Texas Bills

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 4735: Relating to rural development funds and insurance tax credits for certain investments in those funds; authorizing fees.

This bill creates tax credits for businesses subject to Texas insurance tax that make cash investments in approved rural development funds. The credits apply to investments supporting rural small businesses located outside cities over 50,000 people or in USDA-designated rural areas. For loans to these businesses, the fund must verify the business was denied financing by a commercial bank or referred by one. The law defines "growth investment" as equity or loans with specific terms, including minimum five-year maturity for debt instruments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 1534: Relating to confirming the provision of certain notices before the full adversary hearing in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.

HB 1534 requires Texas courts to confirm before a full court hearing that the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) properly notified parents or alleged perpetrators about specific rights. It mandates that DFPS inform individuals before interviews about their right to record the interview and request an administrative review of DFPS findings, and that DFPS provided required investigation information to parents/custodians as soon as possible after starting an investigation. If these notices weren't given, the court cannot use evidence from the interview or investigation in the hearing, unless excluding it would significantly harm the child's health or development. The law applies to cases filed on or after September 1, 2025.

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 1837: Relating to the enforcement and prevention of offenses involving the manufacture or delivery of controlled substances listed in Penalty Group 1 or 1-B, law enforcement officer safety in handling those substances, and the manufacture and proper use of opioid antagonists.

HB 1837 creates a mandatory training program for Texas law enforcement officers on handling fentanyl-related offenses. The bill requires the Department of Public Safety to establish training covering collaboration with prosecutors on fentanyl cases, identifying border-related criminal activity involving Penalty Group 1-B substances (like fentanyl), and safest handling methods for these drugs. It also includes instruction on proper opioid antagonist use (for overdose reversal) and allows the training to count toward officers' required continuing education hours. The program directly affects local peace officers and aims to improve safety and investigative capabilities related to fentanyl trafficking.

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 2785: Relating to the display of certain information on the secretary of state's Internet website prior to the completion of an online voter registration application.

HB 2785 requires Texas' Secretary of State website to display a mandatory confirmation message during online voter registration before the application is finalized. This message requires applicants to electronically confirm two key points: that completing the form does not equal voter registration, and that the completed application must still be submitted to a local voter registrar. The website must block further interaction until this confirmation is given, ensuring applicants understand the registration process isn't complete upon form submission. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects all Texas residents using the state's online voter registration system.

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 1461: Relating to the confinement or detention of certain individuals in a county jail or other facility operated by or for the county and to the compensation to the county for the costs of that confinement or detention.

HB 1461 requires state agencies like the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Texas Juvenile Justice Department to take custody of individuals confined in county facilities within 45 days. If they fail to do so, the agencies must compensate counties for the cost of each day the individuals remain confined beyond that deadline, at the rate the agency would have paid for confinement. This applies to defendants in criminal cases, children in juvenile justice cases, and releasees for administrative violations. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, for all cases occurring on or after that date.

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 4813: Relating to the scheduling of certain controlled substances in response to certain actions by the United States Food and Drug Administration with respect to those substances.

HB 4813 requires Texas to automatically align its controlled substance schedules with federal changes made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for certain drugs. Specifically, if a substance in Texas' Schedule I is FDA-approved for medical use (under Section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act), gets rescheduled federally to a lower category, or is deleted from federal schedules, Texas must delete or reschedule it "as soon as practicable" after notice. This applies only to substances affected by federal actions on or after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025). The bill ensures Texas law follows federal medical approvals without requiring new state hearings for these specific changes, directly affecting the Texas Health and Safety Code commissioner and entities handling these substances.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 3358: Relating to the definition of an emergency service provider for purposes of critical incident stress management and crisis response services.

HB 3358 clarifies who qualifies as an "emergency service provider" under Texas law for access to critical incident stress management and crisis response services. It expands the definition to specifically include law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services providers, dispatchers, rescue service providers, and staff from district attorney offices (like attorneys and investigators). This change directly affects these professionals by ensuring they are explicitly covered under the state's support services for trauma response. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 4752: Relating to the eligibility of certain charitable organizations to receive an exemption from ad valorem taxation.

HB 4752 amends Texas law to set new requirements for charitable organizations seeking property tax exemptions. It directly affects organizations that want to avoid ad valorem (property) taxes by requiring them to: (1) distribute contributions to at least five other qualifying nonprofits with volunteer boards and 501(c)(3) status (or public universities), (2) ensure those recipients get majority funding from private gifts/government and provide free services, and (3) maintain their own 501(c)(3) status and volunteer governance. The bill takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026, changing eligibility for existing tax exemptions rather than creating new tax rates.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 4437: Relating to a requirement that the Department of Information Resources implement and develop a system and database to authenticate and track certain digital content.

HB 4437 requires Texas' Department of Information Resources to create two systems: (1) a digital watermarking system embedding image origin data and generating "digital fingerprints" (hashes) for all images on state websites, and (2) a shared database storing hashes of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) for law enforcement and agencies to identify similar content. This directly affects all Texas state websites and agencies using digital images, ensuring public verification of image authenticity and aiding CSAM detection efforts. The bill mandates these systems be tamper-proof and publicly accessible via online tools. It focuses on concrete technical requirements rather than outcomes or policy debates.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 1128: Relating to the applicability to election judges of a prohibition on the carrying of a concealed handgun at a polling place.

HB 1128 amends Texas Penal Code Section 46.03 to create an exception allowing licensed election judges and certain early voting staff to carry concealed handguns while performing their duties at polling places. This directly affects election judges (as defined in Election Code Chapter 32) and early voting clerks/deputies serving as election judges at early voting locations. The bill modifies the existing prohibition on concealed carry at polling places to exclude these specific election personnel who hold valid handgun licenses. The change applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, the bill's effective date.

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 5137: Relating to a beneficiary designation that transfers a motor vehicle to one or more beneficiaries at the owner's death.

HB 5137 allows Texas motor vehicle owners to name one or more beneficiaries who automatically inherit the vehicle upon the owner's death, bypassing probate court. Owners can designate beneficiaries through the Transportation Code (Section 501.0315) and change or cancel the designation anytime without beneficiary consent. A beneficiary must survive the owner by 120 hours to receive the vehicle; if not, the share passes as if the owner had made a will. This process does not affect the owner's creditors, public assistance eligibility, or the owner's ability to transfer the vehicle during their lifetime.

passed · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 2867: Relating to late payment fees charged by a municipally owned water utility.

This bill limits late payment fees charged by municipal water utilities in Texas. It caps fees at $5 or 2% of the overdue amount before day 32, $5 or 5% between days 32-41, and $5 or 10% after day 41. Utilities cannot begin charging penalties before 21 days after billing a customer, and penalties end when the full amount is paid. The rules apply only to fees charged on or after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed by two-thirds vote).

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

Bill results