Texas Bills

introduced · Texas · House Aug 19, 2025

HB 252: Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution.

Based on the available information, HB 252 establishes an affirmative defense for individuals who are victims of human trafficking or compelling prostitution when prosecuted for offenses directly related to their victimization. The bill would allow these individuals to assert this defense in court, potentially avoiding criminal charges for acts committed under coercion. However, the specific legal mechanisms, eligibility criteria, and affected parties are not detailed in the provided context. The bill text is currently unavailable (noted as "coming soon"), so a full summary of provisions cannot be generated. For accurate details, the official bill text or PDF should be consulted once available.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Pat Curry (R) David Cook (R) Ellen Troxclair (R) Carrie Isaac (R) Richard Hayes (R) · 26 co-sponsors

introduced · Texas · House Aug 19, 2025

HB 258: Relating to real property theft and real property fraud; establishing recording requirements for certain documents concerning real property; creating the criminal offenses of real property theft and real property fraud and establishing a statute of limitations, restitution, and certain procedures with respect to those offenses.

HB 258 creates two new criminal offenses: real property theft (stealing or unlawfully taking property) and real property fraud (deceiving others to obtain property). It requires certain real estate documents, like deeds or transfers, to be recorded officially to prevent fraud. The bill sets a time limit (statute of limitations) for filing charges and mandates that offenders must pay restitution to victims. It also outlines specific legal procedures for prosecuting and resolving cases of these crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

introduced · Texas · House Aug 18, 2025

HB 213: Relating to the text of ballot propositions for bond elections.

HB 213 requires Texas ballot propositions for bond elections to clearly state the specific purpose of the bond (e.g., "to build a new library"), the total principal amount, and the estimated annual tax impact per $100,000 in property value. Each distinct project or purpose must appear as a separate ballot option, preventing multiple projects from being bundled into one vote. Political subdivisions (like cities, counties, or school districts) must also provide a voter information document detailing the bond's principal, interest, and total cost. This bill aims to improve voter transparency by standardizing and clarifying bond election information.

in committee · Texas · House Aug 18, 2025

HB 112: Relating to emergency response planning and emergency preparedness of youth camps and campus programs for minors.

HB 112 requires youth camps and campus programs for minors to create emergency response plans meeting specific health and safety standards. Program operators must follow existing emergency planning rules for youth camps (as defined in the Health and Safety Code) and submit these plans for review. The division will assess plans based on disaster response capabilities, communication protocols, risk reduction for campers/facilities, and compliance with established criteria. Plans must address all required components and be revised if the division identifies needed changes within 30 days. This bill directly affects camp and program operators, mandating concrete safety planning for minors' protection.

in committee · Texas · House Aug 18, 2025

HB 60: Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board of the state environmental review process for certain projects eligible for financial assistance from the flood infrastructure fund and the implementation of streamlining procedures based on the results of the study.

HB 60 requires the Texas Water Development Board to study ways to streamline the state environmental review process for flood control and drainage projects that qualify for financial assistance from the flood infrastructure fund (under Water Code Chapter 15). The Board must complete this study by January 1, 2027, and then implement new internal procedures to simplify the review process based on the study’s findings. This bill directly affects projects seeking flood infrastructure funding and aims to reduce delays in environmental reviews for these projects. The law expires September 1, 2027.

in committee · Texas · House Aug 18, 2025

HB 173: Relating to the use by a school district or a school district employee of public funds for lobbying activities.

HB 173 prohibits school districts and school district employees from using public funds for lobbying activities. The bill specifically bans spending public money to hire registered lobbyists, pay nonprofit organizations that hire lobbyists, or use district resources to directly influence legislation. Taxpayers or residents can seek court injunctions to stop violations and recover attorney fees if they win such cases. This law applies to all public fund expenditures made on or after the bill's effective date.

in committee · Texas · House Aug 18, 2025

HB 36: Relating to prohibiting the sale, delivery, or purchase of a consumable hemp product to or by a person younger than 21 years of age, the entry onto the premises of a retailer of consumable hemp products by a person younger than 21 years of age, and the employment by a retailer of consumable hemp products of a person younger than 21 years of age; creating criminal offenses.

HB 36 would prohibit retailers from selling, delivering, or giving consumable hemp products (like edibles or beverages) to anyone under 21, and also ban minors from entering stores selling these products or working there. Retailers who sell to minors would face a Class A misdemeanor charge, while minors purchasing these products could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor (except when supervised by police). The bill directly affects hemp product retailers, their employees, and individuals under 21 who might attempt to purchase or work with these products. It creates new criminal penalties for violations but includes a defense if a minor presents valid ID proving they're 21 or older.

in committee · Texas · House Aug 18, 2025

HB 155: Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total appraised value of the residence homesteads of certain elderly persons and their surviving spouses.

HB 155 would create a property tax exemption for the full appraised value of a primary residence (homestead) for two groups: (1) Texas residents aged 72 or older who have held this exemption for at least 10 consecutive years, and (2) surviving spouses aged 55 or older who were living in the same home when their spouse died and qualify under the same age and residency rules. The exemption applies to the total value of the homestead, removing the property tax burden entirely for eligible homeowners. This bill requires voter approval of a related constitutional amendment (H.J.R. 133) to take effect, as specified in Section 2. It does not change existing exemptions for younger homeowners or other property types.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Texas · House Aug 18, 2025

HB 221: Relating to the requirements regarding an election to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds or to approve an increase in an ad valorem tax rate.

The bill text for HB 221 is not currently available in the provided context. The title indicates it relates to election requirements for authorizing general obligation bond issuances or ad valorem tax rate increases, but no specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties are described. The bill was filed on August 18, 2025, but no substantive content is provided to summarize. Without the actual bill text or detailed summary, a factual description of its policy changes cannot be generated.

introduced · Texas · House Aug 18, 2025

HB 196: Relating to admissibility of certain evidence against employers for employee use of THC.

HB 196 creates new rules for evidence in civil negligence cases where employers are sued over employee THC use. It prohibits courts from admitting evidence of an employee's *medical use of low-THC cannabis* (per Texas law) unless the employer knew about the use, was aware the employee was intoxicated, and failed to act. It also blocks using a positive THC test alone as evidence; additional proof of intoxication at the time of injury is required. This directly affects employers facing lawsuits alleging negligence related to employee THC use. The law applies only to cases filed after its effective date.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Texas · House Aug 18, 2025

HB 198: Relating to the administration of an election for a member of a board of trustees of an independent school district.

HB 198 requires Texas independent school districts to hold trustee elections on the same date as statewide and county elections (instead of separate dates), mandating districts change their election schedules by December 31, 2026. This affects all independent school districts currently holding separate trustee elections, with the requirement expiring January 1, 2029. The bill also adjusts trustee term lengths from three to four years for some districts and removes outdated election scheduling rules. These changes aim to streamline election administration by aligning school board elections with existing state and county election cycles.

introduced · Texas · House Aug 18, 2025

HB 225: Relating to building codes and standards applicable in the unincorporated areas of a county; authorizing a fee.

HB 225 requires new residential and commercial construction in unincorporated county areas to follow the 2018 International Residential Code (for homes) and International Building Code (for businesses). It allows counties to adopt newer building codes through their commissioners court, rather than being limited to the 2018 standards. The bill also authorizes counties to collect a fee related to enforcing these building code requirements. This affects homeowners, developers, and contractors building new structures outside city limits in participating counties. The law updates existing code standards but does not change current requirements for existing buildings.

Bill results