Texas Bills

passed · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 4960: Relating to political advertising distributed or broadcast as part of a mass text message campaign and civil penalties for required disclosures on certain political advertising.

HB 4960 regulates political text message campaigns by defining a "mass text message campaign" as sending texts to multiple recipients for political purposes with costs exceeding basic messaging expenses. It requires clear disclosures in such campaigns and imposes a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per text message sent in violation, with each message counted as a separate violation. The law applies only to political texts distributed on or after September 1, 2025, affecting campaigns using mass texting for political advocacy. It directly impacts political campaigns, candidates, and organizations sending large-scale political texts, ensuring compliance with disclosure rules.

passed · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1722: Relating to an owner's or lessee's access to property through a Texas Department of Transportation highway right-of-way.

HB 1722 prevents the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) from restricting access to private property owned or leased by individuals, provided the property meets three specific conditions: it's located within a TxDOT-acquired highway right-of-way, can only be accessed through that right-of-way, and was constructed before TxDOT assumed control of the area. The bill does not stop TxDOT from acquiring such property through purchase, condemnation, or other legal means authorized under existing law. It takes effect September 1, 2025. This directly affects property owners or lessees whose access to their land is currently restricted by TxDOT due to highway right-of-way boundaries.

passed · Texas · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 1442: Relating to a study by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners on establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship by telephone or electronic means.

This bill requires the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to study whether veterinarians can establish a client-patient relationship via phone or electronic means (including video calls) without a physical animal exam. The study must examine technology availability, jurisdiction over out-of-state veterinarians, rules for affiliated practices, controlled substance prescriptions, and compliance with a 2024 court ruling. The Board must submit a report with recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2026. This bill does not change current law but sets a process for evaluating potential policy updates.

passed · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1353: Relating to international cooperation agreements between certain state agencies and the United Mexican States and funding for infrastructure investment in this state; providing authority for certain agencies to issue bonds.

HB 1353 allows eight specific Texas state agencies - including the Department of Agriculture, Economic Development, Housing, Water Development Board, and others - to issue bonds for infrastructure projects. It establishes a mechanism for these agencies to jointly invest with Mexico’s North American Development Bank to leverage funding for Texas infrastructure. All agreements requiring state funds must be approved by the governor and Legislative Budget Board. The bill directly affects these agencies’ ability to partner on cross-border infrastructure initiatives, with no new taxes or direct impacts on residents.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

passed · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 349: Relating to civil liability for removing certain individuals or animals from a motor vehicle.

HB 349 creates legal immunity for people who enter a locked motor vehicle to remove a vulnerable individual (like a child under 7 or someone with a disability) or a domestic animal (like a pet dog or cat) from a car. To qualify for immunity, rescuers must first confirm the vehicle is locked or the person/animal cannot exit safely, reasonably believe immediate harm is occurring, notify law enforcement or 911 before entering (unless they are first responders), use only necessary force, and stay with the person/animal until help arrives. The law specifically protects ordinary citizens - not just police - from civil lawsuits when following these steps. It does not apply to livestock or cases where authorities advise against entry.

passed · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 38: Relating to improvements to the Texas Information and Referral Network.

HB 38 amends Texas law to enhance the Texas Information and Referral Network, which connects residents to state and local services. The bill requires the network to integrate transportation service data, improve disaster response through interstate agreements, and implement a text messaging system to reduce client wait times and improve service access. It also mandates a public online portal showing real-time, anonymized client data (like service types and demographics, with explicit consent) and standardized screening for nonmedical health needs. The changes directly affect state/local agencies using the network and the clients they serve, including vulnerable groups like veterans, caregivers, and those in the criminal justice system. The bill focuses on improving coordination, accessibility, and data transparency without altering funding or creating new mandates.

Topics ✓ Technology

passed · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 245: Relating to the treatment of military service credit in the Employees Retirement System of Texas as law enforcement or custodial officer service.

HB 245 allows military service to count toward retirement credit in Texas' state Employees Retirement System when that service is treated as law enforcement or custodial officer service. It affects Texas state employees who served in the military and later work as law enforcement or custodial officers, enabling them to include their military service in their retirement calculations. The bill requires that the employee wasn't previously enrolled in the retirement system before their military service, or their job immediately before military service was in a qualifying position. It also mandates that their first post-military employment must be in a role that qualifies for such credit. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

passed · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 645: Relating to the provision of certain co-navigation services to individuals who are deaf-blind.

HB 645 creates a statewide program to provide co-navigation services for Texans who are deaf-blind. The Health and Human Services Commission will operate this program, reimbursing specially trained co-navigators for helping individuals safely move through environments and access information using their preferred communication methods (like American Sign Language or protactile language). The bill establishes tiered reimbursement rates based on co-navigators' training and skill level in communication modes and mobility techniques. It explicitly excludes personal care, decision-making, or formal interpreting services from the program's scope.

passed · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 658: Relating to the carrying of weapons by community supervision and corrections department officers, juvenile probation officers, and certain retired law enforcement officers and to criminal liability for taking a weapon from certain of those officers.

HB 658 ensures that businesses cannot ban certain law enforcement personnel from carrying weapons on their premises. It specifically protects community supervision and corrections officers, juvenile probation officers, and honorably retired peace officers who are legally authorized to carry weapons. The bill amends state law to prevent establishments from restricting these officers from carrying weapons they're permitted to carry, regardless of whether they're actively working. This applies to both current and retired officers covered under Texas Penal Code Section 46.15. The bill does not change weapon-carrying rules but clarifies that businesses cannot override these officers' legal right to carry weapons in public spaces.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 294: Relating to the regulation by a property owners' association of food production on single-family residential lots.

HB 294 prevents municipalities and property owners' associations from banning fruit/vegetable gardening or keeping small numbers of domestic animals (up to six chickens or rabbits) on single-family residential lots. The bill allows local governments to impose reasonable rules on visibility, noise, safety, and sanitation - such as requiring fenced areas, limiting roosters, or setting minimum space requirements (20 sq. ft per chicken, 9 sq. ft per rabbit) - without prohibiting the activities. It specifically excludes condominiums and voids any ordinances violating these provisions. The bill aims to support small-scale food production in residential areas while maintaining community standards.

passed · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1482: Relating to changing the eligibility for community supervision for certain repeat intoxication offenders.

HB 1482 changes eligibility for community supervision (probation) for certain repeat offenders convicted of intoxication-related offenses. It removes community supervision options for individuals convicted of 19 specific offenses, including repeat DWI-related crimes, sexual assault, trafficking offenses, and drug offenses involving children or drug-free zones. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date. This policy change directly affects repeat offenders who would previously have qualified for probation under community supervision rules. The law does not alter sentencing levels but restricts probation eligibility for these specific repeat intoxication offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

passed · Texas · Senate May 5, 2025

SR 477: In memory of Eliberto Ramiro Cavazos.

SR 477 is a ceremonial Senate resolution commemorating Eliberto Ramiro Cavazos, a Raymondville resident who passed away in December 2023. The resolution honors his life, including his service in the U.S. Air Force and Texas State Guard, his community roles (city commissioner, interim mayor, American Legion vice commander), and his 55-year marriage. It extends the Texas Senate’s sympathy to his family and directs that an official copy be provided to them. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any policies.

Bill results