Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 908: Relating to the reporting by law enforcement agencies of missing children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

This bill requires Texas law enforcement agencies to report missing children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children within two hours of receiving a report. The law mandates that agencies immediately begin investigations and enter detailed information about the child and any suspected abductor into multiple national and state databases. Police must also electronically share case details with other law enforcement agencies within 200 miles and inform families that their information has been submitted to these systems. These requirements apply to all law enforcement agencies in Texas regardless of where the child went missing. The bill repeals a duplicate provision to avoid redundancy in existing statutes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1188: Relating to electronic health record requirements; authorizing a civil penalty.

SB 1188 requires covered health care entities (like hospitals and practitioners) to store Texas residents' electronic health records physically within the U.S. and restrict access to only authorized personnel for treatment, payment, or operations. It mandates security safeguards to protect record confidentiality and adds a requirement for health care practitioners to include options for recording metabolic health and diet communications related to chronic disease treatment. The bill authorizes civil penalties for non-compliance but does not specify penalty amounts. It became effective September 1, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers and receiving gubernatorial approval.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 39: Relating to information and data regarding the incidence of veteran deaths in this state.

This bill requires Texas to collect de-identified data on veteran deaths from death certificates and submit it to the Texas Veterans Commission. Specifically, it mandates that the state registrar provide details like age, race, cause of death (if suicide or homicide), and occupation, but not medical history unless available. The commission must then produce annual reports by December 1 each year, containing aggregated data, analysis, and policy recommendations for veterans' affairs committees. The first report is due December 1, 2027, with annual reports starting in 2026. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2148: Relating to the reliability of the electricity supply chain.

SB 2148 requires Texas electricity providers in the ERCOT region to conduct annual simulated or tabletop exercises for load shedding during summer and winter months, plus additional exercises every two years focused on preparing for physical attacks on critical infrastructure like substations and control centers. It mandates that transmission, distribution, and generation providers coordinate with law enforcement and the independent grid operator to define roles during attacks, and submit written attestations confirming this coordination. The bill affects all major electricity service providers in Texas’ ERCOT power region, requiring them to participate in these drills. The first full implementation must occur by December 31, 2026, as specified in the bill’s timeline. These exercises aim to improve grid resilience by ensuring clear protocols for critical infrastructure threats.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2035: Relating to notice provided by a chemical dependency treatment facility to the parent, managing conservator, or guardian of a minor refused admission to the facility.

HB 2035 requires chemical dependency treatment facilities in Texas to provide written notice to a minor's parent, managing conservator, or guardian when refusing voluntary admission for treatment. The notice must inform them of their right to seek voluntary treatment at another facility. This law directly affects minors seeking chemical dependency treatment and their legal guardians, ensuring families are informed about alternative care options when a facility declines admission. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1902: Relating to creating the criminal offense of jugging.

HB 1902 creates a new criminal offense called "jugging" in Texas law. It prohibits a person from knowingly traveling along the same path as another individual near a business or financial institution (without significantly changing direction) while carrying two or more tools commonly used for crimes, with the intent to steal money. This offense is classified as a state jail felony, escalating to a third-degree felony if combined with robbery or a first-degree felony if combined with theft. The law, effective September 1, 2025, directly targets individuals engaging in this specific pattern of behavior near money-handling locations.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 247: Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the appraised value of real property located in certain counties that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements and to the consideration of the price paid by certain governmental entities for a parcel of or easement in real property purchased for the purpose of installing or constructing such infrastructure when appraising other real property.

HB 247 exempts property owners in Texas counties bordering Mexico from paying property taxes on the increased tax value caused by border security infrastructure (like walls, fences, or roads) installed on their land under specific agreements. It also prevents government entities from having to pay higher property taxes when purchasing land or easements for border security projects, as the price paid for those parcels won’t factor into appraising other nearby properties. The law applies only to real property in border counties and covers both infrastructure built on private land and government acquisitions for such projects. This directly affects landowners in border counties and state/federal agencies managing border security. The policy change simplifies tax treatment for border infrastructure development without altering overall property tax rates.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Immigration

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1243: Relating to the dissolution of a public utility agency.

SB 1243 allows local governments (like cities or counties) to dissolve a public utility agency by transferring all its assets, debts, permits, and licenses to remaining participating entities through joint ordinances. It directly affects public utility agencies and the local governments that operate them, providing a legal mechanism for reorganization. Key provisions let participating entities add or remove members or fully dissolve the agency while ensuring all obligations and resources are transferred to surviving members. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2024: Relating to a prohibition on marketing, advertising, offering for sale, or selling certain e-cigarette products; increasing a criminal penalty; creating a criminal offense.

SB 2024 prohibits the marketing, advertising, selling, or offering for sale of e-cigarette products that use cartoon characters targeting minors, mimic products marketed to children (like school supplies or candy), resemble food items, include celebrity imagery, or are shaped like everyday items (e.g., highlighters, headphones, or toys). It also bans e-cigarette products manufactured in China. The law creates criminal penalties for violations and applies to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. This bill directly affects e-cigarette manufacturers, retailers, and marketers operating in Texas.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5149: Relating to restricting the collection and use of DNA samples from children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

HB 5149 prohibits the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) from collecting or using DNA samples from children in its foster care system without either the written consent of the child’s primary caregiver or a court order. The law directly affects children under DFPS conservatorship and their caregivers, requiring explicit permission or judicial approval before DNA collection. Key provisions mandate that DFPS cannot use DNA for any purpose - such as genetic databases or identification - without these safeguards. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and aligns with broader privacy protections for foster youth.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 456: Relating to the purchase or sale of human organs; increasing a criminal penalty.

SB 456 increases penalties for illegally buying or selling human organs in Texas, upgrading the offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony under the Penal Code. It directly affects individuals involved in organ trafficking and requires physicians to lose their medical license if they knowingly use organs obtained in violation of this law. The bill adds a new provision to the Occupations Code mandating license revocation for doctors who use illegally obtained organs in medical procedures. These changes take effect September 1, 2025, and apply only to offenses occurring after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2165: Relating to prohibiting the dismissal of certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship involving the Department of Family and Protective Services.

SB 2165 prevents courts from dismissing certain custody cases involving the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) when a child is missing from their foster care placement. It amends Texas Family Code to require courts to retain jurisdiction and not dismiss these cases if a child is reported missing from a substitute care provider (like foster care). The bill specifically applies to cases where the child is either in juvenile justice custody or missing from care, unless the child is adopted or custody is awarded to someone other than DFPS. This change takes effect September 1, 2025, ensuring ongoing court oversight for vulnerable children in these specific situations.

Bill results