Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1973: Relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

HB 1973 requires individuals filing family court cases involving parent-child relationships (like custody or adoption) to submit a certified copy of a child's birth certificate if available. If the birth certificate doesn't list both parents or isn't accessible, courts can request alternative proof from any party and must keep all submitted documents sealed for privacy. The bill exempts child support enforcement agencies (Title IV-D) from submitting birth certificates or related proof in their cases. This law applies to cases filed on or after September 1, 2025, and is now effective after being signed by the governor.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2443: Relating to electronic delivery of documents sent or received by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

SB 2443 requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to deliver most official documents electronically - such as notices, orders, and correspondence - to license applicants and holders, replacing paper mail. TDLR may mandate individuals provide email addresses for communications, with those addresses kept confidential and exempt from public disclosure under state law. The bill repeals outdated provisions about document delivery and takes effect September 1, 2025, standardizing electronic communication for all TDLR regulatory processes. This change directly affects anyone interacting with TDLR for licensing, renewals, or compliance matters.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4285: Relating to the storage of alcoholic beverages by the holder of a passenger transportation permit.

HB 4285 allows airlines and other passenger transportation permit holders to sell or serve alcoholic beverages on commercial flights - even when crossing areas where alcohol sales are prohibited - without violating local laws. It also permits these permit holders to store sealed alcoholic beverages at airports they regularly serve or within five miles of such airports in the same county, following commission rules. The bill directly affects airlines and transportation companies holding passenger transportation permits under Texas law. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and modifies Section 48.03(b) of the Alcoholic Beverage Code to enable these changes.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 824: Relating to the inclusion of civics instruction in public school government curriculum requirements for high school students.

HB 824 requires Texas public high schools to include specific civics content in their government curriculum starting with the 2025-2026 school year. It mandates that the State Board of Education adopt standards covering the roles of elected officials (statewide, county, city), Texas voting processes and election laws, eligibility requirements for office, basic parliamentary procedures, and identifying local representatives. This directly affects all Texas public high school students and educators implementing the social studies curriculum. The bill became effective immediately upon the Governor's signature on June 20, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4638: Relating to the Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative.

HB 4638 amends Texas law to govern the Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative by increasing its governing board from three to five members appointed by the governor, with staggered six-year terms. The bill requires the board to submit an annual business plan by June 1 each even-numbered year, detailing implementation strategies for pharmacy benefit services, drug distribution networks, and advanced pharmaceutical services like generic drug manufacturing and gene therapies. The plan must also outline cost-saving measures, resource needs, conflict-of-interest procedures, and participation requirements for state health plans. This law, effective September 1, 2025, establishes the administrative framework for the initiative but does not directly alter healthcare access or costs for residents.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1862: Relating to interstate notification by the voter registrar of certain applicants for voter registration.

SB 1862 requires Texas voter registrars to collect and report specific information when applicants list a previous out-of-state residence on their voter registration forms. It directly affects voters who recently moved to Texas from another state and applied for registration. The bill mandates registrars to document the applicant’s full legal name, date of birth, current Texas address, and previous out-of-state address, then compile this into a monthly report submitted to the Texas Secretary of State. This creates a standardized process for tracking interstate voter registration moves without altering voter eligibility requirements. The law became effective September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1403: Relating to the collection and confidentiality of information regarding firearms in agency foster homes; creating a civil penalty.

HB 1403 prohibits foster care agencies and state child welfare departments from requiring foster parents to disclose specific firearm types in their homes or report changes to those firearms. It also bans agencies from using any collected firearm information for purposes beyond verifying whether firearms are present in the home. Violating this provision subjects agencies to a $5,000 civil penalty per violation, enforceable by the attorney general. The bill further mandates that all firearm-related information in foster homes remains confidential and exempt from public disclosure under Texas law.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3348: Relating to the creation and operations of a health care provider participation program in certain counties.

HB 3348 creates a program allowing specific Texas counties to collect mandatory payments from nonpublic hospitals (defined as institutions providing inpatient services) to fund local health care initiatives. It applies only to counties meeting strict population and geographic criteria, such as those adjacent to the state capital with 46,000-50,000 residents, or large bordering counties with populations exceeding 900,000. Funds collected through this program must be deposited into a county-established "local provider participation fund" and can be used for health care services within the county. The bill does not mandate participation - counties must adopt an order via commissioners court to implement the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 387: Relating to bond requirements for certain judges.

SB 387 requires certain judges to post higher bonds based on their court's caseload. Statutory county court judges handling guardianship or probate cases must post bonds of at least $500,000 (with smaller counties requiring $100,000 and larger counties $250,000), while other judges must post bonds between $1,000 and $10,000. The bill applies only to judges presiding over these specific proceedings, excluding probate court judges covered by existing rules and criminal court judges. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and was signed into law by the governor on June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2820: Relating to the maximum amount of operating capital retained in a licensed authorized organization's charitable bingo account.

HB 2820 sets a $100,000 limit on the operating capital charitable bingo groups in Texas can retain in their accounts for expenses (excluding prizes). It directly affects licensed nonprofit organizations and units of organizations that operate charitable bingo games. The bill establishes this cap unless the state commission sets a higher limit by rule or the bingo director approves a higher amount for a specific organization. Exceptions allow flexibility for operational needs but maintain a clear financial boundary for these fundraising activities.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 6: Relating to discipline management and access to telehealth mental health services in public schools.

HB 6 amends Texas Education Code Section 12.111 to update requirements for charter schools. The bill specifically adds new criteria allowing charter schools to exclude students who were expelled under Section 37.007, placed in disciplinary alternative education programs under Section 37.006, or have documented criminal histories or discipline problems. While the bill title mentions telehealth mental health services in public schools, the provided text does not detail provisions for telehealth access. The legislation primarily affects charter schools by modifying their student admission policies and discipline management standards. HB 6 was signed into law by the governor on June 20, 2025, and is now effective.

Topics ✗ Education

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1233: Relating to information regarding perinatal palliative care; creating an administrative penalty.

SB 1233, the Perinatal Palliative Care Act, requires healthcare providers to inform pregnant women diagnosed with a life-threatening or life-limiting fetal condition about available perinatal palliative care. This applies to approximately 2% of pregnancies where the unborn child has a severe medical condition. The law mandates providers to explain comprehensive supportive care options - including medical, social, and mental health services - to reduce suffering for the mother, unborn child, and family during the perinatal period. It creates administrative penalties for noncompliance and defines perinatal palliative care to exclude actions intended to hasten death. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results