Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5670: Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 259; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

HB 5670 creates Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 259, which directly affects property owners within its boundaries. The bill grants the district limited authority to acquire private property for public projects (via eminent domain), issue bonds to fund infrastructure, and charge property owners fees, assessments, or taxes. Key provisions include authorizing the district to build and maintain roads, storm drainage systems, and other utility infrastructure under state law. The district must hold elections to confirm its creation and elect directors, with all actions requiring consent from affected municipalities. This bill enables the district to finance and manage local infrastructure improvements directly impacting Montgomery County residents.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2765: Relating to the Rural Economic Development and Investment Program and the Texas economic development fund.

HB 2765 creates a new financial assistance program for rural economic development in Texas, targeting counties with populations under 200,000 and municipalities with under 50,000 residents. It allows these entities to receive funds for land development, attracting private businesses (like manufacturing, warehouses, and mineral extraction), and improving water, waste, or transportation infrastructure. The bill also specifies that the Texas Economic Development Fund must be dedicated exclusively to administering economic development programs focused on rural manufacturing, agricultural exports, and small business initiatives. The program became effective September 1, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers and the governor's desk.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 426: Relating to Medicaid and child health plan program coverage and reimbursement for childhood cranial remolding orthosis.

HB 426 requires Texas Medicaid and the Child Health Plan to fully cover the cost of a custom head device (cranial remolding orthosis) for children with specific head shape conditions. It applies to children with premature skull fusion (craniosynostosis) or children aged 3 months to 18 months with a flat or asymmetrical head (plagiocephaly or brachycephaly) who have not improved after two months of non-surgical treatment and meet documented head measurement standards. The coverage must be at least as comprehensive as for other orthotic devices under Medicaid. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1667: Relating to the procedures for the expunction of arrest records and files; authorizing a fee.

SB 1667 standardizes the process for individuals seeking to expunge arrest records under specific eligibility criteria (Article 55A.053(a)(2)(A) or (B)). It requires petitioners to provide detailed personal information (full name, date of birth, arrest details, and a comprehensive list of agencies holding their records) when filing for expunction. The bill also authorizes a fee for this process, which will be collected by district clerks. This law, effective September 1, 2025, directly affects Texas residents with eligible arrest records who wish to clear their records.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4559: Relating to the repeal of an unused definition and a chapter heading formerly regulating membership dues.

HB 4559 repeals an unused definition and a chapter heading in Texas Government Code Chapter 668, which previously regulated membership dues. The bill removes outdated language from the law that has not been applied or enforced for some time. This is a procedural cleanup measure with no new requirements or direct impact on residents or organizations. The repeal takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature, as noted in the bill's passage history.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1737: Relating to service retirement benefits payable by the Employees Retirement System of Texas to certain law enforcement officers and custodial officers.

SB 1737 clarifies and expands the definitions of "custodial officer" and "law enforcement officer" for retirement benefits under Texas' Employees Retirement System. It adds specific categories of correctional and juvenile justice positions to the "custodial officer" definition, including those with direct contact with inmates or youth in facilities. It also clarifies which law enforcement officers, including those from agencies like the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Parks and Wildlife Department, and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, qualify for retirement benefits. These changes ensure more officers in these roles can receive retirement benefits based on their service. The bill requires agencies to certify these officers to the retirement system.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5674: Relating to the creation of the River Ranch 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 5674 creates the River Ranch Municipal Utility District No. 1 to provide essential utility services like water, sewer, and road maintenance within its designated area. The bill grants the district limited authority to acquire private property through eminent domain (for utility infrastructure), issue bonds to fund projects, and impose fees, assessments, and taxes on property owners within the district. Property owners in the district’s boundaries will directly pay for services through these new fees and taxes. The district must obtain prior approval from local municipalities before operating, as required by Texas law.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4426: Relating to permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas for commercial surface disposal facilities.

HB 4426 sets a maximum 10-year term for permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas to commercial surface disposal facilities (like waste management sites). It requires renewal applications to be submitted 120 days before expiration and allows the Commission to consider an applicant's compliance history - including past inspections, reports, and rule adherence - when determining permit terms for new, amended, or renewal applications. The law applies only to permits issued, amended, or renewed on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing permits governed by prior rules. This changes how long facilities can operate under a single permit and influences renewal decisions based on their regulatory track record.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5081: Relating to the protection of personal identifying information of certain individuals in the judicial system; creating a criminal offense.

HB 5081 creates criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosure of specific personal information belonging to judges, court clerks, and judicial employees in Texas. The bill defines "covered information" to include home addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, school/daycare attendance details, and vehicle identifiers - excluding public property listings or standard employment data. It establishes Chapter 92 in the Government Code, making it a criminal offense to share this information without authorization. The law directly affects judicial branch staff and their families by protecting sensitive personal data from misuse. The bill became effective on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 512: Relating to prohibiting the imposition of a monetary fine or penalty for a violation of a money services business's terms of service agreement; providing a civil penalty.

SB 512 prohibits money services businesses (such as wire transfer companies) from including monetary fines or penalties in their customer terms of service agreements for violations. Businesses that violate this rule would face a civil penalty equal to three times the fine they attempted to impose, enforced by the attorney general. The law applies only to new terms of service agreements entered into after September 1, 2025, leaving existing agreements unaffected. It does not prevent businesses from closing accounts for violations but bans the use of fines as a penalty mechanism.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4809: Relating to the authority of an owner of property that qualifies for an exemption as a historic or archeological site to protest the allocation of the appraised value of the property between the land and the improvements to the land.

HB 4809 allows owners of property qualifying for historic or archaeological site tax exemptions to protest how the appraised value is split between the land and the historic improvements (like buildings or sites). This directly affects property owners who already qualify for these exemptions but disagree with how tax assessors allocate value between the land and the historic structure. The bill amends Texas tax law to add a specific protest right for owners challenging the "allocation of appraised value between the structure or site and the land" as part of their property tax review. It does not change the exemption eligibility but gives owners a new avenue to contest valuation methods that impact their tax burden.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5033: Relating to the authority of this state to implement a motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program.

HB 5033 removes Texas' requirement for a motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program. It states that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Department of Public Safety are no longer obligated to implement or enforce emissions inspections under state law. The bill only takes effect if Congress repeals or significantly amends the federal Clean Air Act, or if the U.S. Constitution is amended to grant states authority to prohibit such programs. This change directly affects vehicle owners who would previously have needed emissions inspections for registration.

Topics ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

Bill results