Texas Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4384: Relating to the recovery of certain costs associated with a gas utility's plant, facilities, or equipment placed in service.

HB 4384 allows gas utilities to defer certain unrecovered costs - like interest on unpaid infrastructure, depreciation, and property taxes - associated with facilities already in service. These deferred costs become "regulatory assets" that must later be recovered through customer rates. The Railroad Commission of Texas will review these costs during rate proceedings and may require refunds if costs are disallowed. This bill directly affects Texas gas utilities by changing how they account for and recover legacy infrastructure costs, without altering current rate structures.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1242: Relating to the acquisition of land and facilities by the Texas State Technical College System.

SB 1242 amends Texas Education Code Section 135.02(c) to allow the Texas State Technical College System to acquire land and facilities in counties where it has campuses. The bill requires the coordinating board to review and approve acquisitions only if the property value exceeds $300,000 or if the board of regents requests adding it to the system's inventory. This change streamlines the process for the college system to obtain property while adding a threshold for larger acquisitions. The law took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature on June 20, 2025. It directly affects the college system’s property management operations, not students or general public policy.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1893: Relating to the disclosure under the public information law of a motor vehicle license plate number captured in a video recording obtained or maintained by a law enforcement agency.

HB 1893 modifies Texas law to require law enforcement agencies to disclose motor vehicle license plate numbers visible or audible in video recordings they obtain or maintain. The bill specifies that these license plate numbers are not confidential under public information laws and must be included without redaction when releasing such videos to the public. This directly affects law enforcement agencies, which must now provide unaltered video recordings containing license plate numbers in response to public information requests. The policy change took effect September 1, 2025, after the bill was signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Topics ✗ Technology

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 7: Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board.

SB 7 requires the Texas Water Development Board to coordinate planning for water infrastructure projects to maximize use of existing utility corridors and minimize land acquisition through eminent domain. It mandates the Board to develop standardized specifications for water infrastructure, ensure different water systems can connect and operate together, and recommend building extra capacity during construction to accommodate future projects. The bill directly affects water project developers, utilities, and local governments working with the Board on infrastructure planning and financing. Key provisions include creating interconnectivity standards and facilitating collaboration between project sponsors and transportation/utility entities.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1520: Relating to the Angelina and Neches River Authority, following recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission; specifying grounds for the removal of a member of the board of directors.

HB 1520 requires new members of the Angelina and Neches River Authority board to complete mandatory training before voting. The training covers operations law, budget details, recent audits, ethics rules, and conflict-of-interest requirements. Directors must annually receive and acknowledge a training manual distributed by the authority's general manager. The bill also adjusts the authority's Sunset review schedule to prevent termination under Texas law.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1084: Relating to certain mammography reports providing required breast density information.

This bill requires Texas mammography facilities to provide patients with clear, standardized information about breast density following a mammogram. It directly affects patients receiving mammograms and the facilities performing them, mandating specific notices based on density results. The key provision requires facilities to include a notice explaining that dense breast tissue can obscure cancer detection and increase risk, along with guidance to discuss supplemental screening options with a healthcare provider. The notice also clarifies that dense tissue is common and not a cause for alarm, but should prompt discussion about individual risk factors. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1610: Relating to sexually violent predators, to the Texas Civil Commitment Office, and to the prosecution of the offense of harassment by sexually violent predators and other persons confined in certain facilities; amending certain sex offender registration requirements; increasing criminal penalties.

SB 1610 increases penalties for individuals civilly committed as sexually violent predators who commit new offenses. It mandates life imprisonment or 25-99 years for felony convictions if the person was a sexually violent predator at the time of the offense (Section 1 of the Penal Code). The bill also elevates harassment offenses by these individuals to a third-degree felony (Section 21.08) and creates a presumption that assaulters knew they were targeting Texas Civil Commitment Office staff wearing distinctive uniforms (Section 22.01). The law directly affects people under civil commitment for sexually violent predator status who commit new crimes, effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2986: Relating to use by a religious organization of public school or institution of higher education facilities.

SB 2986 allows public school districts and institutions of higher education in Texas to permit religious organizations to use their facilities for worship, services, or assemblies under specific conditions. It requires that such use must not interfere with the institution's educational mission, the religious group must pay fair market value for facilities (or have it waived), and the group must cover liability for damages. The bill also prohibits state agencies or school districts from penalizing schools for allowing this use or denying funding based on such decisions. Schools and colleges retain the right to choose not to allow religious groups to use their facilities. The law becomes effective September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3833: Relating to the regulation of money services businesses.

HB 3833 amends Texas law to strengthen background checks for key personnel in money services businesses (like check cashers and money transmitters). It requires individuals who control, seek to acquire control of, or serve as key managers of these businesses to provide fingerprints for FBI background checks and detailed personal histories - including credit reports, criminal records, and any past regulatory actions related to fraud or financial misconduct. The bill also clarifies that accepting an application for a money services license does not mean the commissioner has approved the business's qualifications, only that all required documents were submitted. This directly affects businesses seeking or holding money services licenses in Texas, effective September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3815: Relating to issuance of specialty license plates for certain United States Army Rangers.

HB 3815 creates two new specialty license plates for Texas drivers: one for all U.S. Army Rangers (active or former unit members or Ranger School graduates) and another specifically for members of the 75th Ranger Regiment. The plates must feature designated insignia - such as the Ranger tab or 75th Regiment insignia - along with the words "U.S. Army Ranger" or "75th Army Ranger Regiment." This bill amends Texas Transportation Code to add these plate options, effective September 1, 2025. It directly affects eligible Army Rangers and their families who wish to display these plates.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2431: Relating to requiring foreign language credit opportunities for students enrolled in study abroad components or programs offered by certain institutions of higher education in this state.

SB 2431 requires Texas public and private universities offering study abroad programs in non-English-speaking countries to provide students enrolled in those programs the option to earn foreign language credit toward their degree. The law applies to institutions with baccalaureate programs that include such study abroad components, starting with the 2025-2026 academic year. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will establish rules to implement this requirement. This policy directly affects students participating in international study programs at Texas universities and the institutions that operate them. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1445: Relating to the compensation of counsel appointed to provide representation and services to indigent individuals in criminal and juvenile proceedings.

HB 1445 updates payment rules for attorneys appointed to represent indigent defendants in Texas criminal and juvenile court cases. It requires counties to establish fee schedules with clear hourly rates or fixed fees that account for attorney overhead costs, and mandates that appointed counsel submit itemized service records for approval. The bill sets a 60-day deadline for judges or program directors to approve or deny payments with written justification, and creates a 45-day payment window after approval. These changes apply to expenses incurred on or after September 1, 2025, directly affecting court-appointed defense attorneys and county payment systems.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice