Texas Bills

passed · Texas · House May 15, 2025

HB 4742: Relating to the ability of a school district to request an appraisal of property by the appraisal district.

HB 4742 allows Texas school districts to request property reappraisals from their local appraisal districts. If an appraisal district hasn't reappraised property in a tax year, a school district can adopt a resolution requiring the appraisal office to complete a reappraisal within 30 days of the request. The school district must pay the appraisal district for the cost of the reappraisal, and the appraisal office must provide sufficient personnel to meet the deadline. This bill directly affects school districts and appraisal districts by establishing a formal process for property value reassessment in tax years without existing reappraisals. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

passed · Texas · House May 15, 2025

HB 4443: Relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of a pilot program to train workers for careers in energy-efficient technologies.

HB 4443 establishes a pilot program through the Texas Workforce Commission to train workers for careers in energy-efficient technologies, primarily affecting students and job seekers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The program partners public junior colleges with energy-efficient technology employers to offer dual-credit courses for high school students and college-level training, with standardized curriculum and a completion certificate. It requires tracking participant demographics and post-program employment data to evaluate success. The pilot expires in 2031, with a 2030 evaluation recommending potential statewide expansion.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Texas · House May 15, 2025

HB 3475: Relating to the establishment of a public law school in El Paso County.

HB 3475 authorizes a university system in Texas to establish a public law school in El Paso County, directly affecting the university system and future law students in that region. The bill allows governing boards to create the school, design law degree programs, manage it through existing academic institutions, and accept private or public funding - though establishment depends on available funding. It requires a feasibility study for accreditation, coordination with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and limits the law school to one per state. The bill does not create the school immediately but provides the legal framework for its future establishment.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Texas · House May 15, 2025

HB 3970: Relating to the interconnection and operation of large loads.

HB 3970 creates a priority interconnection program for large electricity consumers (facilities with over 75 megawatts of peak demand) in Texas. It requires the grid operator (ERCOT) to develop an expedited process for facilities that install on-site power generation (like solar or storage) and agree to stop drawing power from the grid during emergencies. The program gives these facilities faster approval for connecting their on-site generation and reduces their grid consumption when directed, while allowing parallel processing of their interconnection applications. This directly affects major industrial facilities, data centers, and large commercial sites seeking to reduce grid reliance during power shortages.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

passed · Texas · House May 15, 2025

HB 1896: Relating to a mental health leave policy for certain public safety employees.

HB 1896 requires Texas public safety agencies to adopt mental health leave policies specifically for telecommunicators - emergency call center staff (like 911 operators) who handle critical public safety communications. The bill amends the Government Code to define "telecommunicator" and mandates agencies to create these leave policies by September 1, 2025. The policy would allow telecommunicators to take leave for mental health treatment without penalty, directly affecting their workplace rights. This is a policy change requiring agency action, not new funding or benefits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 2417: Relating to investigations conducted and actions brought by the attorney general under the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act of 1983.

SB 2417 modifies Texas law to protect the Texas Attorney General’s internal records during antitrust investigations under the 1983 Act. It designates interview notes taken during investigations as confidential "attorney work product," shielding them from public disclosure under Texas law. The bill also states that when the Attorney General files an antitrust lawsuit, state agencies, legislators, and other state entities are not required to produce documents they hold, as the Attorney General is deemed to lack control over those materials for discovery purposes. These changes apply specifically to cases brought by the Attorney General under the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 1608: Relating to physical examination requirements for patients admitted to an inpatient mental health facility.

SB 1608 requires inpatient mental health facilities in Texas to conduct a physical exam of new patients within 48 hours of admission, with exams typically needing to be done in person. The bill allows telemedicine exams only during a governor-declared disaster. It specifically applies to facilities in counties with fewer than 200,000 residents, mandating the 48-hour timeline for those locations. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies only to admissions occurring on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 466: Relating to the definition of fetal death certificate.

SB 466 updates Texas law to clarify the definition of a "fetal death certificate" in the Health and Safety Code. It specifies that such a certificate applies to: (1) fetuses weighing 350 grams or more, or at least 20 weeks gestation (if weight is unknown), or (2) any fetus when a family member requests a certificate. This change directly affects hospitals, medical examiners, and families who experience fetal loss, ensuring consistent certification practices. The bill does not create new requirements but standardizes existing procedures for documenting fetal deaths.

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 1536: Relating to training on Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and related disorders for certain guardians.

SB 1536 requires guardians appointed for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer's disease to complete specific training. Before appointment, proposed guardians must finish a free online course covering guardianship responsibilities and dementia basics. After appointment, guardians must complete an annual one-hour training on communication strategies, warning signs, and supporting individuals with dementia. The training must be provided free by the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct and confirmed to the court before hearings. This applies directly to court-appointed guardians managing care for people with dementia-related conditions.

passed · Texas · House May 14, 2025

HB 4088: Relating to the qualifications for jury service.

HB 4088 updates jury qualification rules by disqualifying individuals with recent felony convictions or pending charges for theft or felonies. It also establishes a program to reimburse jurors for mental health services after serving in trials involving serious crimes (like assault or sexual offenses under Penal Code Chapters 19-25). Courts must inform jurors in writing about this program and provide a certificate detailing the trial's charges to facilitate reimbursement claims. The program requires state funding to operate and applies specifically to jurors in cases involving those designated criminal offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

passed · Texas · House May 14, 2025

HR 929: Honoring the American Warrior Association for its contributions to military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their families.

This resolution (HR 929) is a formal expression of appreciation from the Texas House of Representatives for the American Warrior Association (AWA). It recognizes AWA's work through its "R3 Program," which addresses moral injury among military personnel, veterans, and first responders by offering training, non-clinical resources, and culturally competent counseling to reduce stigma. The resolution does not create new laws or provide funding - it solely honors AWA's contributions to supporting these groups' mental resilience and community relations. It was adopted by the Texas House on May 14, 2025.

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 2230: Relating to the evacuation of unauthorized persons from a hazard area in connection with space flight activities; creating a criminal offense.

SB 2230 requires Texas municipalities and county commissioners courts to mandate evacuations of unauthorized people from hazard zones calculated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during space flight activities. Violating these evacuation orders would be a Class B misdemeanor (Class A for repeat offenses). The bill’s effective date depends on another related bill (S.B. 2188) also passing into law. It creates a legal mechanism to enforce safety zones around space launch sites without specifying new safety protocols or altering FAA regulations.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill results