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Texas Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 49,874 Active 26,732 In committee 24,304 Passed 17,352 Signed 5,397 Failed 212

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1398: Relating to certain procedures in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship for a child placed in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services and the provision of family preservation services and community-based foster care.

This bill amends Texas Family Code provisions affecting children in the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) conservatorship. It clarifies that "family preservation services" (time-limited, family-focused support to prevent foster care placement) must be provided to eligible families, including those with pregnant or parenting foster youth. The bill shifts responsibility for paying these services to the family member obtaining them, rather than the state. It also requires DFPS or contractors to submit detailed court reports before placing a child in temporary emergency supervision, documenting all attempted placements and reasons for rejection. These changes took effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1212: Relating to the prosecution and punishment for the offense of trafficking of persons; increasing a criminal penalty.

SB 1212 amends Texas Penal Code Section 20A.02 to expand the definition of human trafficking offenses and increase criminal penalties. The bill specifically targets traffickers who force victims into labor, services, or prohibited activities (like prostitution or sexual assault), with enhanced provisions for cases involving children or disabled individuals regardless of the trafficker's knowledge of the victim's status. It increases penalties for trafficking that results in sexual conduct or exploitation, including new provisions addressing online promotion of prostitution. This law directly affects individuals convicted of trafficking offenses, particularly those involving vulnerable populations, and became effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3000: Relating to a grant program to provide financial assistance to qualified ambulance service providers in certain rural counties.

HB 3000 creates a state grant program to provide financial assistance to qualified rural ambulance service providers in counties with populations of 68,750 or less. Counties may apply for grants of up to $500,000 (for counties under 10,000 people) or $350,000 (for counties between 10,000-68,750 people) to purchase ambulances, with funds restricted solely to ambulance procurement. Grants require counties to maintain ambulance service budgets in the following fiscal year and prioritize counties with greater distance to trauma facilities or limited funding capacity. The program, now law after being signed by the governor on June 20, 2025, aims to ensure adequate ground ambulance services in underserved rural areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Transportation

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5668: Relating to the powers and duties of the Far North Fort Worth Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Tarrant and Wise Counties; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds.

HB 5668 grants the Far North Fort Worth Municipal Utility District No. 1 (serving parts of Tarrant and Wise Counties) new authority to define specific areas or properties within its district and impose taxes or issue bonds to fund improvements benefiting only those defined areas - overriding the standard acreage requirement under state law. This allows the district to finance targeted infrastructure (like water or sewer systems) for particular parcels without requiring broader district-wide benefits. The bill explicitly confirms the district retains all existing powers and meets all required notice and procedural steps under Texas law. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 121: Relating to measures for ensuring public school safety, including the commissioning of peace officers by the Texas Education Agency, the composition of the board of directors of the Texas School Safety Center, and public school safety and security requirements and resources.

HB 121 authorizes the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to commission school safety officers directly under specific Education Code provisions, expanding the pool of qualified personnel for public schools. It updates the composition of the Texas School Safety Center's board of directors and mandates that public school employees report suspected child abuse or neglect. The bill also establishes new safety and security requirements for schools, including resource allocation standards. Effective September 1, 2025, this law impacts all Texas public schools, TEA, and the Texas School Safety Center.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1522: Relating to notice of a meeting held under the open meetings law.

HB 1522 requires governmental bodies (like city councils or school boards) holding meetings to discuss or adopt a budget to include two specific items in their public notice: (1) a physical copy of the proposed budget (or a clear link to it online), and (2) a simple comparison showing how property taxes for a typical home would change if the budget passes. This applies to most local government budget meetings but excludes university governing boards covered by separate rules. The law, effective September 1, 2025, aims to make budget discussions more transparent for residents by providing clear tax impact information upfront. It modifies Texas' open meetings law to add these notice requirements for budget-related meetings.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1868: Relating to a study on changes to performance tier funding for dual credit or dual enrollment courses under the public junior college state finance program and the capacity of the state's workforce to teach dual credit or dual enrollment courses.

HB 1868 requires the Texas Coordinating Board to conduct a study on reducing the semester credit hour threshold for dual credit course funding from 15 to 9 hours under the public junior college finance program. The study must assess student benefits (like faster graduation timelines and cost savings) and evaluate the state's workforce capacity to teach dual credit courses, including instructor numbers, certification barriers, and strategies to expand qualified teachers. It mandates a report with findings and recommendations by December 1, 2026. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on analysis, not implementing funding changes. It became effective June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3697: Relating to the text on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail.

HB 3697 modifies Texas election code requirements for mail-in ballot applications and related materials. It mandates that the application form must be at least 8x9 inches, printed in 12-point type, and in black text. The bill also requires all balloting materials, including instructions, to use 12-point type and black text. These changes apply only to elections held on or after September 1, 2025, and directly affect voters requesting mail ballots and election offices processing these applications. The bill focuses solely on formatting standards for ballot materials.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2694: Relating to the election and resignation of and filling of vacancies on the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4.

HB 2694 updates election rules for commissioners on the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4 board. It requires commissioners who run for other state or federal offices (with over 1.5 years remaining in their term) to automatically resign from their district position. The bill sets specific election dates: Place No. 3 commissioners will be elected in May 2027, and Places No. 1 and 2 in May 2029. It also modifies how vacancies are filled, allowing appointment by remaining commissioners if less than 290 days remain before the next election.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 227: Relating to the designation of a portion of Farm-to-Market Road 521 in Brazoria County as the Clarence "BB" Sasser Medal of Honor Highway.

HB 227 designates a specific segment of Farm-to-Market Road 521 in Brazoria County as the "Clarence 'BB' Sasser Medal of Honor Highway." The bill amends the Texas Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers along this highway segment. This commemorative measure, effective September 1, 2025, honors Clarence "BB" Sasser and has no impact on transportation policy or funding. It directly affects road signage in Brazoria County and serves as a permanent memorial.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2313: Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to use certain tax revenue for certain qualified projects.

HB 2313 allows specific Texas municipalities (with populations between 700,000-950,000, or containing over 70% of a county with 1.5 million+ residents, among other criteria) to use certain tax revenue for qualified projects within designated "project financing zones." These zones must be within a three-mile radius of a qualified project or a continuous area meeting specific size limits. The law defines the boundaries and expiration (30 years from designation) for these zones, amending the Tax Code to clarify municipal authority. It directly affects eligible cities seeking to fund development projects through targeted tax revenue, without creating new taxes. The bill took effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4344: Relating to access to and use of criminal history record information by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

HB 4344 allows the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) to access criminal history records from the FBI and Texas law enforcement agencies for background checks on job applicants, current employees, and contractors. The bill requires the PUC to keep this information confidential and prohibits sharing it with anyone except under court order or with the individual's consent. It also mandates that the PUC destroy these records after use. This law applies to all PUC employment and contracting decisions, effective September 1, 2025.