HB 139 updates how Texas local taxing units (like cities, counties, and school districts) calculate two key property tax rates when seeking to raise taxes beyond previous voter-approved limits. It modifies formulas for the "no-new-revenue tax rate" (which maintains current revenue levels) and the "voter-approval tax rate" (the threshold requiring voter approval for increases), adding specific multipliers (1.08 for special units, 1.035 for others) and accounting for revenue from new sales taxes. The bill directly affects local governments that collect property taxes, clarifying how they must compute these rates when adjusting tax levies. This is a technical adjustment to tax calculation procedures, not a new policy change.
This bill requires Texas' Department of State Health Services to conduct a study on establishing scientific standards for measuring THC intoxication. The study will evaluate current and emerging testing methods, assess whether to create a THC threshold comparable to blood alcohol content limits for legal cases (including criminal charges under Chapter 49 of the Penal Code and workplace safety rules), and develop legislative recommendations. The department must submit a final report with findings by October 1, 2026, and the study requirement expires December 1, 2026. The bill does not create new standards but sets a process for evaluating them.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit property taxes on primary homes for disabled or elderly Texans. It would prevent local governments (counties, cities, or school districts) from raising taxes on homesteads owned by people aged 65+ or disabled residents, and their surviving spouses aged 55+ after the owner’s death. The tax limit would transfer if the homeowner moves within the same taxing district, and local governments could hold elections (with 5% voter petition) to adopt this rule. Currently referred to the Ways & Means committee, this amendment would require voter approval to take effect.
HB 47 allows property owners in Texas to seek a court order (injunction) to stop a local government from collecting property taxes if the government: (1) sets a tax rate higher than what voters approved, and (2) later makes a significant change to how those taxes will be used. It defines "material deviation" as major shifts like increasing costs by over 33%, reducing the project's scope, or changing the tax purpose without justification. Property owners can file a lawsuit within 15 days of the tax rate adoption, and if they win, they won't have to pay the taxes during the case, will get refunds for any taxes paid, and may recover legal fees. This bill directly affects property owners and local taxing units (like cities or school districts) that exceed voter-approved tax rates and alter the intended use of the funds.
HB 224 requires Texas youth camp operators to create and maintain written emergency plans covering specific scenarios like natural disasters, lost campers, fires, medical emergencies, and location-specific risks. Camps must coordinate annually with local authorities, establish parent notification procedures during emergencies, and submit plans for state approval. Plans must be updated yearly and revised within 90 days if rejected by the state department. This directly affects all youth camps operating in Texas by imposing new documentation and coordination requirements.
The provided context does not include the actual text or details of HB 247. While the bill title mentions an "instructionally supportive assessment program" for public schools, no specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties are described in the available information. The bill was filed on August 19, 2025, and referred to the Public Education committee, but no substantive content is accessible. Without the bill text or summary details, a factual summary cannot be generated.
HB 249, titled "Relating to a limitation on increases in the appraised value of real property for ad valorem tax purposes," aims to restrict how much a property's taxable value can increase annually for local tax assessments. The bill would directly affect property owners by potentially limiting annual tax increases tied to rising property appraisals. However, the full text of the bill is currently unavailable (noted as "coming soon" with only a PDF placeholder), and no specific mechanisms, thresholds, or affected property types are described in the provided context. Without access to the bill's actual provisions, a detailed summary of its policy changes cannot be provided.
HB 101 requires local governments (excluding school districts) to obtain voter approval within 30 days for temporary tax rate increases implemented under disaster declarations. Specifically, it applies to tax hikes adopted between May 28, 2025, and December 31, 2025, under Texas Tax Code Section 26.042(c-1). If voters do not approve the increase within 30 days, the tax rate automatically reverts to its pre-disaster level. The bill mandates that any required election follow standard procedures outlined in Chapter 26 of the Tax Code. This applies only to non-school district taxing units using disaster-related tax rate calculations during the specified period.
HB 108 gives Texas counties the authority to establish drainage utilities for unincorporated areas, impose impact fees on new development to fund flood control improvements, and adopt land use regulations to manage flood risks. Counties can set rules like limits on impervious surfaces, lot sizes, and landscaping standards, but these must directly relate to flood management and cannot override municipal ordinances. The bill specifically applies to counties with populations of 3.3 million or more, or those bordering such counties, for impact fee authority. It also clarifies that county drainage systems must serve areas contributing to local watersheds while excluding municipal extraterritorial jurisdictions.
HB 159 prohibits using results from certain state-mandated student assessments as the sole factor in teacher evaluations or pay decisions. It also allows Texas school districts to adopt or develop "adaptive, growth-based" assessments - measuring individual student progress over time and adjusting difficulty during testing - for interim testing, provided a federal waiver is secured. These alternative assessments must be administered statewide as interim tests, with results combined into a single score per student. The bill directly affects public school students (through assessment methods), teachers (in evaluation processes), and school districts (in testing administration).
HB 165 requires electric utilities serving first-tier coastal counties or high-flood-risk areas to create and submit detailed vegetation management plans for their power lines and rights-of-way. These plans must outline trimming schedules, miles of infrastructure to be maintained, and annual costs, and must be approved by the Public Utility Commission within 180 days. The bill also establishes a new cost recovery mechanism allowing utilities to seek reimbursement for approved vegetation management expenses through a dedicated rate factor, separate from standard base rates. This directly affects utilities operating in vulnerable coastal or flood-prone regions, aiming to improve grid resilience after disasters by standardizing vegetation management practices.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Texas legislature to set lower limits on the appraised value used for property taxes on both primary homes (residence homesteads) and other real property. Currently, homesteads have a 102.5% limit and other property has a 108% limit; this amendment would let the legislature establish lower percentages for both. If approved by voters in 2026, it would also make the 108% limit for non-homestead property permanent. The change would directly affect homeowners and property owners by potentially reducing their taxable value for local property tax calculations.
