp in Texas to clearly label whether these products originated in Texas. Specifically, labels must state "whether the food originated in this state" for meat, poultry, or shrimp products. This applies to all retailers and importers selling these items within Texas, directly affecting businesses that handle such food products. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025, after rules are adopted by the Health and Human Services Commission.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3376: Relating to training on Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and related disorders for certain guardians.

HB 3376 requires guardians appointed for individuals aged 60 or older (or those with dementia-related conditions) to complete specific training. Guardians must finish a free, online course within six months of appointment and annually, covering Alzheimer's/dementia symptoms, communication strategies, aging aspects, and resources for supporting a person's rights. The training must address warning signs, effective communication, and available support services. This law amends Texas Government Code Sections 155.203 and 155.204 to mandate these requirements for guardians handling cases involving dementia or related disorders.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 42: Relating to the amount and allocation of the annual constitutional appropriation to certain agencies and institutions of higher education and to the permissible uses of that money.

HB 42 modifies how Texas allocates annual state funds to public universities and colleges by establishing a new formula based on space deficit, facilities condition, institutional complexity, and a separate allocation for the Texas State Technical College System. It specifies exact funding amounts for institutions like the University of North Texas ($65 million), Texas State University ($58 million), and Lamar University ($20 million) for the 2026 fiscal year. The bill changes the method of distributing constitutional appropriations from previous formulas to these new criteria and amounts. Signed into law on June 20, 2025, it takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4668: Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas to retain assistance for regional proceedings affecting certain electric utilities and consumers.

HB 4668 allows the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to hire outside experts - such as consultants, accountants, or attorneys - to represent the commission in regional electricity proceedings involving specific utilities. It directly affects Texas electric utilities, which must pay the PUC-approved costs of these services (capped at $1.5 million per utility annually), and ultimately passes these costs to retail customers through a rate adjustment rider. The bill establishes a process where utilities recover both the costs and carrying charges via an annual rider, subject to PUC approval, and requires PUC to consult the attorney general before hiring certain experts. The law took effect immediately after being signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 132: Relating to the confidentiality of information used to prevent, detect, respond to, or investigate a hostile act of a foreign adversary of the United States.

HB 132 defines specific information as confidential for Texas governmental entities. It requires confidentiality for emergency response staffing details, tactical plans, contact numbers (including mobile numbers), critical infrastructure risk assessments, encryption codes for public communications, and federal report details related to terrorism or hostile acts by foreign adversaries. This law applies to agencies like law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency services that collect such information. The bill became effective immediately after Governor Abbott signed it on June 20, 2025.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 500: Relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.

SB 500 amends Texas adoption laws to improve access to a child's health, social, educational, and genetic history for prospective adoptive parents. It requires agencies like the Department of Family and Protective Services to compile this information within 45 days after a child's adoption plan is set or parental rights end, and to provide it to adoptive parents within 90 days of their request. The bill mandates redacting sensitive details like social security numbers and protecting identities of biological parents, siblings, or those who reported abuse, while requiring adoptive parents to sign a nondisclosure agreement before receiving confidential details. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2786: Relating to the exemption from the assessment requirements of the Texas Success Initiative for certain students who are public officers or employees.

SB 2786 exempts certain public safety students from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) assessment requirement. It specifically applies to students working as emergency medical technicians (EMTs) employed by local governments, firefighters defined under state law, or peace officers (like police) serving in government roles. The bill amends the Education Code to add these three categories to the existing list of exemptions, waiving the TSI assessment for them. This change directly affects students pursuing or working in these public service careers while enrolled in college. The law takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, or September 1, 2025, otherwise.

Topics ✓ Education

Bill results