Texas Bills

passed · Texas · House May 19, 2025

HB 5520: Relating to border protection and economic development services, programs, and other measures, including measures to recruit health care professionals to the border region, improve border inspection efficiency, and enhance border region airport security and capacity, and establishing certain educational programs.

HB 5520, the Border Enhancement Act, focuses on improving border security and supporting economic development in Texas border regions. It requires the Texas Department of Public Safety to create a border security liaison to coordinate with federal agencies and avoid duplicative efforts, while permitting the purchase of equipment like X-ray machines to improve vehicle inspection efficiency at the border. The bill also establishes a grant program to fund courts in border counties, covering costs for judges, court staff salaries, travel, and necessary equipment. These provisions aim to enhance border security operations and court services without advocating for specific outcomes.

Topics ✗ Immigration

passed · Texas · House May 19, 2025

HB 4669: Relating to the compensation of commissioners of the Port of Beaumont Navigation District of Jefferson County, Texas.

HB 4669 proposes increasing the monthly pay for commissioners of the Port of Beaumont Navigation District in Jefferson County, Texas. It would raise regular commissioners' pay from $500 to $750 per month and increase the president's pay from $550 to $850 per month. The bill amends state law to reflect these changes, effective September 1, 2025. This directly affects the 10 commissioners serving on the Port of Beaumont Navigation District board.

passed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SR 545: Recognizing Summer Willis for her advocacy on behalf of survivors of sexual violence.

SR 545 is a Senate resolution honoring Summer Willis for her advocacy work supporting survivors of sexual violence. The resolution recognizes her personal journey, including running 29 marathons to raise awareness and establishing the nonprofit Strength Through Strides, as well as her recent "The Last Time We Crawl" campaign where she crawled 13.1 miles at the Austin Marathon to symbolize survivor healing. This resolution is purely symbolic - it expresses the Texas Senate's recognition of her efforts through a formal resolution and a copy presented to her, with no policy changes or legislative mechanisms involved.

passed · Texas · House May 19, 2025

HB 1107: Relating to applicability of civil service status to emergency medical services personnel in certain municipalities.

HB 1107 modifies Texas law to extend civil service job protections to emergency medical services (EMS) personnel working in municipal departments separate from fire departments. It applies only to cities with populations of 460,000 or more that operate under a city manager form of government (either currently or as of when they adopted the relevant law). The bill ensures these specific EMS workers in qualifying municipalities receive the same job security, hiring procedures, and grievance processes as other civil service employees. This change takes effect September 1, 2025, after passing with a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Texas · House May 19, 2025

HB 4234: Relating to a requirement that a student's postsecondary transcript include the average or median grade awarded in each class.

HB 4234 requires Texas public colleges and universities to add the average or median grade for each class directly next to a student's individual grade on their transcript. It applies to letter-graded classes with more than 10 students, excluding pass/fail courses and very small classes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will create rules to implement this transparency requirement, effective starting the 2025 fall semester. The bill aims to provide students with clear data on how their grades compare to class performance.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SR 532: Recognizing the Community Council of South Central Texas on the occasion of its 60th anniversary.

This Senate Resolution (SR 532) is a symbolic gesture recognizing the Community Council of South Central Texas for its 60th anniversary. It honors the nonprofit organization, founded in 1965 to help low-income families in Comal County and later expanding to serve 31 Texas counties, for connecting residents with resources and building self-sufficiency through community partnerships. The resolution has no policy impact - it simply expresses the Texas Senate's appreciation for the council's decades of service.

passed · Texas · House May 19, 2025

HB 3339: Relating to a study on maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women in this state.

HB 3339 mandates a study by Texas' Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the Department of State Health Services to examine maternal mortality and morbidity rates specifically among Black women in Texas. The study requires comparing these rates to other racial/ethnic groups, analyzing socioeconomic factors, evaluating healthcare coverage types (Medicaid, private insurance, uninsured), and assessing impacts of specific health conditions (like preeclampsia and obesity) and implicit biases in healthcare. It also requires evaluating social determinants of health and pregnancy-related complications. The committee must submit a report with recommendations to address disparities by September 1, 2026, including provider training on cultural competency and successful programs from other states. This bill directly affects Black women in Texas by focusing on data collection to inform future policy.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Texas · House May 19, 2025

HB 2638: Relating to the designation of Farm-to-Market Road 10 in Panola County as the Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson Memorial Highway.

HB 2638 designates Farm-to-Market Road 10 in Panola County as the "Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson Memorial Highway" under Texas Transportation Code. The bill requires the state transportation department to install markers at both ends of the road and at appropriate intermediate locations along its route. This commemorative designation, honoring a specific deputy sheriff, does not alter road maintenance or create new transportation policies. It is a standard memorial road designation with no other substantive provisions.

Joanne Shofner (R) · 17 co-sponsors

passed · Texas · Senate May 19, 2025

SR 536: Honoring Mark Garcia for his 25 years of service as Texas Senate auditor.

This resolution (SR 536) honors Mark Garcia for his 25 years of service as Texas Senate auditor. It formally recognizes his professional contributions, dedication, and personal involvement with Senate colleagues and community activities like the Senate Christmas band and the Texas MS 150 fundraiser. The resolution directs the Senate to present Garcia with an official copy as a gesture of appreciation for his service. No new laws or policy changes are created by this resolution.

passed · Texas · House May 19, 2025

HB 2417: Relating to the eligibility of certain wrongfully imprisoned persons for compensation and for the expunction of arrest records and files in the case.

HB 2417 helps people wrongfully imprisoned in Texas get compensation and clear their arrest records. It expands eligibility for compensation to those who received a full pardon for innocence, had a court rule them actually innocent via habeas corpus, or had charges dismissed with a state attorney's declaration of no credible evidence and belief in their innocence. The bill also creates a new path to remove arrest records if a conviction is reversed on appeal and the state's attorney recommends expungement. People who qualify under these new rules have until September 1, 2028, to apply for compensation. The law applies to cases occurring before, during, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Texas · House May 19, 2025

HB 1738: Relating to the repeal of the offense of homosexual conduct.

HB 1738 repeals the criminal penalty for homosexual conduct (previously codified in Section 21.06 of the Penal Code). It simultaneously amends health education requirements in Texas schools to mandate that materials for minors include the statement that "homosexual conduct is not an acceptable lifestyle," while incorrectly referencing the repealed law. The bill affects public school health curricula for students under 18, requiring this specific language to be included in sexual education programs. The legislation passed the Texas legislature on May 16, 2025, and would take effect immediately if approved by a two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025, otherwise.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✗ Education

passed · Texas · House May 19, 2025

HB 1765: Relating to the issuance of an arrest warrant or search warrant authorizing the use of a no-knock entry by a peace officer.

HB 1765 restricts the use of "no-knock" entries (police entering a property without announcing their presence or authority) in Texas. It prohibits most magistrates from issuing arrest or search warrants allowing no-knock entries, except for specific judges (district court judges, certain county judges, or municipal judges who are licensed attorneys). The bill requires law enforcement agencies to submit a signed approval from a chief administrator with the warrant request and mandates officers executing such warrants to be clearly identifiable in uniform. This directly affects police departments seeking no-knock warrants and the magistrates who review those requests. The law takes effect upon passage and applies to all warrants issued after its enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results