Texas Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1275: Relating to the issuance of permits for bovine producer dairy farms in certain areas of this state.

HB 1275 prohibits the Texas Department of Health from issuing permits for new or existing bovine dairy farms in areas designated as infected with or at high risk for bovine tuberculosis. This directly affects dairy farm operators seeking permits in specific high-risk zones identified by the Texas Animal Health Commission through epidemiological assessment. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to require the department to deny permits in these designated areas, based on rules established by the Commission. The policy change is a direct restriction on permit issuance, not a new program or funding measure.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4214: Relating to public access to the mailing address and electronic mail address designated by a governmental body to receive a request for public information under the public information law.

HB 4214 requires all Texas governmental bodies to annually report their official mailing and email addresses for public information requests to the Attorney General by October 1 each year. The Attorney General must then create and maintain a publicly accessible online database of these addresses on their website. This bill directly affects all state and local government entities that handle public records requests under Texas public information law. It takes effect immediately upon the Governor's signature (June 20, 2025), streamlining how the public finds government contact points for information requests.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5515: Relating to restrictions on freight and shipping costs included in the price of instructional materials for public schools.

HB 5515 requires publishers of instructional materials sold to Texas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools to stop charging inflated freight and shipping fees. Specifically, it prohibits including shipping costs that exceed actual carrier rates or adding unrelated handling charges, ensuring these costs match standard industry rates nationwide. The bill also mandates price matching for materials sold elsewhere in the U.S., guarantees delivery 10 business days before school starts, and requires error-free materials. This law directly affects publishers by changing how they price and ship educational materials to Texas schools, aiming to reduce costs for school districts. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3214: Relating to eligibility for a master plumber license.

HB 3214 modifies Texas' master plumber license eligibility requirements by reducing the required journeyman plumber experience from four years to two years. It allows applicants to qualify with either two years of experience or one year of experience plus completion of a nationally recognized apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. The bill applies only to new license applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing applications and current license holders unaffected. All other requirements - including passing exams and supervision duties - remain unchanged under the revised rules.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2221: Relating to certain trade practices related to life insurance, annuity contracts, and accident and health coverage.

HB 2221 creates Chapter 1702 in Texas' Insurance Code to establish uniform standards for prohibited trade practices in life insurance, annuity contracts, and accident/health coverage. It defines key terms like "agent," "consumer," and "loss-control or value-added product/service" to clarify what practices are restricted and what value-added services (like free wellness programs) may be offered at no cost. The law aims to standardize rules for insurers and agents while allowing recognized value-added services under existing model laws. This bill directly affects insurance companies, agents, and consumers purchasing these coverage types, effective September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 968: Relating to the licensing and regulation of the practice of podiatry.

SB 968 amends Texas law to update the process for issuing temporary licenses to podiatry applicants. It allows the licensing commission to establish rules for these temporary licenses, including eligibility criteria and maximum validity periods, while repealing two existing sections (202.061 and 202.260) related to provisional licensing. The bill directly affects podiatry applicants seeking temporary practice authorization, particularly those who would have previously qualified under repealed Section 202.260. The changes take effect September 1, 2025, and do not impact licenses issued before that date. This is a procedural adjustment to licensing rules, not a broad policy change.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5155: Relating to the continuation of the maternal opioid misuse model of care for certain Medicaid recipients.

HB 5155 extends a healthcare program for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid recipients with opioid use disorder and their children. It requires Texas' Health and Human Services Commission to continue this specific model of care using funds from the opioid abatement account, if available. The program, originally funded through federal grants, will operate until September 1, 2029, and applies to Medicaid enrollees during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This bill does not create new funding but ensures the continuation of an existing federal-matched healthcare model.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 482: Relating to the offenses of assault, harassment, and interference with public duties committed against certain employees or agents of a utility.

SB 482 modifies Texas Penal Code sections to prevent enhanced penalties for assault or harassment against utility employees working in disaster or evacuated areas. It specifically prohibits prosecutors from applying stricter punishments (such as felony charges) under certain circumstances when the victim is a utility worker performing duties during emergencies. The bill directly affects utility company employees, contractors, and agents who provide essential services in crisis zones. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025, ensuring these workers face standard penalties rather than enhanced ones for related offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 827: Relating to the audit of an election using an electronic voting system.

SB 827 amends the title of Section 127.201 in the Texas Election Code to explicitly clarify that it governs audits of elections conducted using electronic voting systems. The revised heading specifies that the general custodian (a designated election official) will conduct these audits. This technical correction, effective September 1, 2025, updates the law's language without changing existing audit procedures or requirements.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2844: Relating to the regulation of food service establishments, including retail food stores and mobile food vendors; requiring an occupational license; imposing fees; authorizing an administrative penalty.

HB 2844 requires mobile food vendors (like food trucks) to obtain a state-issued license and pay regulatory fees, while authorizing administrative penalties for violations. It exempts small-scale food businesses - defined as those with under $1.5 million in annual revenue (including farmers, sole proprietors, and small retail stores) - from local permit or fee requirements if they already hold a state department permit or food manufacturing license. The bill preempts local governments from imposing conflicting regulations on these exempt businesses. It also establishes new state-level rules for mobile food vendor operations under Chapter 437B of the Health and Safety Code.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 869: Relating to the deadline for the Texas Ethics Commission to resolve certain complaints.

SB 869 limits the Texas Ethics Commission's ability to delay resolving ethics complaints by restricting when its resolution deadline can be paused. Specifically, the bill states that the commission may only pause the deadline during active court litigation involving the complaint, and cannot extend the deadline for any other reason. This change applies only to complaints filed on or after September 1, 2025, with pre-existing complaints governed by prior rules. The law aims to prevent indefinite delays in resolving ethics complaints by enforcing a strict timeline.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3986: Relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 83 in Mission as the Corporal Speedy Espericueta Memorial Highway.

HB 3986 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 83 within Mission, Texas, as the "Corporal Speedy Espericueta Memorial Highway" to honor a military member. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the designated highway segment and at appropriate intermediate locations. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or direct impact on residents, businesses, or government programs. The designation becomes effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Veterans