HB 164 establishes the Texas Flood Recovery, Reimbursement, and Reconstruction Program to assist residents affected by the July 2025 Hill Country floods. It authorizes reimbursement for property damage and provides incentives for rebuilding above flood levels or in safer locations to reduce future risks and taxpayer costs. The Texas Division of Emergency Management must verify insurance claim denials within 15 business days and approve/reject applications within 30 days, while annually auditing 15% of program awards. The program expires September 1, 2035, unless renewed by the legislature.
HB 75 amends Texas Health and Safety Code to require youth camps in flood-prone areas to meet specific building standards. It directly affects youth camps located within or near 100-year floodplains (areas prone to major flooding) by mandating minimum building standards to prevent flood damage to structures. The bill requires the executive commissioner to establish rules ensuring camp buildings are designed and maintained to minimize flooding risks. This is a concrete policy change focused on physical safety infrastructure, not broader camp operations or general flood management.
HB 68 requires the Texas Water Development Board to study the costs of building flood infrastructure across Texas. The study must map areas with high development costs (high-cost drainage zones), analyze factors like soil conditions, permits, and materials, and create a cost "heat map" showing regional variations. It will also evaluate flood protection options (like drainage systems and natural restoration) and project future costs using NOAA weather data. The findings, due by December 2026, will help communities and local governments in high-cost areas plan and secure funding for flood infrastructure.
HB 117 would allow Texas counties to regulate impervious surfaces (like concrete or pavement) in unincorporated areas to address flood risks. It specifically permits counties to set rules for reducing flood danger, supporting flood infrastructure projects, improving drainage, or using natural solutions like rain gardens. This applies only to rural areas outside city limits, not incorporated municipalities. The bill does not create new taxes or fees but gives counties a legal basis to manage land use for water-related safety.
HB 171 requires owners or operators of commercial campgrounds located near flood-prone water to provide written flood risk notices to campers (or parents/guardians for minors) before access, and obtain a signed acknowledgment of receipt. The bill directly affects campground operators in flood-risk areas, mandating these notices for cabins, RV sites, or tent spaces used for temporary stays. Non-compliance results in a $1,000 civil penalty per violation, with the state able to collect penalties through legal action. The bill is currently pending in committee and has not yet taken effect.
HB 123 requires youth camp operators in Texas to meet new health and safety standards established by the state health department. It directly affects camp operators by mandating specific provisions, including adequate supervision, staff qualifications, sanitation, medical services, and flood/fire safety measures. Key new requirements include prohibiting overnight camps in flood plains, requiring flotation devices near water, maintaining weather-alert radios, and installing emergency warning systems that integrate with weather services and local emergency networks. The bill aims to standardize safety protocols for all youth camps operating under state licensing.
HB 46 sets a spending cap for Texas counties, cities, school districts, and other local governments authorized to levy property taxes or issue bonds. It limits annual expenditures to either the previous year's total spending or that amount adjusted for population growth and inflation. Local governments must calculate this annual adjustment using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and post it online by January 31. Exceptions allow exceeding the cap if two-thirds of voters approve additional spending in a special election.
This bill establishes spending limits for Texas cities and counties. It requires local governments to keep annual spending within the greater of last year's total spending or last year's spending adjusted for inflation and population growth (calculated by the Legislative Budget Board). Exceptions allow exceeding the limit if voters approve it via election or during a state-declared disaster. The bill directly affects all Texas municipalities and counties by modifying their financial planning requirements.
HB 193 would require Texas groundwater conservation districts to limit new water permits so that total groundwater use (including unpermitted "exempt" use) does not exceed the scientifically modeled available groundwater volume. It directly affects districts issuing permits and individuals/businesses seeking to pump groundwater. The key provision amends the Water Code to mandate districts consider all water use together when setting permit limits, preventing permits from hindering long-term water sustainability goals. The bill is currently pending in the Natural Resources Committee after being filed on August 18, 2025.
HB 40 allows sheriffs and constables in Texas counties with 3.3 million or more residents to contract directly with local residents, businesses, property owners' associations, or landowners to provide law enforcement services. The bill specifies these contracts must cover areas owned or managed by the contracting party and serve residents or visitors in that specific location. It prohibits county commissioners courts from blocking such agreements or dictating contract terms, giving sheriffs and constables sole authority to negotiate and finalize these arrangements. This bill applies only to large-county law enforcement entities and does not change existing county budgeting or service requirements.
HB 24 limits groundwater conservation districts in Texas from issuing permits that would allow an applicant to withdraw and transfer out more than 5% of the district's estimated sustainable groundwater supply. It directly affects groundwater conservation districts and applicants seeking new permits for groundwater production and transfer. The bill requires districts to calculate this 5% cap based on "modeled available groundwater" determined by the district's executive administrator. This rule applies only to permits issued on or after the bill's effective date, which is 91 days after the legislative session ends.
HB 5 allocates $324 million in supplemental funds from Texas' economic stabilization fund for disaster relief and preparedness. It provides $200 million to match federal disaster aid and support state disaster funds, $50 million for flood warning systems and equipment in 27 counties affected by a July 2025 flood declaration, and $24 million to improve weather forecasting and flood management in the Texas Hill Country. An additional $50 million is contingent on passing related legislation about emergency communication systems. The bill directly affects local governments in designated counties and state agencies managing disaster response.
