Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 685: Relating to rates established by municipalities for water or sewer service for certain entities.

HB 685 prohibits Texas municipalities from charging higher water or sewer rates to tax-exempt entities (like nonprofits, schools, or government facilities) compared to similar non-exempt entities receiving the same service. It requires equal rate structures for comparable utility service regardless of an entity's tax-exempt status. The law, effective September 1, 2025, amends the Local Government Code to establish this non-discrimination standard for municipal utility rates. This directly affects municipalities setting utility rates and tax-exempt organizations receiving water/sewer service.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2900: Relating to certain advisory entities and work groups under the jurisdiction of the comptroller of public accounts or on which the comptroller's office is represented and to the repeal or redesignation of certain of those entities.

SB 2900 requires Texas' comptroller to review all advisory groups (like boards, committees, or task forces) directly under the comptroller's office by December 2026. The review assesses whether each group is necessary and promotes efficient operations of the comptroller's office. The comptroller must report to the legislature by that date any groups deemed unnecessary or inefficient. This bill streamlines government operations by evaluating existing advisory structures but does not change public policies or affect citizens directly.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1896: Relating to the provision of information regarding an arrested person and the victim of the offense to a magistrate for purposes of an order for emergency protection.

SB 1896 requires arresting officers or jail staff to provide specific information about both the arrested person and the victim to magistrates when making an arrest for offenses covered under Article 17.292(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This information, which includes details specified in Section 411.042(b)(6) of the Government Code, must be provided to help magistrates issue emergency protection orders. The bill mandates this information be shared at the time of arrest or custody transfer, using a standardized form if available. The law applies to cases where emergency protection orders are sought, ensuring magistrates have necessary details to make timely safety decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3185: Relating to investigations of certain cybercrimes.

HB 3185 creates Chapter 426 in Texas' Government Code to establish procedures for investigating cybercrimes. It allows prosecutors to issue administrative subpoenas requiring electronic service providers (like internet companies) to produce specific records - such as names, addresses, connection logs, and payment information - during cybercrime investigations, provided there's reasonable cause to believe an account was used in a crime. The bill prohibits providers from disclosing sensitive user data like passwords, in-transit messages, email content, contact lists, or browsing history in response to these subpoenas. This directly affects prosecutors conducting cybercrime investigations and service providers managing user data. The law became effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3092: Relating to a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct an electric transmission line.

HB 3092 exempts certain short electric transmission lines from requiring an amended certificate of public convenience and necessity. It applies specifically to lines under five miles connecting to load-serving substations or under two miles connecting to generation substations. The bill requires electric utilities to obtain written consent from directly affected landowners and purchase all necessary rights-of-way before construction. This change directly affects Texas electric utilities planning small-scale transmission projects connecting to existing facilities. The law took effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2038: Relating to the issuance by the Texas Medical Board of certain licenses to practice medicine and the authority of an insured to select certain license holders under the insured's health policy; requiring an occupational license; authorizing fees.

HB 2038, the DOCTOR Act, creates a provisional license for foreign-trained physicians who have job offers from Texas healthcare facilities like hospitals or clinics. To qualify, applicants must hold a valid medical license in their home country, meet minimum practice experience (5 years with residency or 10 years without), pass a Texas medical jurisprudence exam, and demonstrate English proficiency. The Texas Medical Board will issue these licenses to streamline the process for qualified foreign physicians seeking to practice in Texas. The bill becomes effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4386: Relating to the exchange or surrender of an annuity contract.

HB 4386 standardizes the process for exchanging or surrendering annuity contracts in Texas, directly affecting annuity owners and insurance companies. The bill requires replacing insurers to submit detailed exchange requests to existing insurers, including proof that the transaction qualifies as a tax-free exchange under federal law (Section 1035). It sets strict deadlines: existing insurers must notify owners within 5 business days and transfer funds within 30 business days, unless exceptions apply (like fraud concerns or contractual terms). This creates a clearer, faster process for annuity holders moving contracts between insurers without triggering tax penalties.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2011: Relating to the right to repurchase from a condemning entity certain real property for which ad valorem taxes are delinquent.

HB 2011 allows property owners (or their heirs) to repurchase land taken through eminent domain if the government entity that acquired it fails to pay property taxes or abandons the intended public use. The bill specifies four conditions triggering this right: the public use is canceled, no progress was made toward the use within 10 years, the property becomes unnecessary for the use, or the entity fails to pay delinquent property taxes after the second anniversary of their due date. It requires the government entity to send certified notice to the former owner within 180 days of determining eligibility, detailing the property, the reason for the repurchase right, and how to exercise it. This law directly affects property owners whose land was acquired via eminent domain but remains unused or tax-delinquent. The bill amends Texas Property Code sections 21.101 and 21.102 to establish these procedures.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 912: Relating to the verification of health care practitioner continuing education compliance through the establishment of continuing education tracking systems.

SB 912 requires Texas health care licensing entities (such as those for doctors, nurses, and other licensed practitioners) to establish electronic continuing education (CE) tracking systems. These systems must verify that practitioners complete required CE courses before license renewal and be accessible to practitioners, licensing staff, and CE providers. The bill mandates that license renewal cannot proceed without verification through this system, which also becomes the standard for agency audits. This applies to practitioners licensed under specific Occupations Code chapters (401, 453, 454, and related subchapters), effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3680: Relating to subdivision plat requirements in certain counties; authorizing a fee; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.

HB 3680 modifies subdivision plat requirements in specific Texas counties (defined under Section 232.022) by creating exceptions for certain pre-existing land developments. It allows utility providers to connect land to water, sewer, or other services without a municipal plat certificate if the land meets strict criteria, such as having a completed foundation built before specified dates (1995, 1999, or 2005) and adequate sewer services installed. The bill authorizes counties to charge a fee for processing these exceptions and imposes civil penalties for non-compliance, while creating a criminal offense for willful violations. This directly affects landowners, utility providers, and municipal authorities in the designated counties, streamlining connections for older developments that predate current plat requirements.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1504: Relating to meetings of the board of directors of the Gulf Coast Authority.

SB 1504 allows the Gulf Coast Authority's board of directors to hold meetings via telephone, videoconference, or other remote methods. The bill requires that public notice for such meetings include a toll-free number for participation, free access to audiovisual feeds, and instructions for remote speaking. It also mandates that meeting materials be available electronically and that all remote meetings be recorded and made publicly accessible for at least one year. This directly affects the Gulf Coast Authority's board operations and ensures public transparency in remote meetings.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2781: Relating to the imposition of civil penalties for certain violations with respect to political contributions and expenditures made by certain persons who engage in lobbying activities.

SB 2781 restricts registered lobbyists (those required to register under Chapter 305, Government Code) from using political contributions they received to fund other political activities. Specifically, it prohibits lobbyists from making political contributions or expenditures to other candidates, officeholders, or committees using funds they received as candidates, from specific-purpose committees supporting them, or from committees that received funds from those sources within the previous two years. Violators face civil penalties of up to twice the amount of the prohibited contribution or expenditure. The law applies only to violations occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Bill results