HB 263 allows Texas municipalities and counties to regulate recreational vehicle (RV) parks by either prohibiting their establishment or charging a fee for setting them up. Local governments would have the option to ban RV parks entirely or, if they permit them, impose a fee for the park's formation. The bill defines "recreational vehicle park" using existing Water Code terminology and provides no new restrictions beyond these two choices for local authorities. It does not require local governments to take action but gives them regulatory flexibility regarding RV park development. The bill is set to take effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.
SB 34 amends Texas law to require witnesses to testify or produce evidence before the state legislature or its committees, with limited exceptions. It prohibits witnesses from refusing testimony based on self-incrimination claims, but if they claim such a risk while testifying, their compelled testimony cannot be used against them in criminal cases (except for perjury charges). Witnesses also gain the right to have legal counsel present during testimony. The bill directly affects citizens, experts, and officials summoned to testify before Texas legislative bodies.
HB 262 defines "brine" as underground salty liquid containing dissolved minerals (like lithium, bromine, and magnesium), excluding groundwater, oil, gas, and related waste. It clarifies that landowners own brine minerals beneath their property as real property, unless otherwise specified in legal agreements. The bill requires the Railroad Commission to create rules for reporting by brine mining operators and regulates "brine mining" operations (extracting minerals from brine) while excluding oil/gas products. This directly affects landowners and businesses extracting minerals from underground brine formations in Texas.
HB 268 requires background checks for firearm sales at gun shows in Texas. It defines "gun shows" as events with three or more vendors charging fees, and mandates that sellers conduct federal background checks before completing sales and maintain sales records. Gun show promoters must notify local law enforcement 30 days in advance and ensure background checks are completed for all sales, with exceptions for peace officers and licensed handgun carriers. Violations are classified as Class A misdemeanors for sellers and promoters who fail to comply. The bill directly affects gun show sellers, promoters, and attendees purchasing firearms at such events.
HB 267 allows Texas cities and counties to use driver's license applicant contact information for emergency warning systems, with resident consent. When applying for or renewing a driver's license, residents can voluntarily opt-in to share their contact details (phone, email, address) for local emergency alerts. Residents may also request removal from the system at any time. The bill requires the Texas Department of Public Safety to include a consent option on license applications and prohibits using collected contact information for any purpose other than emergency warnings.
HB 21 modifies Texas property tax penalties and interest rates for late payments. It reduces the initial penalty from 6% to 3% for the first month a payment is late, then 0.5% per month (down from 1%) for each additional month. For taxes delinquent on July 1, the total penalty drops from 12% to 6%. The bill also halves the interest rate to 0.5% per month and applies only to penalties accruing after its effective date.
HB 264 prohibits registered lobbyists in Texas from receiving state funds under current contracts or as compensation for services provided to the state. It directly affects registered lobbyists who would otherwise receive payments for lobbying work or state employment. The bill includes an exception for retirement benefits or other benefits tied to a lobbyist's prior state service. This law applies only to funds received on or after the bill's effective date, with past payments governed by previous law. The bill does not change existing rules for retirement benefits or past employment compensation.
HB 269 would create a Texas grant program to help nonprofits, regional planning commissions, and emergency communication districts pay for emergency communications services like 9-1-1. The Commission on State Emergency Communications would develop rules for applications, eligibility, and tracking how funds are used to ensure services are delivered effectively. The program could also accept donations to supplement state funding. This bill directly affects organizations providing critical emergency communication services across Texas.
HJR 29 proposes a constitutional amendment to deny Texas legislators pay, per diem, or mileage reimbursement for unexcused absences when their legislative chamber lacks a quorum (the minimum members needed to conduct business). If a legislator misses a session without a valid reason and the house isn’t meeting quorum requirements, they would not receive compensation for that absence. The amendment must be approved by voters in the May 2, 2026 election. This directly affects Texas state legislators by linking their pay to attendance during quorum-deficient sessions.
HB 85 changes the voter approval requirement for property tax increases in Texas. It requires a two-thirds majority (instead of a simple majority) of votes cast in an election to approve a tax rate exceeding a taxing unit’s current voter-approved rate. The bill mandates that election notices clearly show three rates: the proposed tax rate, the "no-new-revenue" rate (same as previous year), and the "voter-approval" rate (highest rate without an election). This directly affects cities, school districts, and other local taxing units seeking to raise property taxes beyond their existing approved limit. The change aims to strengthen voter control over significant tax hikes.
HB 119 requires senior retirement communities in Texas to create emergency plans for power outages and other non-evacuation emergencies. Specifically, communities must provide a climate-controlled "area of refuge" with at least 15 square feet per resident, maintain temperatures between 68-82°F in these areas, and notify local fire marshals within 12 hours of extended power loss. Annual inspections by fire marshals will verify compliance with these requirements, including secondary power systems, with violations treated as fire code violations. The bill directly affects all senior retirement communities operating under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 786.
HB 223 sets a spending cap for Texas cities and counties based on inflation and population growth. It limits annual expenditures to either the previous year's total or that amount multiplied by (1 + the sum of the latest inflation rate and population growth rate) as calculated by the Legislative Budget Board. Exceptions allow increased spending if voters approve it in an election or if a disaster declaration by the governor covers related costs. The bill directly affects all Texas municipalities and counties by requiring them to adjust spending plans annually using these specific economic metrics.
