SB 2626 requires physicians and nurses in Texas who treat pregnant women to complete annual continuing education on specific pregnancy-related conditions. The law mandates at least one hour of approved training every eight years covering ectopic pregnancies (defined as implantation outside the uterus or in nonviable locations), pregnancy-related medical emergencies, and cases involving a dead unborn child from spontaneous abortion. The training must include standards of care, emergency response protocols, definitions of "abortion" and "medical emergency" per existing law, and communication strategies for patient discussions. This applies to licensed physicians renewing registration permits and nurses under board-approved competency programs, directly affecting healthcare providers treating pregnant patients in Texas.
SB 1325 allows Texas public and private schools to contract with vendors for epinephrine auto-injectors (for respiratory distress) and training for school staff and volunteers. The bill creates a statewide standing order so schools don’t need individual patient-specific doctor orders to administer the medication during emergencies. It directly affects school districts, charter schools, and private schools by enabling them to secure medication and training through vendor contracts. Key provisions require schools to provide this training to authorized personnel and ensure the medication is available without requiring a prior physician-patient relationship. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, unless approved for immediate effect by a two-thirds vote.
SB 604 requires the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation to post quarterly on its website a list of school districts with bonds guaranteed by the fund that have received speculative (downgraded) ratings. It directly affects school districts and charter districts that issued such bonds, as their names and outstanding bond balances must be publicly disclosed. The bill mandates that the list include the district name and the bond's outstanding balance, with the first posting due by December 1, 2025. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, increasing transparency around the financial status of these school bonds.
SB 668 requires large companies using artificial intelligence to provide services to Texas residents (with at least $100 billion in annual revenue) to publicly disclose specific details about their AI systems. It mandates that these companies list each AI model they use, describe its purpose, identify third parties who contributed to the model, detail their input, and disclose any changes made based on that input. The law prohibits retaliation against individuals who report violations to the Texas Attorney General and gives the AG authority to enforce compliance as a deceptive trade practice. This bill applies only to major corporations offering AI services like loan decisions, hiring, or content generation to Texas residents, not to smaller businesses or general AI use. It takes effect September 1, 2025.
SB 1717 requires Texas state agencies and lawmakers to use "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico" in all new statutes, resolutions, agency rules, and official publications. It amends multiple state codes (including Government, Agriculture, and Civil Practice codes) to replace the current terminology with the new phrase in all future legal references. This is a purely procedural change affecting only new state documents, not existing laws or geographic boundaries. The bill does not alter any physical geography or policy, only the language used in official state materials.
SCR 42 is a non-binding Senate Concurrent Resolution passed by the Texas Senate in April 2025. It declares the state's policy to "recognize two sexes, male and female," stating that biological sex is "immutable and innate." The resolution does not create new laws or change existing policies but affirms this position in state communications and actions. It specifically references concerns about "men entering spaces designed for women," though the resolution itself has no legal effect on access to facilities or protections.
This bill (SB 2161) allows certain ratepayers to recover legal costs if they successfully challenge water or sewer rates set by a municipally owned utility. Specifically, it applies to customers living outside a municipality's corporate limits who hire an attorney and win an appeal proving the rate increase was unjustified. If the utility commission finds the rate hike lacked factual or legal basis, the successful ratepayer may recover reasonable attorney fees, expert witness costs, and other expenses incurred during the appeal. The law applies only to appeals filed on or after September 1, 2025, and does not change how pre-existing appeals are handled.
This Senate Resolution (SR 459) is a symbolic gesture honoring Vietnam War veterans, not a law affecting policies or rights. It commends veterans who served during the Vietnam War on their sacrifices, specifically marking the 50th anniversary of the war's end (April 30, 1975). The resolution directs the Texas Senate to send a copy to Haltom City as a tribute, recognizing the contributions of over 3.4 million U.S. service members and 3,416 Texas veterans who served. It does not change laws or provide benefits; it solely expresses respect and remembrance.
SB 1138 requires law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services in municipalities located within counties of over 300,000 people to develop response policies for emergencies at group homes. These policies must apply regardless of whether the group home holds a license, and must account for the specific nature of group home settings. The bill applies only to large counties and municipalities as defined in the legislation. The policy changes would take effect September 1, 2025.
SB 2323 prevents the disclosure of a railroad operator's driver's license details in collision or violation reports and stops their involvement from being recorded in their Texas Department of Public Safety driving record. The bill directly affects railroad locomotive or train operators involved in collisions with other trains, vehicles, or pedestrians, or arrested for operating violations. Key provisions prohibit including license numbers in reports and restrict sharing personally identifying information - like crew details or communications - with anyone except law enforcement, the railroad company involved, oversight agencies, or court-authorized individuals. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and aims to limit privacy exposure for railroad personnel in these incidents.
SB 1868 establishes new regulations for kratom products in Texas. It requires kratom processors and retailers to test products for contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides before sale and to label them with clear use instructions and serving sizes. The bill also increases civil penalties for noncompliance and creates new criminal offenses related to kratom violations. These rules directly affect businesses that manufacture, distribute, or sell kratom products within the state.
This bill changes Texas property tax law to automatically grant an exemption for burial property without requiring an owner's application under specific conditions. It requires property tax offices to grant the exemption if they know a property is used for burial (via reasonable inspection), no application was filed, and the property owner cannot be identified. The law directly affects unmarked burial sites, cemeteries with unknown owners, or abandoned burial grounds that currently face tax bills due to lack of owner contact. The exemption applies only to tax years starting January 1, 2026, and does not change existing requirements for properties with identifiable owners.
