SB 528 establishes new requirements for facilities providing inpatient competency restoration services in Texas. It mandates that these facilities enter into memorandums of understanding with local counties, municipalities, and mental health authorities (Sec. 580.003). The bill also requires facilities to submit annual reports to the Health and Human Services Commission detailing specific metrics, including the number of individuals restored to competency, average treatment duration, and transfer rates after 60 days (Sec. 580.004). These reports must include demographic breakdowns by offense type (misdemeanor/felony) and other relevant factors. The law applies exclusively to facilities contracted with the Commission to restore competency for individuals awaiting trial under criminal procedure law.
SB 1534 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to study health physics education programs at Texas colleges and universities. The study must identify gaps in training and assess workforce needs in nuclear energy and radiological safety sectors. The board must submit a report by December 1, 2026, with recommendations for addressing identified gaps. This bill directly affects Texas institutions offering health physics education and the state's nuclear/radiological workforce sectors. The report will inform potential future policy actions, but the bill itself does not make immediate changes to programs or funding.
SB 865 requires specific school staff, including nurses, athletic coaches, physical education instructors, and others designated by the commissioner, to obtain and maintain certification in CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) use from recognized organizations like the American Heart Association. It also mandates that private schools receiving AEDs or funding for AEDs, and open-enrollment charter schools, adopt policies providing CPR and AED training for employees and volunteer nurses. The law applies to all public school districts, private schools, and charter schools, effective for the 2025-2026 school year. This policy change directly affects school employees and volunteers who may respond to cardiac emergencies in school settings.
This concurrent resolution (HCR 88) formally commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 2025), which marked the start of the American Revolutionary War. It expresses the Texas Legislature's recognition of this historical milestone through a ceremonial resolution, with no policy changes or direct impact on citizens or government operations. The resolution was passed by both legislative chambers and signed into law by the Governor on June 20, 2025. As a commemorative measure, it does not create new obligations or affect any specific group.
HB 2818 establishes an Artificial Intelligence Division within the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) to guide state government use of artificial intelligence. The division must assist state agencies in implementing generative AI for projects like modernizing legacy computer systems and other appropriate initiatives, requiring cost analysis reports to document time and resource savings compared to traditional methods. It mandates that the division coordinate all AI activities to avoid duplication and maximize efficiency across state resources. The division can hire staff directly or partner with vendors (with vendors completing most work) for AI projects, as outlined in the amended Government Code.
HB 144 requires electric cooperatives, utilities, and municipally owned utilities in Texas to submit detailed plans to the Public Utility Commission for managing and inspecting their distribution poles. Each plan must include specific elements: inspection processes (including third-party vendor training), handling landowner complaints, inspection deadlines for each pole, and a budget. Utilities must submit monthly updates for the first 24 months (after which annual updates may be allowed) and triennial compliance reports. The bill directly affects all entities distributing electricity in Texas by mandating structured pole safety oversight and transparency.
HB 4236 creates a temporary six-member study group (three Senate members, three House members) to examine how the state auditor’s school district property valuation study impacts state education funding. The group must hold one public meeting to assess the study’s current use in distributing funds and recommend better ways to verify valuations of complex properties. It can request data from the state auditor, school agencies, and local property assessors. The study group must submit its findings and recommendations to state leaders by December 1, 2026, and will dissolve by January 1, 2027. This bill does not change funding formulas but aims to improve how property valuations are evaluated for school finance purposes.
SB 2167 requires massage therapy businesses and schools to obtain a new license if they change locations, preventing unlicensed operations at new sites. It allows the licensing commission to delay approving or denying licenses for up to 90 days if there's reasonable suspicion of criminal activity at the proposed location or if the applicant is subject to a public health emergency order. The bill also clarifies that entities (like businesses) are subject to delays if any owner or operator faces such orders. These changes take effect September 1, 2025, and require the licensing commission to update rules to implement the law.
HB 2240 amends Texas Family Code to clarify when a "later marriage" (entered into while a prior marriage was still valid) becomes legally valid after the first marriage ends. It directly affects individuals in void marriages who later cohabited as spouses and presented themselves as married, allowing their later union to be recognized unless specific conditions are met. Key provisions include requiring putative spouses to file a lawsuit within 30 days of discovering the prior marriage was still valid, and adding a new section allowing suits to declare divorce or annulment decrees void if the court lacked jurisdiction. The bill became effective immediately upon the governor's signature on June 20, 2025.
HB 4170 requires lawsuits involving private transfer fees on real property to be filed in the county where the property is located, rather than in other jurisdictions. This directly affects property owners, buyers, and sellers who may dispute these fees in court. The bill adds this venue requirement to Texas Property Code Section 5.208, excluding cases brought by the attorney general. It applies only to lawsuits filed on or after September 1, 2025, with prior cases governed by previous law. The change aims to streamline legal proceedings by tying venue to the property's physical location.
HB 5650 creates Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 40, a new special district to provide utility services (like water, sewer, and drainage) to a defined area in Travis County. The bill grants the district limited eminent domain power to acquire land for utility infrastructure, authorizes it to issue bonds for capital projects, and permits the district to impose assessments, fees, and taxes on properties within its boundaries. This directly affects property owners in the specific territory outlined in the bill, which includes areas designated for utility service improvements. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers and taking effect immediately without the governor’s signature.
HB 2637 updates Texas law regarding grand jury qualifications and jury summons procedures. It sets specific eligibility requirements for grand jurors, including being a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, a county resident, and without certain criminal convictions (such as felony theft or a felony). The bill requires court clerks to send monthly lists of disqualified jurors to the secretary of state, voter registrar, and prosecuting attorney. This affects prospective grand jurors and streamlines the process for determining eligibility in Texas courts, taking effect September 1, 2025.
