Texas Bills

passed · Texas · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SR 453: In memory of Stanley C. Parker of Waco.

This is a Senate Resolution (SR 453), not a substantive bill. It honors Stanley C. Parker of Waco, who died in September 2024, by expressing the Texas Senate's condolences to his family. The resolution formally commemorates his life, including his work with veterans through the Stan C. Parker Foundation, his community service, and his personal achievements. The Senate adopted it to extend sympathy and adjourn in his memory.

passed · Texas · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SR 464: Recognizing Laura Koerner for her service as mayor pro tem of Fair Oaks Ranch.

This resolution (SR 464) formally recognizes Laura Koerner for her service as mayor pro tem of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas. It honors her 2017-2025 tenure on the city council, her role as mayor pro tem since 2021, and her additional contributions as president of the city's Municipal Development District board. The resolution also acknowledges her background as a U.S. Navy veteran (nuclear engineer, destroyer/aircraft carrier officer), her work with Texas Veterans Commission, and her community leadership roles. The Texas Senate passed the resolution to commend her service and provide her with an official copy as a gesture of respect.

passed · Texas · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SR 450: Recognizing Richard D. Pineda on the occasion of his retirement.

This Senate Resolution (SR 450) honors Dr. Richard D. Pineda upon his retirement from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) after more than 20 years of service. It recognizes his roles as a communication professor, department chair, and director of the Sam Donaldson Center for Communication Studies, along with his academic publications, editorial board work, and community service on the City of El Paso Ethics Review Commission. The resolution formally congratulates him and will provide him with a copy of the resolution as a gesture of the Texas Senate's respect. This is a ceremonial resolution with no policy impact or direct effect on constituents or legislation.

passed · Texas · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 3240: Relating to the establishment of the Texas geothermal energy production policy council.

HB 3240 establishes the Texas Geothermal Energy Production Policy Council within the state commission to study and recommend policies for geothermal energy development. The council, composed of commission leadership, a University of Texas geology director, and up to 11 industry representatives, will analyze geothermal industry growth, tax incentives, and federal partnerships to develop a state oversight plan. It must make legislative recommendations by 2032, when the council expires. This bill directly affects geothermal energy developers and state regulators by creating a structured process for policy development, without imposing new regulations or funding. The council's work is intended to inform future state oversight of geothermal production, transportation, and storage.

Topics ✓ Energy

passed · Texas · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 2249: Relating to the establishment of the Texas Teacher Recruitment Scholarship Program.

HB 2249 establishes the Texas Teacher Recruitment Scholarship Program to support future educators. It provides up to $40,000 in annual scholarships ($10,000 per year for four years) to eligible Texas college students enrolled in teacher preparation programs at public or private Texas institutions. To qualify, students must be nominated by their university, agree to complete teacher certification, graduate within five years, and commit to teaching for four years in a Texas public school or charter school. The program limits new scholarships to 2% of Texas's current teacher workforce annually and allows unused funds to repay student loans if recipients earn degrees early. This directly affects prospective teachers seeking financial support for education and requiring service in Texas schools.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Texas · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 2147: Relating to remotely conducting depositions, hearings, and other proceedings in juvenile cases.

HB 2147 permits juvenile courts in Texas to conduct hearings, depositions, and other proceedings remotely using video or audio technology without requiring party consent (unless required by the U.S. or Texas Constitution). The law requires judges to submit plans to the Office of Court Administration detailing how physical evidence will be handled and ensuring an unobstructed view of remote participants during testimony. This directly affects juvenile courts, legal parties, attorneys, witnesses, and court reporters involved in juvenile cases. The bill amends the Family Code to establish these remote proceeding rules, effective September 1, 2025.

passed · Texas · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 36: Relating to the monitoring of certain family violence offenders, the provision of resources for family violence victims, and the collection of information about conditions of bond imposed in family violence cases and certain other criminal cases.

HB 36, the Sharon Radebaugh Family Violence Protection Act, requires courts to mandate GPS tracking devices for high-risk defendants charged with family violence offenses as a condition of bond. The bill also establishes that defendants may be charged a fee to cover the cost of the GPS monitoring system and requires courts to collect data on bond conditions in family violence and certain other criminal cases. This directly affects defendants facing family violence charges (who may wear GPS devices), victims (who may receive related resources), and courts (which must track bond conditions). The law aims to enhance victim safety through stricter offender monitoring and data collection, without specifying new victim services beyond the data collection requirement.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Texas · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 240: Relating to the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to biological sex; authorizing a civil penalty and a private civil right of action.

SB 240, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, requires public schools, government buildings, and facilities like restrooms, locker rooms, and shelters to designate and restrict access based on biological sex as defined by birth certificate and physical characteristics. It prohibits facilities from allowing individuals to use spaces designated for a biological sex different from their own, with exceptions for young children (under 10), ADA accommodations, or emergency assistance. Violations carry civil penalties of $5,000 for first offenses and $25,000 for repeat violations, and citizens can file complaints with the attorney general after providing 3 days’ notice to the facility. The law directly affects state and local government entities managing public facilities, including schools, shelters, and correctional facilities.

passed · Texas · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1442: Relating to the Internet broadcast or recording of certain open meetings.

HB 1442 requires Texas state agencies with budgets exceeding $10 million and 100+ full-time employees to livestream and archive all public meetings online. Specifically, agencies must broadcast meetings live via video/audio on their websites during the meeting, provide archived recordings within seven days, and maintain them for two years. The bill applies only to executive and legislative branch agencies meeting these financial and staffing thresholds, excluding smaller agencies covered under a separate section. Exemptions exist for catastrophes or technical failures, but agencies must make "reasonable efforts" to provide recordings afterward.

Topics ✓ Technology

passed · Texas · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 420: Relating to the meeting places for the board of directors of certain special districts.

This bill requires certain water districts to hold at least one in-person meeting each quarter at a location within the district or within 10 miles of its boundary. It applies only to districts in counties that border a county with 2.6 million or more residents and contain part of the Cedar Creek Reservoir. Districts may conduct other quarterly meetings via phone or video conference, but meetings discussing tax rates must be held in person. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

passed · Texas · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 2735: Relating to a prohibition on e-cigarette advertising in certain locations.

HB 2735 bans e-cigarette advertising within 1,000 feet of schools or churches in Texas, directly affecting businesses that sell or advertise e-cigarettes. The bill requires new ads to maintain this minimum distance, with an exception for existing signs placed before September 1, 1997 (which only needed to be 500 feet away). It amends the Health and Safety Code to establish this buffer zone, applying to all cigarette, e-cigarette, and tobacco product advertisements. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

passed · Texas · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1718: Relating to the definition of "closing" for purposes of certain private activity bonds.

HB 1718 amends Texas law to clarify the definition of "closing" for private activity bonds, specifically affecting developers and issuers of these bonds. The bill allows "closing" to include delivery of bonds in exchange for at least 10% of the required payment for qualified residential rental project bonds, enabling incremental funding. It also explicitly excludes bond deliveries where proceeds depend on credit enhancement. This change streamlines bond issuance processes for housing projects without altering tax treatment or funding requirements. The bill takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025, if not.

Topics ✓ Housing

Bill results