HB 144 amends Texas law to treat unborn children as legal persons under criminal and civil law from fertilization onward. It redefines "individual" in the Penal Code to include unborn children and adds provisions requiring criminal statutes to apply equally to offenses against unborn children, while excluding unintentional harm from lifesaving medical procedures for the mother or spontaneous miscarriages. The bill repeals existing legal exceptions that permitted "prenatal homicide" and laws that could be interpreted as enabling pressure on pregnant people to obtain abortions. It directly affects medical providers, legal proceedings involving pregnancy-related injuries, and individuals seeking civil remedies for harm to unborn children.
HB 214, the Texas Women's Privacy Act, requires certain facilities like restrooms, locker rooms, and shelters to be designated for use based on biological sex (male or female). It directly affects correctional facilities, family violence shelters, institutions of higher education, and political subdivisions (e.g., cities, school districts). The bill prohibits the use of multiple-occupancy private spaces (like shared restrooms) by individuals whose biological sex differs from the space’s designated sex, while allowing single-occupancy spaces for individual use. Violations may result in civil penalties or private lawsuits for affected individuals.
HB 186 restricts how local governments (like cities, counties, and school districts) can use public funds for lobbying. It prohibits spending public money to hire registered lobbyists or pay nonprofit groups that represent local governments and employ lobbyists. Exceptions include activities by elected officials, employees providing information to legislators, travel expenses for such activities, and services by associations representing sheriffs or law enforcement. The bill allows taxpayers to sue to stop prohibited spending and recover legal fees if they win. This directly affects local government budget decisions regarding legislative advocacy.
HB 239 modifies Texas property tax rules for land affected by animal health quarantines. It allows landowners to request a reappraisal of their property during active Texas Animal Health Commission quarantines (lasting 90+ days) for ticks or screwworms. The bill caps the reassessed value at half the original appraised value or the current market value, whichever is lower, to account for reduced land usability during the quarantine. This directly affects Texas agricultural landowners whose properties are under such quarantine orders, providing temporary tax relief while the quarantine remains in effect.
This bill (HB 240) aims to clarify specific definitions related to the tax exemption for farm products sold by producers. It directly affects agricultural producers who sell farm products, as it would define terms to determine eligibility for exemption from ad valorem (property) taxes on those products. The bill does not describe new tax rates or financial impacts but focuses on standardizing terminology to streamline the existing exemption process. However, the actual bill text is not currently available in the provided context, so specific definitions or mechanisms cannot be detailed. The bill was filed on August 18, 2025, and referred to the Ways & Means committee.
HB 98 would establish a 6.72% state value-added tax (VAT) on businesses selling goods or services in Texas, replacing certain existing local taxes like school district property taxes. Businesses would pay tax only on the "value added" to their products or services - subtracting taxes paid on business inputs from taxes collected on sales. The bill exempts small businesses, government entities, and nonprofits from the tax, while excluding financial services and other specified transactions. This VAT would fund school finance reform by replacing some local school district taxes with a new statewide revenue stream.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that Texas's Attorney General can prosecute election-related criminal offenses alongside local district attorneys. It amends Article IV, Section 22 of the Texas Constitution to explicitly grant the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction with county/district attorneys for enforcing election laws. The amendment does not create new laws but specifies existing prosecutorial authority for election crimes. If approved by voters in the May 2026 election, it would change how election law violations are handled in criminal cases.
HB 19 creates new criminal offenses for real estate theft and fraud, targeting individuals who unlawfully take or defraud others of land or buildings. The bill requires certain real estate documents to be recorded in public records to prevent fraud and create transparent ownership histories. It establishes a statute of limitations for these offenses, mandates restitution for victims, and outlines procedures for prosecution. This bill directly affects property owners, real estate professionals, and law enforcement by introducing new legal tools to address property-related fraud.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to ban most property taxes based on property value (ad valorem taxes) in Texas by 2030. It would prevent cities, counties, and other local governments from imposing these taxes after January 1, 2030, except for a limited exception: they could still use such taxes solely to repay bonds issued before that date. The amendment requires voter approval in a May 2026 election, with the ballot asking voters to approve "the constitutional amendment to abolish ad valorem taxes." This change would directly affect all Texas local governments that currently rely on property taxes for funding.
HB 185 prohibits political subdivisions (like cities, counties, and school districts) from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay nonprofit associations that primarily represent political subdivisions and employ registered lobbyists. The bill specifically bans spending on: (1) hiring individuals required to register as lobbyists under Texas law, or (2) funding nonprofits that hire such lobbyists. Taxpayers or residents can sue to stop prohibited spending and recover attorney fees if they win the case. This directly affects local governments' ability to use taxpayer money for lobbying efforts targeting state legislation.
This bill prohibits cities, counties, and other local governments (political subdivisions) from using public funds to hire registered lobbyists or pay nonprofit organizations that primarily represent local governments and hire lobbyists. It allows local officials to provide information to legislators, testify, or advocate for policy changes without triggering the restriction, and exempts associations representing sheriffs or law enforcement officers. Taxpayers can seek court orders to stop prohibited spending and recover public funds used in violation. The law aims to limit the use of public money for lobbying activities while preserving basic communication with lawmakers.
Texas Senate Bill 6 regulates consumable hemp products (like edibles, vape liquids, and topicals containing hemp-derived cannabinoids such as CBD) by requiring businesses to obtain occupational licenses and registrations. It imposes fees for these licenses, creates criminal penalties for violations, and authorizes administrative fines for noncompliance. The law specifically applies to products intended for human ingestion, absorption, or inhalation, while excluding low-THC cannabis, research activities, and certain food ingredients like hemp seed oil. Businesses manufacturing or selling these products must comply with the new licensing and fee structure under the Health and Safety Code.
