Texas Bills

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1335: Relating to decedents' estates.

This bill amends Texas Estates Code sections to clarify and streamline processes for estate administration. It specifies that court-issued letters testamentary or administration documents (including a clerk's certificate confirming issuance) serve as sufficient proof of a personal representative's appointment and qualification date. It also updates removal procedures for personal representatives, allowing courts to act on their own motion after notifying the representative, rather than requiring a complaint from an interested party first. These changes directly affect estate administrators, courts, and beneficiaries who need to verify representative authority during estate proceedings. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2253: Relating to the authority to cancel certain elections on a measure to authorize the issuance of bonds.

HB 2253 allows local governments in Texas to cancel bond election votes if a disaster declaration is issued by the governor under Chapter 418 of the Government Code. Specifically, it permits cancellation if the governor declares a natural or health-threatening disaster and the local governing body votes to cancel the election due to damage to election systems, risks to election workers, or harm to voters. The bill requires local governments to post cancellation notices at polling places during early voting and election day. This applies to elections for bond measures related to infrastructure or public projects, directly affecting communities seeking to issue bonds during declared emergencies.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2593: Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of indecent assault against a disabled or elderly individual.

HB 2593 increases criminal penalties for indecent assault when the victim is disabled or elderly. It amends Texas Penal Code Section 22.012 to classify such assaults as a second-degree felony (previously a misdemeanor or lower felony), making it a more serious offense. The bill specifically targets cases where the victim is disabled or elderly, without changing penalties for other victims. 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 2018: Relating to the strong families credit against certain taxes for entities that contribute to certain organizations.

SB 2018 creates a tax credit for businesses that contribute to designated organizations, specifically allowing eligible entities to apply this credit against taxes paid under Texas's Alcoholic Beverage Code. The credit amount equals the lesser of the business's contributions to qualifying organizations or the taxes paid under the Alcoholic Beverage Code, with annual caps on total credits and contributions. Businesses must apply through the comptroller, who will determine eligibility based on existing Tax Code provisions (Sections 171.801-171.805). The credit expires on January 1, 2028, and directly affects alcohol-related businesses in Texas that pay taxes under the Alcoholic Beverage Code.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5616: Relating to the Texas presidential library promotion program and funding for the program.

HB 5616 establishes the Texas Presidential Library Promotion Program to support three specific presidential libraries: the LBJ Library, George H.W. Bush Library, and George W. Bush Library. The program provides funding for exhibit renovations, promotes tourism through marketing, and develops a mobile exhibit featuring historical artifacts and educational materials about these presidents. Funding comes from gifts, grants, and legislative appropriations deposited into a dedicated account managed by the Texas Historical Commission. The law aims to enhance these libraries' roles as historical resources that attract visitors and contribute to Texas' cultural and economic landscape.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3250: Relating to the regulation of real estate appraisers and appraisal management companies.

HB 3250 establishes a stipend program to support real estate appraiser trainees, license seekers, and certified appraisers serving public purposes like increasing trained professionals and boosting economic development in Texas. It requires appraisers to notify the board of address changes within 10 days and updates rules for controlling persons of appraisal management companies, mandating active licensing or specific training and barring those with revoked licenses (unless reinstated). The stipend program can only be funded by gifts, grants, or donations under existing law. This bill directly affects appraiser trainees, licensed appraisers, and appraisal management companies operating in Texas.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3088: Relating to the authority of the Parks and Wildlife Department to procure goods and services related to items for resale by the department.

HB 3088 allows Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to purchase goods and services needed for items it resells (like licenses or merchandise) using any procurement method approved by its commission, as long as the method provides the best value to the department. This change directly affects the department's ability to manage its resale operations more flexibly. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not alter existing resale policies or require new funding.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3153: Relating to hiring and employment requirements for persons in direct contact with children at certain facilities.

HB 3153 requires facilities like residential treatment centers, juvenile detention centers, and homeless shelters to conduct criminal history checks and employment verifications for all staff, volunteers, and contractors who may have direct contact with children. It applies to the Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, counties, and municipalities. The law mandates that facilities review state criminal records and verify employment for anyone potentially providing care, supervision, control, or routine interaction with children at these locations. This policy change aims to prevent physical or sexual abuse by ensuring background checks for all individuals in direct contact with children. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2073: Relating to the authority of an appraisal district to purchase, finance the purchase of, or lease real property or construct or finance the construction of improvements to real property.

SB 2073 amends Texas law to clarify that county property tax offices (appraisal districts) may purchase, lease, or construct improvements to real property for their offices. It requires approval from 75% of the taxing units that appoint the district's board for property acquisitions or construction, but not for financing these actions. The bill establishes a process where the chief appraiser must notify taxing unit governing bodies of proposed property actions, giving them 30 days to approve or disapprove. This applies only to proposals notified on or after the bill's September 1, 2023 effective date. The law directly affects county appraisal districts and the taxing units that govern them.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3909: Relating to the use of a wireless communication device at a polling place.

HB 3909 prohibits the use of wireless communication devices (like cell phones) within 100 feet of voting stations or in rooms where electronic pollbooks are used for voting. It directly affects voters, poll workers, and election officials at polling locations. The bill requires presiding judges to post visible notices about this restriction outside voting areas. The law took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4144: Relating to supplemental benefits for retired firefighters and peace officers diagnosed with certain diseases or illnesses.

HB 4144 creates supplemental benefits for retired firefighters and peace officers diagnosed with specific illnesses (cancer, heart attack, or stroke) within three years of retirement. It requires governmental entities to provide a benefit capped at $100,000 (or the retiree's final annual salary, whichever is lower), payable as a lump sum or over three months, with annual adjustments tied to inflation. The benefit does not apply to entities already offering comparable health coverage to retirees. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies only to retirements occurring on or after January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1567: Relating to the authority of home-rule municipalities to regulate the occupancy of dwelling units.

SB 1567 prohibits Texas home-rule municipalities from adopting zoning rules that limit the number of people occupying a dwelling unit based on age, familial status, occupation, relationship status, or family relationships. It directly affects homeowners, renters, and local governments in cities with home-rule authority by restricting certain occupancy regulations. The bill allows municipalities to still enforce occupancy limits based on health and safety standards from building codes, fire codes, health department rules, or affordable housing guidelines. Property owners can sue municipalities for violating this law and recover damages and attorney fees. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

Bill results