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Texas Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 49,874 Active 2,428 In committee 28,785 Passed 17,440 Signed 5,309 Failed 583

in committee · Texas · House Aug 21, 2025

HB 2: Relating to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, including required training for justices of the peace and responding to mass fatality events; requiring a license; authorizing fees.

HB 2 requires justices of the peace in counties without a medical examiner to complete training on managing mass fatality events within one year of election. The training covers autopsy decisions, body identification protocols, missing persons data collection, interagency coordination, and real-time family notifications. Failure to complete this training is defined as "incompetency" for removal under local government law. The bill also allows the Texas Commission on Fire Protection to access criminal history records for license applicants and employees while restricting disclosure of that information. It authorizes fees related to these requirements.

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 20, 2025

SB 34: Relating to testimony or the production of evidence before a house of the legislature or a legislative committee.

SB 34 amends Texas law to require witnesses to testify or produce evidence before the state legislature or its committees, with limited exceptions. It prohibits witnesses from refusing testimony based on self-incrimination claims, but if they claim such a risk while testifying, their compelled testimony cannot be used against them in criminal cases (except for perjury charges). Witnesses also gain the right to have legal counsel present during testimony. The bill directly affects citizens, experts, and officials summoned to testify before Texas legislative bodies.

in committee · Texas · House Aug 20, 2025

HB 21: Relating to the calculation of the penalty and interest incurred on a delinquent ad valorem tax.

HB 21 modifies Texas property tax penalties and interest rates for late payments. It reduces the initial penalty from 6% to 3% for the first month a payment is late, then 0.5% per month (down from 1%) for each additional month. For taxes delinquent on July 1, the total penalty drops from 12% to 6%. The bill also halves the interest rate to 0.5% per month and applies only to penalties accruing after its effective date.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Texas · House Aug 20, 2025

HB 85: Relating to the vote required in an election to approve an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds a taxing unit's voter-approval tax rate; making conforming changes.

HB 85 changes the voter approval requirement for property tax increases in Texas. It requires a two-thirds majority (instead of a simple majority) of votes cast in an election to approve a tax rate exceeding a taxing unit’s current voter-approved rate. The bill mandates that election notices clearly show three rates: the proposed tax rate, the "no-new-revenue" rate (same as previous year), and the "voter-approval" rate (highest rate without an election). This directly affects cities, school districts, and other local taxing units seeking to raise property taxes beyond their existing approved limit. The change aims to strengthen voter control over significant tax hikes.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Texas · House Aug 20, 2025

HB 119: Relating to emergency preparedness and contingency operations plans, inspections, and enforcement for senior retirement communities.

HB 119 requires senior retirement communities in Texas to create emergency plans for power outages and other non-evacuation emergencies. Specifically, communities must provide a climate-controlled "area of refuge" with at least 15 square feet per resident, maintain temperatures between 68-82°F in these areas, and notify local fire marshals within 12 hours of extended power loss. Annual inspections by fire marshals will verify compliance with these requirements, including secondary power systems, with violations treated as fire code violations. The bill directly affects all senior retirement communities operating under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 786.

in committee · Texas · House Aug 20, 2025

HB 223: Relating to municipal and county financial requirements.

HB 223 sets a spending cap for Texas cities and counties based on inflation and population growth. It limits annual expenditures to either the previous year's total or that amount multiplied by (1 + the sum of the latest inflation rate and population growth rate) as calculated by the Legislative Budget Board. Exceptions allow increased spending if voters approve it in an election or if a disaster declaration by the governor covers related costs. The bill directly affects all Texas municipalities and counties by requiring them to adjust spending plans annually using these specific economic metrics.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Texas · House Aug 20, 2025

HB 219: Relating to the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem taxation.

HB 219 limits annual increases in the appraised value used to calculate property taxes for Texas primary residences (homesteads). It caps yearly increases at either the previous year's market value or a formula based on 10% of last year's value plus last year's value plus new improvements. The bill directly affects homeowners with homestead properties by preventing rapid tax increases tied to rising property values. It would take effect January 1, 2027, but only if voters approve a related constitutional amendment in 2025. If the amendment fails, the bill has no effect.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Texas · House Aug 20, 2025

HB 177: Relating to the calculation of certain ad valorem tax rates of a taxing unit and the manner in which a proposed ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax rate is approved; making conforming changes.

HB 177 affects junior college districts, hospital districts, and other non-school taxing units with maintenance/operations property tax rates of 2.5 cents or less per $100 of taxable value. It temporarily treats "foregone revenue" as zero for these units before 2026, altering how tax rates are calculated to avoid requiring voter approval for certain rate increases. The bill provides specific formulas for determining "no-new-revenue" and "voter-approval" tax rates, including adjustments when new sales tax revenue is generated. These changes expire December 31, 2028.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Texas · House Aug 20, 2025

HB 191: Relating to a preference in state purchasing for certain goods and services used in a disaster area.

HB 191 requires Texas state agencies and the comptroller to give preference to vendors whose main business is located in the same city or county where disaster relief goods and services are needed. This applies to areas declared disaster zones by the governor under Texas law or the federal government under the Stafford Act. The preference lasts from the disaster declaration date until one year after, and only affects contracts where the request for bids is published on or after the bill's effective date. The policy aims to prioritize local businesses in disaster recovery efforts through state purchasing.

in committee · Texas · House Aug 20, 2025

HB 41: Relating to the establishment of a limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that certain taxing units may impose on the residence homesteads of individuals who are disabled or elderly and their surviving spouses.

HB 41 would limit property tax increases for disabled individuals and homeowners aged 65+ in Texas. It caps the total annual property taxes that counties, cities, and junior college districts can impose on qualifying homesteads at the amount paid in the first year the homeowner qualified for the exemption under Section 11.13(c) of the Tax Code. This prevents future tax hikes above that initial amount, even if property values rise. The bill directly affects disabled homeowners, elderly residents (65+), and their surviving spouses who own their primary residence. It modifies existing tax code provisions to establish this permanent tax freeze for eligible homeowners.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Texas · House Aug 20, 2025

HJR 15: Proposing a constitutional amendment to exempt from ad valorem taxation the total market value of the residence homesteads of certain elderly persons and their surviving spouses.

HJR 15 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt the full market value of primary homes from property taxes for Texans aged 72 or older who have held this exemption for at least 10 consecutive years. Surviving spouses aged 55 or older who were living in the home when their spouse died and continued to reside there would also qualify for the exemption. The amendment requires voter approval in a May 2026 election and would take effect January 1, 2027, if approved. It includes a temporary provision to protect school districts from revenue loss during implementation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Texas · House Aug 20, 2025

HB 216: Relating to the provision of an abortion-inducing drug.

This bill requires physicians to be physically present in Texas during an in-person examination when providing abortion-inducing drugs to patients. It directly affects physicians who prescribe these drugs within Texas, prohibiting remote or telemedicine provision. The key mechanism mandates that a physician must be in the state and examine the patient at the time of drug administration, as specified in amended Health and Safety Code Section 171.063(b). Exceptions for out-of-state consultations (e.g., for non-abortion medical services) do not apply to abortion-inducing drugs, as clarified in amended Occupations Code Section 151.056(b-1).

Topics ✗ Healthcare