Texas Bills

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 2344: Relating to the placement of telephone corporation facilities in the right-of-way of certain county roads.

This bill requires telephone companies (like telecom providers) to obtain county approval before installing facilities (such as poles or cables) in roadside space on certain county roads. It applies only to small counties (under 75,000 population) located within large metro areas (over 1.5 million people). The bill mandates counties to use standardized application forms for all utility installations, review applications within 10 business days, and allow resubmission within 15 days if modifications are needed. It also gives counties the authority to request facility relocations for road projects with 45 days' written notice, requiring telecoms to cover relocation and road repair costs.

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 2943: Relating to the prohibition of certain actions by a state agency against an applicant for or holder of an occupational license.

SB 2943 prohibits Texas state agencies from adopting rules, regulations, or policies that limit an occupational license applicant's or holder's ability to obtain, maintain, or renew a license based on their sincerely held religious beliefs. It also bans actions that burden an applicant's or holder's free exercise of religion, religious speech, or membership in a religious organization. Exceptions include peace officer licensing (handled by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement) and requirements to ensure professional standards, while the law does not override medical services needed to prevent death or serious injury. Individuals can challenge violations through administrative hearings or court actions, except in cases involving sexual misconduct allegations or criminal prosecution.

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 330: Relating to an election to approve a reduction or reallocation of funding or resources for certain county prosecutors' offices.

Texas Senate Bill 330 requires counties to hold voter elections before reducing or reallocating funding for certain prosecutors' offices (including district attorneys and county attorneys with criminal jurisdiction). It triggers an election if a county's budget for a fiscal year decreases funding for these offices compared to the previous year - either as a fixed amount, a percentage of the total budget, or staffing levels adjusted for population changes. The bill excludes one-time expenses (like new vehicles or training facilities), debt repayment, and detention officer compensation from triggering the election requirement. This directly affects county governments and their prosecutors' offices when making significant budget adjustments.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Texas · House May 14, 2025

HB 594: Relating to the positions designated as exempt from sheriff's department civil service systems in certain counties.

HB 594 amends Texas law to allow sheriffs in specific counties to exempt more positions from civil service hiring rules. Sheriffs in counties with 2 million or fewer residents may exempt up to 10 positions (including chief deputy, four major deputies, and legal counsel roles), while sheriffs in counties with 2-3.3 million residents may exempt up to 18 positions under similar provisions. The bill specifies which roles count toward these limits but does not change the hiring process for exempt positions. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 205: Relating to fetal development instruction included as part of the public school health curriculum in certain grade levels.

SB 205 requires Texas public schools to include fetal development instruction in health classes for students in grades 7 and 8, with optional implementation in other grades. The curriculum must cover human reproduction, pregnancy, infertility, birth defect prevention (including drug/alcohol/environmental risks), and detailed fetal growth stages by trimester. This policy applies to all public school districts beginning the 2025-2026 school year. The bill directly affects middle school students and school districts responsible for implementing the mandated health education content.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 111: Relating to reporting by school districts regarding special education legal proceedings in which a certain amount of legal fees has been incurred by the district.

SB 111 requires Texas school districts to report monthly on special education lawsuits where legal fees exceed $10,000. Districts must post on their websites and submit to the state agency details including the lawsuit's general subject matter and total fees incurred. The state agency must then compile and publicly post aggregated statewide data and district-specific information. The bill was reported adversely by the Education Committee on May 7, 2025, with a 10-1 vote, meaning it did not advance to the full legislature.

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SR 511: In memory of Marcelo Garcia III of Houston.

This is a commemorative resolution (SR 511), not a bill with policy changes. It honors Houston firefighter Marcelo Garcia III, who died in the line of duty on November 6, 2024. The Texas Senate resolution expresses condolences to his family - including his father, mother, sister, girlfriend, and extended family - and declares the Senate will adjourn in his memory. It serves solely as a formal tribute to his service and community impact.

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SR 520: Recognizing Rosser Coke Newton Sr. for his biography of former Texas governor Richard Coke.

This is a ceremonial resolution (SR 520), not a law. It honors Rosser Coke Newton Sr. for authoring the biography *Texan: The Life and Times of Richard Coke*, which details the 15th Texas governor's role in post-Civil War recovery and constitutional development. The resolution formally recognizes Newton's historical research and writing, and the Texas Senate will present him with an official copy as a gesture of appreciation. It has no legal effect or impact on any policy or individual.

passed · Texas · House May 14, 2025

HB 3015: Relating to the application of direct primary care fees to insurance deductibles in certain state health benefit plans.

HB 3015 requires that fees paid directly to primary care physicians (such as monthly retainers or membership fees) count toward the insurance deductibles for participants in two specific Texas state health benefit plans: the Employees Retirement System of Texas and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. This means patients using direct primary care services can apply those fees toward their annual insurance deductible, reducing out-of-pocket costs for care. The law applies to health plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, and takes effect September 1, 2025. It does not affect general health insurance plans outside these two retirement systems.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 2446: Relating to the composition of the governing bodies of local mental health authorities and reports available to the governing body members.

SB 2446 requires local mental health authorities in Texas to provide monthly electronic expense reports to all governing body members, including nonvoting sheriff representatives. It mandates specific membership rules: sheriffs must serve as nonvoting members (with population-based selection for multi-county authorities), and at least one public member with business experience (not in elected office) must be included. The bill also prohibits local mental health authorities from implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives or using identity classifications (race, religion, etc.) for hiring, promotions, or resource allocation, except where federal law requires it. These changes apply to all local mental health authorities and take effect September 1, 2025.

passed · Texas · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 2600: Relating to a fee charged by a school district for the transportation of a student who lives within two miles of the school the student attends.

SB 2600 prohibits Texas public school districts from charging students a fee for transportation if the student lives within two miles of their school. This specifically affects families of students attending schools located near their homes, preventing districts from imposing costs for bus rides they already cover through state funding. The bill amends the Education Code to explicitly ban such fees (except when districts receive funding under Section 48.151(d) for transportation). It removes a potential financial burden on nearby families by ensuring school districts cannot charge for transportation services they are already funded to provide.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Texas · House May 14, 2025

HB 4936: Relating to a study by the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office regarding the creation of the Department of Marketing Services.

HB 4936 directs the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office to conduct a study on creating a new Department of Marketing Services. The study must examine the department’s structure, funding, and potential operations, including how it would interact with existing state agencies. This bill does not create the department but authorizes a formal assessment to determine if such a department would be feasible. The study’s findings would inform future legislative decisions, but the bill itself only mandates the research process.

Bill results