Texas Bills

HB 194 requires municipalities and counties that experienced a declared flood disaster in the past decade to install two types of flood safety signage in high-risk areas. Specifically, it mandates signs in public gathering spots within 100-year floodplains (areas with a 1% annual flood risk) and signs indicating safe evacuation routes outside these flood zones. The law applies only to jurisdictions meeting the disaster declaration criteria and uses FEMA or USDA flood maps to define affected areas. It takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends, aiming to improve public awareness during flood events.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to ban ad valorem taxes (property taxes) in Texas after January 1, 2031. It would prevent cities, counties, and other local governments from levying these taxes on real or personal property starting in 2031. The amendment also requires the state to guarantee repayment of school district bonds issued before November 4, 2025, that were secured by pre-2031 property taxes. The proposed amendment must be approved by voters in the November 4, 2025, election.

HB 222 uses surplus state revenue to reduce property tax rates for Texas school districts. It directs 90% of excess general revenue (over 104% of the previous biennium) into a property tax relief fund, which the state comptroller must allocate to lower the "state compression percentage" in school funding formulas. If this percentage reaches zero, school districts cannot impose tier one maintenance and operations property taxes and receive full state funding as if they had the maximum allowable tax rate. The bill directly affects all Texas public school districts and takes effect for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.

HB 234 requires toll project operators in Texas to stop collecting tolls on designated toll roads when an evacuation order under Section 418.108 of the Government Code is active for that area. This applies directly to toll road operators and drivers traveling through evacuation zones during emergencies. The bill mandates automatic toll suspension during the entire duration of an active evacuation order, ensuring no tolls are charged for use of affected toll projects. It does not change existing evacuation protocols but removes financial barriers for those leaving hazardous areas.

HB 250 increases property tax exemptions for disabled veterans in Texas. It provides tiered exemptions based on disability rating: 20% to 100% of a property's assessed value (capped at $5,000 to $12,000 depending on the rating). Veterans over 65 with a 10%+ disability, those who are totally blind, or those who lost a limb also qualify for an 80% exemption ($12,000 cap). Surviving spouses retain the veteran's exemption amount as long as they remain unmarried, and children under 18 who are unmarried may also receive the exemption if the spouse predeceased the veteran. The bill directly affects disabled veterans, their surviving spouses, and eligible children.

This bill exempts certain small dams and reservoirs from needing a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). It applies specifically to dams operated by "qualified local sponsors" (local districts with USDA watershed agreements) for erosion, floodwater, and sediment control, with a maximum storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. The exemption allows these sponsors to construct, maintain, or divert water for repairs without a TCEQ permit, as long as the project continues serving its intended purpose. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must adopt implementing rules by April 1, 2026.

HB 182 requires flood-prone counties in Texas to join the National Weather Service's StormReady program within two years of a declared storm or flood disaster affecting the county. A "flood-prone county" is defined as one with a recent disaster declaration under state or federal law within the last 10 years. Counties must complete the program by the second anniversary of such a disaster and renew their StormReady status every four years. This bill establishes a new requirement under the Local Government Code to improve local flood preparedness.

HB 184 modifies Texas property tax rules to limit annual increases in the appraised value of homestead properties (primary residences qualifying for tax exemptions). It raises the annual cap on value increases from 5% to 10% of the prior year's appraised value, plus the cost of new improvements. This change directly affects Texas homeowners who claim homestead exemptions, preventing sudden large tax hikes when property values rise rapidly. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to properties owned as of January 1 of the tax year.

HB 232 establishes a Texas state disaster recovery fund to provide financial assistance when federal disaster aid falls short. The fund, administered by the state division, is financed through state appropriations, federal grants, donations, and interest earnings. It directly helps Texas residents (or those covering their recovery costs) who suffer property damage, medical expenses, temporary housing needs, or lost wages after qualifying weather events like floods or hurricanes. Compensation requires a claim submitted within two years of the disaster, with funds used strictly for eligible recovery expenses as defined in the bill.

This proposed constitutional amendment would authorize Texas to create property tax exemptions for the homes of partially disabled veterans. It would allow the legislature to exempt a percentage of a home's value equal to the veteran's disability rating (10-99%), such as a 30% exemption for a veteran with a 30% disability rating. Surviving spouses would continue to qualify under existing rules for veterans' exemptions. The amendment requires voter approval before any tax changes can take effect.

HB 176 repeals specific provisions in Texas tax law related to property tax calculations. It removes the "unused increment rate" from formulas used to determine voter-approval tax rates for most local taxing units (excluding special taxing units). This change simplifies how local governments calculate the tax rate needed for voter approval when property values change or new taxes are imposed. The bill directly affects county and city governments that levy property taxes and must follow these tax rate calculation rules. The key change is eliminating a specific calculation component ("unused increment rate") from the existing formulas.

HB 83 repeals additional property taxes that landowners previously faced when changing the use of certain land enrolled in Texas' open-space and timber land tax programs. The bill removes penalties for shifting land from agricultural or conservation use to other purposes under these special tax programs. Landowners participating in these programs will no longer owe extra taxes if they change how they use their property. This simplifies tax compliance for qualifying landowners by eliminating the penalty trigger. The bill directly affects landowners enrolled in Texas' open-space and timber land tax programs.