Texas Bills

passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 421: Relating to the creation of certain explicit deep fake material; providing a private cause of action.

HB 421 creates new rules for deep fake generators (websites/apps that let users create AI-generated images/videos). It requires age verification before making explicit deep fakes (depicting real people in sexual or intimate acts), bans creation for anyone under 18, and mandates written consent from people 18+ depicted. Victims or their guardians can sue generators for damages, including mental anguish, attorney fees, and punitive damages. The law directly affects deep fake platforms and individuals whose images are used without consent, particularly minors and those targeted with non-consensual explicit content. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Technology

passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 2152: Relating to a reliability plan for electric transmission service in the Permian Basin.

HB 2152 requires Texas' Public Utility Commission to direct the independent organization managing ERCOT's power region to develop and update a reliability plan specifically for the Permian Basin electric transmission system every five years. This plan aims to ensure stable electricity supply in the Permian Basin, a major oil and gas production area. The bill amends existing law to mandate this targeted planning process, replacing a previous requirement (repealed in Section 2). It directly affects the Commission, the ERCOT-independent organization, and electric service providers operating in the Permian Basin region. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 3511: Relating to the participation of electric vehicles in the ERCOT market.

HB 3511 allows electric vehicle owners in Texas to connect their vehicles to the power grid and sell stored electricity back to the grid, earning credits for supplying power during peak times. It requires the Texas Utility Commission to establish safety and technical standards based on existing industry codes (like UL and NEC) and create a program enabling EVs to participate in grid services through utilities. This directly affects EV owners, electric utilities, and ERCOT market operators by integrating vehicles as grid assets. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 552: Relating to a study by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to determine standards for the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of certain agricultural land used to raise or keep bees.

HB 552 requires the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to study how to fairly appraise land used for beekeeping for property tax purposes. The study will examine regional differences in pollination, bee colony numbers, and the value of honey or other bee-produced products. This research, due by August 2026, will help determine future tax appraisal standards for beekeeping operations across Texas, directly affecting landowners who raise or keep bees.

passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1232: Relating to the reporting of violations of law under the whistleblower protection laws.

HB 1232 amends Texas Government Code Section 554.002 to strengthen whistleblower protections for public employees. It explicitly prohibits state or local governments from taking adverse actions (like termination or suspension) against employees who in good faith report violations of law to law enforcement authorities - whether the violation involves their own employer, another public employee, or an elected official. The bill directly affects public employees in Texas state and local government who report suspected legal violations. It takes effect on September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 3163: Relating to the county in which an application for court-ordered mental health services must be filed.

HB 3163 amends Texas law to specify the counties where applications for court-ordered mental health services must be filed. It requires applications to be submitted to the county clerk in the county where the proposed patient: (1) resides, (2) is located when filed, (3) was apprehended under Chapter 573, or (4) is already receiving court-ordered services. This change directly affects individuals seeking mental health court orders and county clerks processing these applications. The law applies only to applications filed on or after September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 4041: Relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas to impose an administrative penalty on a propane distribution system retailer.

HB 4041 requires propane distribution system retailers in Texas to post financial surety (like a bond or letter of credit) with the Railroad Commission of Texas. The surety amount must equal either $3 multiplied by the retailer’s total propane storage capacity or $50,000, whichever is lower. Retailers who fail to comply face administrative penalties of up to $1,000 per violation per day, with a maximum $10,000 cap for related violations. Penalties are determined considering the retailer’s violation history, the seriousness of the violation, and public safety risks, and the Commission must provide a hearing opportunity before imposing fines. This bill directly affects propane retailers operating in Texas.

passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1675: Relating to the interment of certain cremated animal remains with human remains in perpetual care cemeteries and the eligibility of those cemeteries for an exemption from ad valorem taxation.

HB 1675, known as "Mona's Law," allows perpetual care cemeteries in Texas to inter cremated remains of companion pets with human remains in specific ways. The bill permits pet remains to be buried in the same casket during human interment, placed in a separate adjacent grave, or stored in a columbarium beside human remains, while requiring cemeteries to include pet information on memorials. It defines "pet" as a domestic companion animal (excluding livestock) and prohibits euthanizing pets solely for burial with humans. The law applies to all perpetual care cemeteries in Texas and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1136: Relating to a study conducted by the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities regarding parking for certain individuals with disabilities.

HB 1136 mandates the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to conduct a study on parking needs for individuals with disabilities, including disabled veterans and those with mobility impairments who qualify for special parking permits under state law. The study will compile data on the current and projected population eligible for these permits, review existing parking laws and enforcement, and gather local citation data on parking violations. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles must submit a report by December 1, 2026, to state leaders with findings on current parking allocation efficiency and recommendations for future needs. This bill does not change existing parking laws but requires data-driven analysis to inform potential future policy.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1695: Relating to the relocation, adjustment, and ownership of commercial signs.

HB 1695 allows owners of commercial signs to relocate their signs when construction, infrastructure projects, or obstructions (like vegetation or directional signs) make them non-compliant with current rules. It requires municipalities to permit relocations through special exceptions to local ordinances and specifies that sign owners must cover all relocation costs without compensation. The bill also clarifies that owners retain rights to signs lawfully erected before current regulations were adopted, even if those signs no longer meet current standards. This applies to commercial sign owners and local governments managing sign regulations across Texas. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 366: Relating to required disclosures on certain political advertising that contains altered media; creating a criminal offense.

HB 366 requires political advertisements containing altered media - such as fake videos, audio, or images of candidates created using generative AI - to include a clear disclosure stating the content did not occur in reality. It directly affects political campaigns, advertisers, and groups running election-related ads. The bill mandates that the Texas Election Commission set the format for these disclosures (including font and size), and violations are punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

passed · Texas · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SR 455: In memory of William "Bud" D. Howell of Lubbock.

This is a commemorative resolution (SR 455) passed by the Texas Senate to honor William "Bud" D. Howell of Lubbock, who died on November 4, 2023, at age 94. The resolution recognizes his life, including his service in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, his 30+ years as a Texas game warden, and his family. It extends condolences to his wife, stepdaughter, sister, and other relatives. As a symbolic tribute, it does not create new laws or affect policy. The Senate adopted the resolution on April 29, 2025.

Bill results