Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2594: Relating to the venue for the prosecution of certain criminal conduct involving theft.

HB 2594 changes where prosecutors can file cases involving theft of digital or financial assets (like cyber theft or financial fraud). It allows prosecutions to occur in the county where the victim resides, where the suspect was arrested, or where they were extradited. This applies specifically to theft of "intangible personal property" and only for offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The bill does not change what constitutes theft but clarifies jurisdiction for these specific cases.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3699: Relating to initial claims under the unemployment compensation system.

HB 3699 modifies how "last work" is defined for initial unemployment compensation claims in Texas. It specifies that "last work" refers to either the last employer the claimant actually worked for (if they worked at least 30 hours that week) or the employer defined under Texas law (or another state's law), unless federal or state law provides otherwise. This change applies only to claims filed on or after January 1, 2026, with prior claims governed by existing law. The bill directly affects Texas residents filing for unemployment benefits for the first time. It clarifies eligibility criteria without altering benefit amounts or duration.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 668: Relating to the renewal of a license to carry a handgun.

HB 668 amends Texas law to change how handgun license holders renew their permits. It requires license holders to submit a renewal application form, pay a $40 nonrefundable fee, and sign an informational form on or before their license's expiration anniversary. This applies to all license holders renewing permits expiring before, on, or after the law's effective date. The bill, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025, took effect immediately and directly affects Texas residents holding active handgun carry licenses seeking renewal.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 66: Relating to a study on authorizing a supporter under a supported decision-making agreement to assist an adult with a disability with legal proceedings.

SB 66 amends Texas Estates Code to explicitly allow supporters under a supported decision-making agreement to assist adults with disabilities in legal proceedings, including civil and criminal cases. This directly affects adults with disabilities who use supported decision-making agreements, clarifying that supporters may help them access legal information, understand options, and communicate decisions - without making decisions for them. The bill adds "legal proceedings" as a specific area where supporters can provide assistance, aligning with existing provisions for other life decisions like healthcare and finances. It does not create new authority but formalizes current practice by expanding the scope of permitted support in the agreement form.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 863: Relating to water withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer and to the use of certain reclaimed water in an aquifer storage and recovery project.

SB 863 restricts the transportation of water withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer outside the designated aquifer authority boundaries via pipeline or other methods. It requires such water to be used either within the aquifer authority's boundaries or within the certified service area of a retail public utility (as defined by its certificate of convenience and necessity existing on September 1, 2025). The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting water users and utilities operating within or drawing from the Edwards Aquifer region. This policy change modifies existing water usage rules to limit out-of-area transfers.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2791: Relating to powers and duties of the Texas Workforce Commission with respect to the procurement of goods and services for the provision of vocational rehabilitation services.

HB 2791 allows the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to directly contract for goods and services needed to provide vocational rehabilitation services to Texans with disabilities. The bill requires TWC to select vendors using procurement methods that deliver the "best value," considering factors like cost, quality, vendor reliability, and long-term impacts. It specifically directs TWC to evaluate whether vendors meet the needs of rehabilitation recipients, support historically underutilized businesses, and ensure cost-effectiveness. This change gives TWC flexibility to streamline procurement while maintaining accountability for how taxpayer funds are spent on these critical services.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5655: Relating to the creation of the Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 13; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

HB 5655 creates Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 13 to manage water control and improvement within its boundaries. The district will directly affect property owners in the designated area by authorizing it to collect assessments, fees, and taxes for its operations. Key provisions include granting limited eminent domain power for necessary infrastructure, the authority to issue bonds for capital projects, and the ability to impose fees for water management services. The bill establishes the district's governance structure, including board elections and requirements for municipal consent before implementation. This legislation enables the district to address local water management needs, such as stormwater control and waste water handling, as defined by Texas law.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 965: Relating to the right of a public school employee to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty.

SB 965 protects public school employees in Texas (including teachers and staff) from being restricted from engaging in religious speech or prayer during work hours. It prohibits school districts or charter schools from infringing on this right unless they have a compelling state interest that cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies directly to all public school employees in Texas. This is a policy change that defines when schools may limit religious expression, not a requirement for employees to engage in it.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2524: Relating to the recovery of fees, court costs, and expenses in family law proceedings.

HB 2524 amends Texas Family Code sections to streamline the recovery of legal costs in divorce cases. It allows courts to order one spouse to pay the other's reasonable attorney fees, court costs, and expenses directly to the attorney, who can then enforce payment in their own name. The bill applies to all dissolution of marriage proceedings and temporary orders during appeals. This change simplifies the process for attorneys to collect fees without requiring clients to first receive the funds. The law became effective September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2: Relating to public education and public school finance.

HB 2 amends Texas education law to change how public school districts and charter schools compensate teachers. It requires schools to implement performance-based pay systems where teacher salaries differentiate based on appraisals, prohibits routine across-the-board raises, and mandates that all teachers be eligible for designations like "master" or "exemplary" based on evaluations. The bill also establishes criteria for districts to qualify for enhanced teacher incentive funding, including strategic evaluation systems for principals and placing highly effective teachers at high-need campuses. This directly affects school districts, charter schools, and classroom teachers by restructuring compensation and evaluation practices.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3146: Relating to certain hearings conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

HB 3146 amends Texas law to clarify that the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) directly conducts certain state agency hearings, replacing previous language requiring "cooperation with" SOAH. The bill updates sections in the Agriculture, Human Resources, Labor, and Transportation Codes to specify that SOAH administrative law judges will either enter final decisions or propose decisions to agency commissioners for final action. This affects state agencies that use SOAH for hearings and the individuals or businesses participating in those proceedings. The bill was signed into law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3041: Relating to measures to support the enrollment of students with a nontraditional secondary education at public institutions of higher education, including eligibility for certain student financial assistance programs.

HB 3041 changes admission policies at The University of Texas at Austin to better support students who completed nontraditional secondary education (like homeschooling or alternative programs). It requires UT Austin to use standardized test score benchmarks instead of high school class rank when admitting these students, ensuring consistent admission rates compared to traditionally educated peers. This policy applies specifically to first-time resident undergraduate students and connects to their eligibility for state financial aid programs, as outlined in the bill's title. The bill was enacted in June 2025.

Topics ✓ Education

Bill results