Texas Bills

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2337: Relating to the regulation of the provision of proxy advisory services.

SB 2337 requires proxy advisors (firms providing voting recommendations to shareholders) in Texas to disclose when their advice considers non-financial factors like environmental or social goals instead of solely focusing on financial returns. It applies to proxy advisors serving shareholders of companies based in Texas or with their main office in Texas. Key provisions mandate that if advice isn’t purely financial, advisors must add clear warnings, get written acknowledgment from recipients, notify the company involved, and publicly disclose this on their website. The bill aims to ensure transparency about potential conflicts when non-financial criteria influence voting recommendations.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2757: Relating to a public school policy for establishing age for purposes of admission into the school for certain children of foreign military members.

HB 2757 allows Texas public school districts to create a policy enabling children of active-duty foreign military members stationed in Texas to establish their age for school admission by demonstrating they will turn the required age during the school year they apply. This directly affects children of foreign military personnel who might otherwise face strict age cutoffs for enrollment. The key provision lets school boards waive standard age requirements if a child meets the age threshold during the upcoming school year, rather than by a fixed date. The law took effect immediately upon the Governor's signature on June 20, 2025, applying to the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3512: Relating to artificial intelligence training programs for certain employees and officials of state agencies and local governments.

HB 3512 requires state agency employees who use computers for at least 25% of their duties and local governments applying for certain grants to complete annual cybersecurity and artificial intelligence training. The law mandates that state agencies identify qualifying employees, while local governments must certify training compliance when applying for grants under Chapter 772 of the Government Code. Failure to meet these requirements results in a local government losing the grant award and being ineligible for future grants for two years. The bill directly affects state agency staff and local government officials handling cybersecurity or grant applications, with training programs needing certification under existing state law.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4112: Relating to the disposal or storage of high-level radioactive waste.

This bill prohibits Texas from issuing permits for new facilities to store or dispose of high-level radioactive waste, except at the nuclear power plants or university research reactors where the waste originated. It amends the Health and Safety Code to block permits under federal water pollution programs (like the Clean Water Act) for such facilities, with exceptions only for waste generated at existing reactor sites. The law does not affect current storage at nuclear facilities but prevents new off-site disposal or storage operations. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2520: Relating to the calculation of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed by a school district on the residence homestead of an individual who is elderly or disabled.

SB 2520 clarifies how Texas school districts calculate property tax limits for elderly or disabled homeowners who qualify for homestead exemptions. It specifies that for the tax year immediately following the first year of qualification, the tax cap is the lower of either the previous year's tax (adjusted per existing rules) or the actual tax amount in that first qualifying year. This bill, effective January 1, 2026, only clarifies existing law without changing benefits or creating new exemptions. It directly affects eligible homeowners in school districts by ensuring predictable tax calculations during their initial qualification period.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 60: Relating to the disposition by a public junior college library of certain library materials.

SB 60 allows public junior college libraries in Texas to donate certain library materials without needing additional approval. The bill permits donations of duplicate items already in the library's collection or materials no longer suitable due to age, condition, or outdated content, provided they have little or no monetary value. This applies to periodicals, books, e-books, tapes, and other media. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects Texas public junior college libraries managing their collections.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2543: Relating to the amount of certain revenue that may be used for and the location of state veterans cemeteries.

This bill amends Texas law to clarify how state veterans cemeteries funded by federal grants may be managed and funded. It requires the Texas Veterans Commission to establish guidelines for cemetery locations, size, and burial eligibility, and to select up to seven locations statewide for these cemeteries. The bill limits annual spending to $7 million from specific veterans funds (veterans' land fund and housing assistance funds) for planning, operating, maintaining, or improving these cemeteries, while prohibiting the use of those funds to acquire land for new cemeteries. The changes apply to state-run veterans cemeteries receiving federal grants and take effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Housing ✓ Veterans

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1164: Relating to emergency detention of certain persons evidencing mental illness and to court-ordered inpatient and extended mental health services.

This bill modifies Texas law to allow peace officers to temporarily detain individuals with mental illness without a warrant if they pose an immediate risk of serious harm to themselves or others. Officers must document specific reasons for the detention, including evidence of severe distress, inability to recognize treatment risks, or imminent danger. The law requires officers to immediately notify a facility after transport and provide detailed risk documentation. It directly affects people experiencing acute mental health crises who meet these specific criteria.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1535: Relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of an advanced nuclear energy workforce development program.

SB 1535 establishes a state-funded workforce development program through the Texas Workforce Commission to address labor needs in Texas's emerging advanced nuclear energy industry. The program requires the Commission to create a strategic plan identifying skills gaps and developing financial partnerships with universities, public colleges, and nuclear energy employers to fund training programs and research. It mandates the development of customized curricula for degree and certificate programs preparing students for high-wage nuclear energy jobs, with input from higher education institutions, the Public Utility Commission, and industry employers. This law directly affects Texas workers seeking nuclear energy careers, educational institutions offering relevant training, and nuclear energy companies operating in the state. The program becomes effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1333: Relating to the unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, advertisement for sale, rental, or lease, or conveyance of real property, including the removal of certain unauthorized occupants of a dwelling; creating criminal offenses; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing a fee.

This bill increases criminal penalties for unauthorized entry, occupancy, or damage to real property, affecting individuals who illegally occupy homes or damage property (e.g., squatters) and property owners seeking removal. It reclassifies offenses based on financial damage: minor issues become Class C misdemeanors, while damage exceeding $2,500 or specific scenarios (like disrupting water systems or damaging livestock fences) trigger higher penalties, including state jail felonies. Key provisions include raising penalties for property destruction, adding felony charges for tampering with catalytic converters during removal, and authorizing fees for enforcement. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly impacts property disputes and criminal justice outcomes.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 14: Relating to support for the development of the nuclear energy industry.

HB 14 creates the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office within the Governor's office to support the state's nuclear energy industry. The bill defines "advanced nuclear projects" to include facilities using next-generation reactors (like small modular reactors), fuel cycle operations, and associated technologies. The office will provide strategic leadership, develop public outreach programs, and promote job creation in advanced manufacturing while advancing nuclear energy for reliable power generation. This law directly affects Texas nuclear developers, utilities, and communities involved in nuclear facility projects. The office is authorized until September 1, 2040.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 109: Relating to the construction, expansion, and operation of certain inpatient mental health facilities and the designation of residential treatment facilities for certain juveniles.

HB 109 designates the Waco Center for Youth as a state residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed juveniles under state custody. It requires the Department of Family and Protective Services to provide free education services at this facility, with non-local students needing school district approval for services. The bill also allows one-time state grants for constructing or expanding specific inpatient mental health facilities, funded through legislative appropriations. This affects juveniles admitted to state facilities under certain conditions and impacts how education services are delivered at designated treatment centers.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Bill results