Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4795: Relating to duties of the vital statistics unit of the Department of State Health Services in relation to certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship, including in regard to the electronic transmission of certain information.

HB 4795 requires Texas' vital statistics unit (part of the Department of State Health Services) to create an electronic system for sharing specific information in child custody or parentage cases. This system allows the Department of Family and Protective Services, courts, attorneys, and parties to request details about court jurisdiction or the absence of prior cases electronically, using existing resources. The bill mandates that electronic requests must be processed, with responses including confirmation of searches and whether required records were found. These changes apply only to requests received on or after January 1, 2026, while older requests follow previous rules. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1036: Relating to the regulation of residential solar retail transactions; requiring an occupational registration; authorizing fees; providing civil and administrative penalties.

SB 1036 requires solar retailers and salespeople to register with the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation. It establishes fees for registration and imposes civil or administrative penalties for violations. The bill directly affects companies and individuals selling or leasing residential solar energy systems (intended for home use) to homeowners. Key provisions define terms like "residential solar retailer" and set up a regulatory framework for these transactions, including requirements for controlling persons within solar businesses.

Topics ✓ Energy

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1400: Relating to a study on measurable outcomes for certain transfer students for performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program.

SB 1400 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to study whether to include transfer students who previously attended a four-year university in performance tier funding calculations for public junior colleges. The study must examine student backgrounds, service needs, academic success metrics, and cost impacts to determine if revising transfer requirements would be feasible and beneficial. The board must submit findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2026. This bill does not change current funding rules but sets a process for evaluating potential adjustments to support transfer student outcomes.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4848: Relating to requiring that competency-based baccalaureate degree programs be offered at certain public institutions of higher education.

HB 4848 requires Texas public university systems to offer competency-based bachelor's degree programs in high-demand fields at one or more campuses within each system. It caps program costs at no more than half the average tuition for students, with annual inflation adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board determines which fields are "high demand" and sets cost rules. This directly affects public universities and students seeking affordable, skill-focused degrees in priority areas starting in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3151: Relating to expedited credentialing of certain federally qualified health center providers by Medicaid managed care organizations.

HB 3151 creates a streamlined process for Medicaid managed care organizations to quickly approve (expedite) credentialing for providers at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and their established provider groups. It requires these providers to already have a contract with a Medicaid managed care organization, be enrolled in Medicaid, and submit necessary documentation. The law directly affects FQHCs and their contracted health care providers seeking faster inclusion in Medicaid provider networks. This change takes effect September 1, 2025, without altering Medicaid benefits or funding.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1121: Relating to excepting certain communication facilities from certain notice requirements for projects on state or local public land.

Texas Senate Bill 1121 exempts the installation, maintenance, operation, replacement, or minor modification of buried fiber-optic cables in existing road rights-of-way from certain notice requirements for projects on state or local public land. This directly affects telecommunications companies deploying or maintaining fiber-optic infrastructure, removing a prior requirement to notify authorities before such work. The bill amends the Natural Resources Code to add this specific exemption to a list of activities already considered low-impact and exempt from notification rules. The law took effect immediately on June 20, 2025, after receiving final approval from the governor.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1398: Relating to certain procedures in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship for a child placed in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services and the provision of family preservation services and community-based foster care.

This bill amends Texas Family Code provisions affecting children in the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) conservatorship. It clarifies that "family preservation services" (time-limited, family-focused support to prevent foster care placement) must be provided to eligible families, including those with pregnant or parenting foster youth. The bill shifts responsibility for paying these services to the family member obtaining them, rather than the state. It also requires DFPS or contractors to submit detailed court reports before placing a child in temporary emergency supervision, documenting all attempted placements and reasons for rejection. These changes took effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1212: Relating to the prosecution and punishment for the offense of trafficking of persons; increasing a criminal penalty.

SB 1212 amends Texas Penal Code Section 20A.02 to expand the definition of human trafficking offenses and increase criminal penalties. The bill specifically targets traffickers who force victims into labor, services, or prohibited activities (like prostitution or sexual assault), with enhanced provisions for cases involving children or disabled individuals regardless of the trafficker's knowledge of the victim's status. It increases penalties for trafficking that results in sexual conduct or exploitation, including new provisions addressing online promotion of prostitution. This law directly affects individuals convicted of trafficking offenses, particularly those involving vulnerable populations, and became effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3000: Relating to a grant program to provide financial assistance to qualified ambulance service providers in certain rural counties.

HB 3000 creates a state grant program to provide financial assistance to qualified rural ambulance service providers in counties with populations of 68,750 or less. Counties may apply for grants of up to $500,000 (for counties under 10,000 people) or $350,000 (for counties between 10,000-68,750 people) to purchase ambulances, with funds restricted solely to ambulance procurement. Grants require counties to maintain ambulance service budgets in the following fiscal year and prioritize counties with greater distance to trauma facilities or limited funding capacity. The program, now law after being signed by the governor on June 20, 2025, aims to ensure adequate ground ambulance services in underserved rural areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Transportation

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5668: Relating to the powers and duties of the Far North Fort Worth Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Tarrant and Wise Counties; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds.

HB 5668 grants the Far North Fort Worth Municipal Utility District No. 1 (serving parts of Tarrant and Wise Counties) new authority to define specific areas or properties within its district and impose taxes or issue bonds to fund improvements benefiting only those defined areas - overriding the standard acreage requirement under state law. This allows the district to finance targeted infrastructure (like water or sewer systems) for particular parcels without requiring broader district-wide benefits. The bill explicitly confirms the district retains all existing powers and meets all required notice and procedural steps under Texas law. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 121: Relating to measures for ensuring public school safety, including the commissioning of peace officers by the Texas Education Agency, the composition of the board of directors of the Texas School Safety Center, and public school safety and security requirements and resources.

HB 121 authorizes the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to commission school safety officers directly under specific Education Code provisions, expanding the pool of qualified personnel for public schools. It updates the composition of the Texas School Safety Center's board of directors and mandates that public school employees report suspected child abuse or neglect. The bill also establishes new safety and security requirements for schools, including resource allocation standards. Effective September 1, 2025, this law impacts all Texas public schools, TEA, and the Texas School Safety Center.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 1522: Relating to notice of a meeting held under the open meetings law.

HB 1522 requires governmental bodies (like city councils or school boards) holding meetings to discuss or adopt a budget to include two specific items in their public notice: (1) a physical copy of the proposed budget (or a clear link to it online), and (2) a simple comparison showing how property taxes for a typical home would change if the budget passes. This applies to most local government budget meetings but excludes university governing boards covered by separate rules. The law, effective September 1, 2025, aims to make budget discussions more transparent for residents by providing clear tax impact information upfront. It modifies Texas' open meetings law to add these notice requirements for budget-related meetings.

Bill results