Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5688: Relating to the creation of the San Benito Municipal Utility District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

HB 5688 creates the San Benito Municipal Utility District No. 1 to provide water, sewer, and utility services in a defined area of San Benito County. The district is granted limited eminent domain authority to acquire land for utility projects, the power to issue bonds for infrastructure, and the ability to impose property assessments, fees, and taxes within its boundaries. This directly affects residents and businesses in the specific territory outlined in the bill, which includes areas for utility infrastructure and road improvements under Texas law. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers and the governor's office.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2067: Relating to declination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of insurance policies.

HB 2067 requires insurers in Texas to provide written explanations for denying insurance applications, canceling policies, or refusing to renew coverage. It mandates that insurers give these reasons to applicants or policyholders upon request and submit quarterly reports to the Texas Department of Insurance, organized by zip code. The bill also specifies that notices for commercial insurance denials must be delivered to agents, who must then share them with applicants. These requirements apply to policies regulated under specific insurance chapters and become effective January 2026. The law aims to increase transparency in insurance decisions without altering coverage terms or costs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 458: Relating to an appraisal process for disputed losses under personal automobile or residential property insurance policies.

SB 458 requires personal auto and residential property insurance policies in Texas to include a standardized appraisal process when policyholders and insurers disagree on the amount of a loss. The law mandates that policies contain this dispute resolution mechanism, involving qualified appraisers and an umpire to determine the loss value. An appraisal award under this process is binding on both parties, except for fraud, accident, or material mistake. This applies to most standard insurers (like capital stock or mutual companies) but excludes commercial policies and Texas Windstorm Insurance Association coverage.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 119: Relating to the registration as a lobbyist of persons who engage in certain lobbying activities on behalf of a foreign adversary and to prohibitions on the receipt of compensation related to those lobbying activities; providing a civil penalty.

HB 119 requires lobbyists who communicate directly with Texas lawmakers to influence legislation on behalf of a "foreign adversary" (as defined by state law) to register with the state. It specifically prohibits receiving compensation for such lobbying activities from foreign adversaries or their designated representatives. The bill establishes civil penalties for violations, including fines for unauthorized lobbying or compensation. This law directly affects lobbyists working for foreign governments or entities designated as national security threats by U.S. authorities.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 103: Relating to the creation and maintenance of a database of taxing unit bond, tax, and bond-related project information; providing a civil penalty.

HB 103 requires Texas comptroller to create and maintain a public database containing detailed information about bonds, taxes, and related projects for all taxing units (like cities, counties, and school districts) in Texas. The database must include bond ballot language, projected tax rates, election results, project uses of funds, and comparisons between adopted and voter-approved tax rates. It also mandates specific data for school district maintenance taxes. The bill includes civil penalties for noncompliance, aiming to increase transparency around local government financial decisions.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 896: Relating to the enrollment period for newborns under certain health benefit plans.

SB 896 extends the enrollment period for newborns under employer-sponsored health benefit plans in Texas, changing the deadline from 32 days to 61 days after birth. The bill requires health plans to provide coverage until the 61st day unless the plan receives birth notice and any required additional premium by the 60th day. It prohibits plans from excluding initial newborn coverage before day 61, coverage for congenital defects, or costs for required newborn screening tests. This applies to all health benefit plans offering maternity or accident/health coverage for newborns, directly affecting newborns, their parents, and employer health insurance providers. The law became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1335: Relating to decedents' estates.

This bill amends Texas Estates Code sections to clarify and streamline processes for estate administration. It specifies that court-issued letters testamentary or administration documents (including a clerk's certificate confirming issuance) serve as sufficient proof of a personal representative's appointment and qualification date. It also updates removal procedures for personal representatives, allowing courts to act on their own motion after notifying the representative, rather than requiring a complaint from an interested party first. These changes directly affect estate administrators, courts, and beneficiaries who need to verify representative authority during estate proceedings. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2253: Relating to the authority to cancel certain elections on a measure to authorize the issuance of bonds.

HB 2253 allows local governments in Texas to cancel bond election votes if a disaster declaration is issued by the governor under Chapter 418 of the Government Code. Specifically, it permits cancellation if the governor declares a natural or health-threatening disaster and the local governing body votes to cancel the election due to damage to election systems, risks to election workers, or harm to voters. The bill requires local governments to post cancellation notices at polling places during early voting and election day. This applies to elections for bond measures related to infrastructure or public projects, directly affecting communities seeking to issue bonds during declared emergencies.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2593: Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of indecent assault against a disabled or elderly individual.

HB 2593 increases criminal penalties for indecent assault when the victim is disabled or elderly. It amends Texas Penal Code Section 22.012 to classify such assaults as a second-degree felony (previously a misdemeanor or lower felony), making it a more serious offense. The bill specifically targets cases where the victim is disabled or elderly, without changing penalties for other victims. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2018: Relating to the strong families credit against certain taxes for entities that contribute to certain organizations.

SB 2018 creates a tax credit for businesses that contribute to designated organizations, specifically allowing eligible entities to apply this credit against taxes paid under Texas's Alcoholic Beverage Code. The credit amount equals the lesser of the business's contributions to qualifying organizations or the taxes paid under the Alcoholic Beverage Code, with annual caps on total credits and contributions. Businesses must apply through the comptroller, who will determine eligibility based on existing Tax Code provisions (Sections 171.801-171.805). The credit expires on January 1, 2028, and directly affects alcohol-related businesses in Texas that pay taxes under the Alcoholic Beverage Code.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5616: Relating to the Texas presidential library promotion program and funding for the program.

HB 5616 establishes the Texas Presidential Library Promotion Program to support three specific presidential libraries: the LBJ Library, George H.W. Bush Library, and George W. Bush Library. The program provides funding for exhibit renovations, promotes tourism through marketing, and develops a mobile exhibit featuring historical artifacts and educational materials about these presidents. Funding comes from gifts, grants, and legislative appropriations deposited into a dedicated account managed by the Texas Historical Commission. The law aims to enhance these libraries' roles as historical resources that attract visitors and contribute to Texas' cultural and economic landscape.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3250: Relating to the regulation of real estate appraisers and appraisal management companies.

HB 3250 establishes a stipend program to support real estate appraiser trainees, license seekers, and certified appraisers serving public purposes like increasing trained professionals and boosting economic development in Texas. It requires appraisers to notify the board of address changes within 10 days and updates rules for controlling persons of appraisal management companies, mandating active licensing or specific training and barring those with revoked licenses (unless reinstated). The stipend program can only be funded by gifts, grants, or donations under existing law. This bill directly affects appraiser trainees, licensed appraisers, and appraisal management companies operating in Texas.

Bill results