Texas Bills

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1940: Relating to authorizing a beneficiary designation that transfers a manufactured home classified as personal property at the owner's death.

Texas Senate Bill 1940 (SB 1940) allows owners of manufactured homes classified as personal property under Texas law to designate beneficiaries who automatically inherit the home upon the owner's death. It creates a new legal mechanism (Chapter 116 of the Estates Code) that enables this transfer without requiring a will, court approval, or beneficiary acceptance during the owner's lifetime. The bill specifies that such beneficiary designations are revocable by the owner at any time and override any conflicting provisions in a will. This directly affects owners of manufactured homes treated as personal property, streamlining inheritance for these properties. The law took effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 3047: Relating to the creation of certain municipal management districts; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

SB 3047 creates the Pura Vida Municipal Management District No. 1 in Mustang Ridge, Texas, to promote economic development, tourism, and community infrastructure. The district can issue bonds, impose fees and taxes, and use limited eminent domain authority to fund improvements like pedestrian pathways, landscaping, water systems, and recreational facilities within its defined boundaries. It directly affects property owners and businesses in the district area, supplementing (not replacing) city services. The bill emphasizes the district’s role in enhancing public welfare, safety, and economic vitality while requiring it to serve public interests without acting as an agent for private interests.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 783: Relating to civil liability for online impersonation.

HB 783 creates civil liability for intentional online impersonation in Texas, defining it as using someone's name, voice, signature, photo, or likeness on social media without consent (or with a minor's guardian's consent). It allows affected individuals to sue for actual damages - including counseling or identity theft costs - and minimum $500 punitive damages if the impersonation was done with intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten. The law excludes liability for satire or parody (Sec. 98C.004(b)) and preserves Section 230 protections for social media platforms (Sec. 98C.003). It applies to private individuals, not law enforcement acting in investigations, and became effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 243: Relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities; changing the amount of a civil penalty.

SB 243 increases civil penalties for violations of migrant labor housing regulations by reducing the minimum fine from $200 to $50 per person per day. It directly affects housing facility operators who fail to meet safety standards and qualifying migrant agricultural workers who live in those facilities. The bill adds a new provision allowing workers to sue for fines if they submit a complaint, live in the facility, and are not on an H-2A visa. It also specifies that enforcement actions cannot proceed while other legal processes (like inspections or relocation) are pending for the same facility. The law became effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Housing ✓ Immigration ✗ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 467: Relating to a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of the appraised value of an improvement to a residence homestead that is completely destroyed by a fire.

SB 467 creates a temporary property tax exemption for homeowners whose primary residence improvements (like a kitchen or roof) are completely destroyed by fire. The exemption amount equals the appraised value of the destroyed improvement multiplied by the fraction of the tax year remaining after the fire date (e.g., 100 days left = 100/365 of the value). Homeowners must apply within 180 days of the fire, with verification from fire marshals or insurance adjusters. This exemption applies only to the tax year the fire occurs and reduces property taxes for affected homeowners.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2477: Relating to certain municipal regulation of conversion of certain office buildings to mixed-use and multifamily residential occupancy.

SB 2477 creates new rules for converting office buildings into housing in large Texas cities (those with over 150,000 residents in counties with over 300,000 residents). It defines "mixed-use residential" as requiring at least 65% of a building's square footage to be residential and "multifamily residential" as three or more dwelling units. The law sets requirements for municipal regulations on such conversions but does not override historic preservation rules or short-term rental restrictions. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 75: Relating to the duty of a magistrate to make written findings in certain criminal proceedings.

HB 75 requires magistrates in Texas to provide written findings within 24 hours when they determine no probable cause exists for a criminal arrest. This applies specifically to cases involving offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The law aims to create a clear, documented record of the magistrate's decision in these initial proceedings. It directly affects magistrates handling pretrial detention hearings for criminal defendants.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2529: Relating to the annual state salary supplement for certain county judges.

HB 2529 amends Texas law to change how the state calculates annual salary supplements for certain county judges. It replaces a fixed 18% of a district judge's base salary with a new requirement: county judges must spend at least 18% of their functions or work hours performing judicial duties to qualify for the supplement. This bill directly affects county judges who meet this threshold, ensuring the supplement aligns with their judicial workload. The change applies only to salary payments starting September 1, 2025, with prior payments governed by previous law.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 791: Relating to the issuance of Central Catholic High School specialty license plates.

HB 791 creates specialty license plates for Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, featuring the school's logo on the left and "With Loyal Hearts" on the bottom. Texas drivers who purchase these plates will pay a fee, with administrative costs deducted before the remainder being deposited into the state's general revenue fund. The bill requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to design the plates in consultation with the school and takes effect September 1, 2025. This is a commemorative license plate bill with no direct impact on education funding beyond the revenue generated.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1105: Relating to the exemption of tuition and laboratory fees at public institutions of higher education for certain paramedics.

HB 1105 exempts paramedics employed by Texas cities, counties, or other local governments from tuition and laboratory fees at public colleges when enrolled in emergency medical services courses. This applies only to students maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate, and does not cover security deposits, additional fees for residents, or graduate-level surcharges. The exemption excludes distance education courses where more than 20% of enrollment exceeds the institution's designated limit. The bill, signed into law by the governor on June 20, 2025, became effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3940: Relating to the provision of certain information about Medicaid benefits in relation to newborn children.

HB 3940 requires Medicaid providers (including hospitals and health care facilities) to annually notify staff about using a mother's Medicaid ID for newborn care claims when the infant hasn't been enrolled. It also mandates that hospitals and providers give new mothers a resource pamphlet during prenatal care or delivery, covering postpartum counseling, shaken baby syndrome prevention, childhood immunization schedules, and newborn screening follow-up. The bill directly affects Medicaid-eligible mothers and newborns in Texas, aiming to simplify access to care during the early postpartum period. These requirements take effect on September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 322: Relating to the use of funds awarded under the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program.

HB 322 amends Texas education code to clarify how funds from the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program can be used. It allows grants to cover start-up costs for new career and technical education programs at public junior colleges, technical institutes, state colleges, school districts, and charter schools, including facility construction, equipment, and technology solutions. The bill specifies grants may only support programs preparing students for high-demand jobs (including dual credit), leading to licenses/certificates, or requiring technology infrastructure. These changes apply only to grants awarded on or after September 1, 2025, and became law when signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Bill results