Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5658: Relating to the creation of the Craver Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments and fees; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

HB 5658 proposes creating the Craver Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1 in Denton, Texas, to support economic development in the area. The district would have authority to issue bonds for infrastructure, impose property assessments and fees to fund services, and use limited eminent domain for specific projects. It directly affects property owners within the district boundaries by subjecting them to these financial obligations. The bill clarifies the district is intended to supplement, not replace, existing city services while promoting employment, housing, tourism, and public welfare under Texas Constitution provisions.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 647: Relating to the removal of certain restrictions imposed on driver's licenses; authorizing a fee.

HB 647 allows Texas driver's license holders who have had vision-correcting surgery to remove restrictions requiring corrective lenses. To qualify, license holders must submit a written statement from a licensed physician or optometrist confirming surgical correction and pay a required fee. The Texas Department of Public Safety must then mail a new license without the restriction, except for individuals required to register under Chapter 62 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (sex offender registry). The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and changes the process for removing this specific license restriction.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 33: Relating to active shooter incidents at primary and secondary school facilities and other emergencies.

HB 33, titled the "Uvalde Strong Act," requires Texas public and charter schools to comply with additional safety and operational requirements related to active shooter incidents and emergencies. It amends the Education Code to mandate adherence to existing rules covering student data systems, criminal background checks, discipline practices, health/safety protocols, bullying prevention, and staff reporting obligations. The bill directly affects all public and charter schools by expanding their compliance obligations under current safety frameworks. It does not create new rules but requires schools to follow more existing provisions related to emergency preparedness and student safety. The law took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 36: Relating to the homeland security activities of certain entities, including the establishment and operations of the Homeland Security Division in the Department of Public Safety.

SB 36 establishes a Homeland Security Division within the Texas Department of Public Safety to coordinate statewide homeland security efforts. The division, led by a chief appointed by the department director, directly affects state agencies, local governments, and private organizations involved in border security operations. Key provisions require the division to develop strategic plans, coordinate border security operations with federal and local entities, manage intelligence collection and analysis, and oversee programs like Operation Drawbridge (border surveillance cameras). The bill mandates regular risk assessments, homeland security exercises, and alignment of state and local preparedness efforts under the division’s leadership.

Topics ✗ Immigration

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2610: Relating to a limitation on civil liability of business entities in connection with a breach of system security.

SB 2610 creates Chapter 542 in Texas law requiring businesses that handle sensitive personal information to implement reasonable cybersecurity programs. It makes businesses liable to individuals who suffer economic harm after a data breach caused by failure to follow these standards. Businesses meet the "reasonable" standard by adopting recognized frameworks like NIST, ISO 27000, or industry-specific standards (e.g., HIPAA for healthcare). The law applies specifically to breaches involving sensitive personal data and does not affect existing legal remedies available to the Attorney General.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2589: Relating to procedures for a commissioners court to close, abandon, or vacate certain county roads.

SB 2589 modifies Texas law to change how county commissioners courts handle closing, abandoning, or vacating certain county roads in specific border counties. It applies only to roads located outside city limits but bordering residential subdivisions in counties with under 300,000 population that contain a city with 200,000+ residents. The bill allows courts to bypass the standard rule of transferring road title to adjacent property owners if they determine such transfer would create a safety hazard, instead giving courts two options: petition the city to annex the road or repurpose it for non-vehicle uses like hiking trails. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects property owners and municipalities in designated border counties.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2564: Relating to the evaluation of Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant applications.

HB 2564 creates a dedicated panel within the Texas Office of the Governor to evaluate applications for Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grants. This panel will score applications based on the significance of the grant's impact on local governments and other criteria set by the commission. The commission will use these scores to decide which applicants receive grants, but only if the legislature has specifically allocated funds for them. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects local governments seeking financial assistance related to defense economic adjustments.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1965: Relating to a study on mental health services provided to veterans through the Texas Veterans Commission.

HB 1965 requires the Texas Veterans Commission to study ways to expand mental health services for veterans through its Military Veteran Peer Network. The study specifically focuses on increasing trained peer counselors in rural communities and must include recommendations for improving access to these services for veterans, service members, and their families. The commission must submit a final report with findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2026. This bill does not create new services but directs a review to identify potential improvements to existing mental health support for veterans.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2259: Relating to the instructions for an application form for an early voting ballot.

HB 2259 standardizes the instructions printed on early voting ballot application forms in Texas. It requires the Secretary of State to create instructions that fit on a single 8.5x11 inch page in portrait orientation, using Calibri or Aptos font (12-point or larger), with bold print for key items. The bill also mandates that these instructions be provided in all languages commonly used by Texas voters, matching the state's demographic needs. This affects voters applying for early voting ballots and election offices handling these forms, ensuring consistent, clear instructions nationwide. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 851: Relating to the determination and reporting of the number of residence homesteads of certain property owners for which the owner is receiving certain ad valorem tax benefits.

HB 851 requires Texas property appraisers to count and report the number of homestead properties receiving specific tax benefits, including those with tax deferrals or abatements for delinquent taxes. Appraisers must submit these counts to the comptroller when filing annual tax rolls, and the comptroller must then share statewide totals (broken down by school district) with state leaders by November 1 each year. The bill directly affects property owners who qualify for these tax benefits but places the reporting duty on local government officials. It creates new transparency requirements for tracking how many homes benefit from these specific tax provisions, without changing the tax policies themselves.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1833: Relating to the use of a social media platform in furtherance of an offense involving the delivery of a controlled substance; increasing criminal penalties.

SB 1833 increases criminal penalties for individuals who use social media platforms to arrange or facilitate the delivery of controlled substances. It applies to specific drug delivery offenses (like those under Texas Health and Safety Code Sections 481.112-481.122) when a defendant uses social media to further the crime. If proven, the offense's punishment level is raised to the next higher category, with first-degree felony penalties increased by five years and maximum fines doubled. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 3059: Relating to the preservation, maintenance, restoration, and protection of the Alamo complex and surrounding area by the Alamo Commission.

SB 3059 creates the Alamo Commission to oversee preservation, maintenance, and restoration of the Alamo complex and surrounding area. The bill places the commission under the administrative oversight of the State Preservation Board and requires coordination with the City of San Antonio on development plans. It establishes the commission's legal framework, including definitions and sunset provisions, but does not allocate new funding or change preservation standards. The bill was signed into law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect immediately.

Bill results