This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create an independent redistricting commission in Texas. The commission would be responsible for drawing election districts for the U.S. House of Representatives (Texas seats), Texas Senate, and Texas House of Representatives, replacing the current legislative process. It would have sole authority to establish or change district boundaries after each federal census, requiring districts to follow specific geographic and population rules. The amendment would take effect by adding new sections to the Texas Constitution, shifting redistricting power from the legislature to this nonpartisan body.
This bill requires Texas municipalities and counties with internet websites to post localized health and safety alerts on their websites in a clear, visible location. The alerts must include affected areas with geographic threat maps, links to current information, projected movement of the event, and safety instructions like evacuation zones. It applies only to alerts from federal or state agencies (such as the National Weather Service or Texas Division of Emergency Management) received on or after the bill's effective date. The requirement does not apply to entities without websites or to alerts received before the effective date.
SB 26 requires sellers of residential property in a "colonia" (a defined border-area community with 11+ nearby homes) to provide a Spanish translation of an executory contract if the buyer requests it. The translation must be done by a certified Spanish translator, though the final binding contract must still be in English. This applies only to new contracts signed on or after the bill’s effective date (91 days after the legislative session), not to existing agreements. The law directly affects homebuyers and sellers in colonias by adding a language access requirement during the contract negotiation phase.
SB 9 proposes changes to Texas public school accountability systems. It requires the Texas Education Agency to create a single-click website for parents to access their child’s state assessment results immediately after testing. The bill mandates a new "instructionally supportive assessment program" focused on progress monitoring and balanced testing, replacing punitive rating systems. It also establishes a grant program for school districts to develop local accountability plans and outlines procedures for challenging TEA decisions related to school ratings. The bill directly affects parents, public schools, and the Texas Education Agency.
HJR 7 proposes a constitutional amendment to change the quorum requirement for the Texas Senate and House of Representatives from a simple majority of members to two-thirds of members. Currently, a majority (more than half) is needed to conduct business, but the amendment would require two-thirds of members to be present for either chamber to form a quorum. This change would make it harder to achieve a quorum, potentially slowing legislative proceedings. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in a statewide election on May 2, 2026.
This bill requires courts to appoint attorneys ad litem (special lawyers) to represent specific vulnerable parents in government-led child welfare cases where parental rights may be terminated. It directly affects indigent parents opposing termination, parents served by publication, and alleged fathers with unknown location or registration issues. The key change shifts payment for these attorneys from parents to county general funds when parents are indigent, instead of relying on parent payments. It also adds procedures for resolving payment disputes if a court denies or delays attorney fees.
HB 72 establishes that Texas state law overrides local municipal or county regulations in key areas like commerce, trade, elections, and criminal justice, aiming to prevent inconsistent "patchwork" rules across the state. It directly affects cities and counties that attempt to create local regulations differing from state law in these areas. The bill explicitly allows local governments to continue building roads, imposing taxes, maintaining home-rule services, conducting public awareness campaigns, and revising ordinances that conflict with the bill. Its core mechanism returns regulatory authority to the state, as required by the Texas Constitution, while preserving specific local government functions.
This bill (SB 22) requires youth camp operators in Texas to create and maintain written emergency plans covering specific scenarios like natural disasters, lost campers, fires, medical emergencies, and aquatic incidents. Camps must annually train staff and volunteers on these plans - including evacuation procedures and equipment locations - and assign specific emergency responsibilities. Operators must submit approved plans to the health department and review them yearly for updates. The bill directly affects all youth camps operating in Texas, aiming to standardize emergency preparedness for camper and staff safety.
SB 33 creates a voluntary system for Texas municipalities and counties to share emergency warning alerts with residents. It allows local governments to contract with the Department of Public Safety to obtain consent-based contact information (like phone numbers or email addresses) from residents who apply for or renew a driver's license and opt in. Residents can later opt out by submitting a written request, including via text message, and may also choose to receive alerts in both English and Spanish. The bill directly affects Texas residents interacting with driver's license services and local emergency management systems.
HB 146 is a procedural bill that names itself the "Terrin Solbrig Act" for citation purposes. It does not change any laws related to temporary vehicle tags or the offense of tampering with governmental records. The bill will take effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.
HB 76 prohibits local government agencies in Texas from considering non-relevant factors when selecting contractors for goods or services. Specifically, it bans agencies from using criteria unrelated to cost, quality, reliability, or legal compliance - such as environmental, social, or governance preferences - during competitive procurement processes. The bill requires agencies to publicly list all written selection criteria in bid documents and solicitation materials. If violations occur, the Attorney General can order removal of prohibited criteria, termination of contracts, or void contracts that aren’t executed within 10 days of notice. This directly affects all local governmental agencies that use competitive contracting processes for purchasing goods or services.
HB 138 requires election registrars to provide specific written or oral reasons when rejecting a voter registration application. It mandates that registrars identify exactly which part of the application caused the rejection (e.g., incomplete, improperly filled, or ineligible information) rather than giving vague explanations. This directly affects voters whose applications are denied and election officials responsible for processing registrations. The bill amends Texas Election Code Section 13.073 to implement this transparency requirement, taking effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.
