Texas Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1558: Relating to the liability of nonprofit entities contracted with the Department of Family and Protective Services or with a single source continuum contractor to provide community-based care or child welfare services.

SB 1558 limits liability for nonprofit organizations contracted by Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) or single-source continuum contractors providing child welfare services. The bill creates a legal defense if these nonprofits meet specific safety requirements: conducting timely background checks, confirming eligibility to work with children, reporting misconduct, taking disciplinary action for performance issues, and requiring annual child abuse prevention and reporting training for staff. It does not apply to claims involving gross negligence, and nonprofits remain liable for claims authorized under other state or federal laws. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects nonprofits delivering community-based child welfare services in Texas.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SCR 8: Expressing opposition to the creation of a central bank digital currency.

SCR 8 is a Texas Senate Concurrent Resolution expressing the state legislature's opposition to the Federal Reserve's potential creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The resolution cites concerns about privacy risks, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and the potential for increased government surveillance of financial transactions that a CBDC could enable. It does not create new law or directly affect any individuals or entities, as it is solely a statement of legislative position. The resolution was passed by the Texas Senate and House and signed by the governor in June 2025.

Topics ✗ Technology

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1451: Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of stealing or receiving a stolen check or similar sight order.

SB 1451 increases the criminal penalty for stealing or receiving a stolen check or similar sight order from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony under Texas Penal Code Section 32.24(b). This change directly affects individuals convicted of these specific financial crimes, making the offense more severe. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date. It does not alter the definition of the crime but raises the potential punishment for those convicted.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1894: Relating to designating November as Veterans Month.

HB 1894 designates November as "Veterans Month" in Texas to celebrate and honor military veterans' achievements and sacrifices. The bill amends the Government Code to establish November as an official month for recognizing veterans, encouraging state agencies and communities to hold appropriate programs and activities. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects all Texans by creating a formal observance period for veterans' contributions, without changing existing benefits or creating new obligations.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2294: Relating to reimbursement rates for child-care providers participating in the Texas Rising Star Program.

HB 2294 changes how Texas reimburses child-care providers in the Texas Rising Star Program. It allows providers to receive reimbursement at the state's maximum rate based on their program rating level - not their own published rates - provided this doesn't reduce the commission's target for daily children served in subsidized care. The bill directly affects child-care providers participating in the program and the state commission managing subsidy targets. The key provision ensures providers can be paid more fairly without undermining existing daily child care targets. This law took effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1606: Relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission or distribution line.

HB 1606 requires Texas electric utilities to include clear instructions in customer bills about how to request vegetation management near power lines. This applies to all retail electric customers receiving bills from utilities, cooperatives, or municipally owned providers. The bill mandates that utilities periodically provide this information alongside billing statements, detailing the specific procedure for customers to request trimming of trees or plants near transmission or distribution lines. The law aims to improve customer access to information about maintaining safe clearance around power infrastructure. The bill became effective September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4219: Relating to a governmental body's response to a request for public information.

HB 4219 amends Texas' Government Code to clarify how governmental bodies must respond to public information requests. It requires officials to notify requesters in writing within 10 business days if no responsive information exists (Section 1(f)) or if information is withheld based on a prior determination (Section 1(g)), specifying the exact prior decision used. The bill also creates a process for requesters to file complaints with the attorney general if a body fails to respond properly (Section 552.328), which could lead to mandatory open records training for the body and prohibit charging requesters for non-compliant responses. This directly affects all Texas governmental bodies handling public records requests and requesters seeking transparency.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5093: Relating to disclosure under the public information law of certain contact information of a notary public that is maintained by the secretary of state.

HB 5093 modifies Texas public information law to require the secretary of state to disclose a notary public's home address, home phone number, and email address - previously protected under confidentiality rules. This change directly affects notaries appointed under Chapter 406 of the Texas Government Code, making this contact information publicly accessible through the secretary of state's records. The bill amends Section 552.11765 of the Government Code to remove these details from the list of exempt information, overriding prior protections for license holders. The law took effect September 1, 2025, after receiving final approval from the governor on June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4630: Relating to the regulation of artesian water wells by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

HB 4630 amends Texas Water Code sections to clarify regulations for artesian water wells. It removes specific provisions (Sections 11.202(d)(e), 11.203, 11.204, and 11.207) and adds Section 11.2011 to define that the new rules apply only to artesian wells drilled outside groundwater conservation districts or similar regulatory areas. This change simplifies oversight for landowners with such wells in unregulated regions by eliminating overlapping rules. The bill took effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature on June 20, 2025.

Topics ✗ Environment

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 40: Relating to the business court.

HB 40 is a procedural bill that clarifies and streamlines operations for Texas' business court. It requires all business court prefiling orders to apply statewide (Section 1), mandates that appeals from business court cases go directly to the 15th Court of Appeals with a 120-day resolution deadline (Section 2), and specifies how to replace lost business court records (Section 3). The bill also adds business court clerks to authorized personnel for taking depositions (Section 4) and requires specific information in initial pleadings for all business court cases (Section 5). These changes directly affect parties involved in business court litigation and court staff handling business court cases. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 401: Relating to participation by non-enrolled students in University Interscholastic League-sponsored activities.

SB 401 allows Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt policies denying participation in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities to non-enrolled students (e.g., homeschoolers or students attending private schools) who meet eligibility standards. Currently, schools must offer such students the same participation opportunities as enrolled students, but this bill adds that school boards may now choose to decline this participation. It also clarifies that non-enrolled students must prove residency matching their district address for eligibility, and if their eligible district has a "no participation" policy, they may instead join the nearest district without such a policy. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✗ Education

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5646: Relating to admission of and resident tuition rates and fees at public institutions of higher education for certain students in military-related programs.

HB 5646 allows students enrolled in specific military-related programs - such as ROTC, senior military college cadet corps, or midshipmen programs - to pay Texas resident tuition rates at public colleges, regardless of their actual residence. This applies to tuition and fees for the 2025 fall semester and beyond. However, these students cannot use this residency status to qualify for state financial aid programs. The bill became effective immediately on June 20, 2025, after passing both chambers.

Topics ✓ Education