HB 3062 requires public Texas institutions of higher education to provide research-based fentanyl prevention and drug poisoning awareness education to all entering undergraduate students during their first semester. The curriculum must cover suicide prevention, fentanyl abuse prevention, local resource access, and substance use education for young adults. Institutions may deliver this instruction online or through approved partners like libraries, health agencies, or mental health organizations. The requirement applies to students enrolling for the 2026 fall semester and became effective immediately after the governor signed it on June 20, 2025.
HCR 148 designates Bridge City as Texas' official "Corn Dog Capital" for a 10-year period ending in 2035. This symbolic resolution recognizes Bridge City's local corn dog culture, including its food vendors, festivals, and community events centered around the snack. The designation, established under Texas Government Code Section 391.003(e), has no regulatory or financial impact but formally honors the city's culinary identity. As a procedural resolution (not a law), it does not create new policies or affect state funding.
HB 5247 creates an alternative process for specific Texas electric utilities (those operating solely within ERCOT and identified for Permian Basin transmission construction) to adjust rates for capital investments. It allows these utilities to file a single annual rate adjustment instead of multiple adjustments when their capital spending exceeds 300% of annual depreciation in a year. The bill requires 60 days' notice to the commission, evidence of ongoing eligibility, and permits deferring costs (including depreciation) at the utility’s weighted average cost of capital. This directly affects utilities building Permian Basin transmission infrastructure, changing how they recover capital costs through rate filings.
This bill clarifies how television and radio broadcasters calculate costs they can deduct from franchise tax. It specifies that broadcasters may include expenses like broadcast rights, depreciation, production costs, and other direct costs related to their programming. The change applies specifically to entities operating under FCC licenses for TV/radio broadcasting, as defined in federal regulations. (This is a clarification of existing tax law, not a new policy change.)
This bill bars community supervision for individuals convicted of stalking by adding it to a list of offenses where such supervision is unavailable. It specifically targets convictions under Penal Code Section 42.072 (stalking) and explicitly excludes it from eligibility under Article 42A.053 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. As a result, judges must impose prison sentences instead of community supervision for stalking convictions, aligning it with other serious offenses like aggravated sexual assault. The law became effective September 1, 2025.
SB 2137 prohibits Texas housing authorities from requiring or considering public school quality ratings (like test scores or ratings) when allocating low-income housing tax credits. This directly affects developers applying for these credits, as it stops them from being penalized or favored based on the quality of nearby public schools. The law requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to study the policy's impact and report findings by November 1, 2027, and expires September 1, 2027. It applies only to applications submitted under the 2026 or 2027 allocation cycles and takes effect September 1, 2025.
HB 2713 allows municipalities with fewer than 50,000 residents to repeal their civil service systems for firefighters and police officers through a voter-approved process. If 10% of qualified voters sign a petition, the city must hold an election; a majority vote to repeal voids the civil service chapter in that municipality. The bill applies only to petitions where elections haven't been ordered before its effective date (June 20, 2025). This changes how small cities can manage hiring and promotion rules for public safety staff, shifting authority to local voters.
HB 694 requires the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to notify specific individuals about significant events involving children in their conservatorship. It mandates DFPS to provide a 24-hour notice to parents and their attorneys about medical changes, initial psychotropic medications, or placement changes, and a 48-hour notice before moving a child to a new residential facility. The bill also requires prompt notification (within 48 hours) of significant events to parents, attorneys, foster parents, volunteer advocates, and other designated individuals with a legal interest in the child’s welfare. This law directly affects parents, foster caregivers, child welfare advocates, and DFPS staff by establishing clear timing and recipients for critical notifications. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.
SB 1352 adjusts deadlines and penalties for property tax exemptions related to "freeport goods" (imported goods intended for re-export). It requires chief appraisers to extend exemption application deadlines to May 15 if property filing deadlines are extended to that date, with possible additional 60-day extensions for good cause. For approved applications, penalties are capped at 10% of either the tax difference or the actual tax amount owed. This bill directly affects property owners seeking tax exemptions for freeport goods under Texas Tax Code Section 11.251, applying only to applications filed on or after September 1, 2025.
This bill updates Texas laws governing the licensing and regulation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. It requires the state commission to create rules for hearing instrument sales, including contract requirements, record-keeping standards, and a 30-day trial period with plain language explanations for consumers. The legislation also modifies provisional licensing procedures for out-of-state professionals by allowing them to waive the sponsorship requirement if the department determines it would cause hardship. These changes aim to clarify consumer protections and streamline licensing processes for qualified professionals.
HCR 149 is a concurrent resolution directing the Texas governor to posthumously award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to U.S. Navy SEAL Nathan Gage Ingram. The bill specifically recognizes Ingram, a Roanoke native and member of SEAL Team 3, for his heroic actions during a 2024 military operation in Somalia where he lost his life attempting to rescue a fellow SEAL. This resolution does not create new law or affect policy - it formally requests the governor to bestow the state's highest military honor on Ingram in recognition of his "valiant military service" and sacrifice. The resolution was signed by the governor on June 20, 2025, following passage by the Texas Legislature.
SB 2321 allows the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to temporarily waive enforcement of emissions limits for power plants and backup generators in the ERCOT grid region during declared grid reliability emergencies. When the ERCOT grid operator notifies TCEQ of a reliability issue, TCEQ must exempt these facilities from emissions rules for the duration of the event. Power plant operators must still document emissions exceedances, take reasonable steps to minimize pollution, and submit records to TCEQ. This bill directly affects power plant operators in Texas during grid stress events, providing a temporary exemption from emissions enforcement while requiring transparency and recordkeeping. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.
