Texas Bills

in committee · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HB 1: Relating to disaster response and preparedness, including required training for justices of the peace and responding to mass fatality events; requiring a license; authorizing a fee.

HB 1 requires justices of the peace in counties without a medical examiner to complete state-developed training on managing mass fatality events within one year of election. The training covers autopsy referrals, body identification, missing persons data collection, and multi-agency coordination during disasters. The bill also authorizes the Texas Division of Emergency Management to access criminal history records for emergency manager license applicants and disaster volunteers, with strict limits on disclosure. These provisions directly affect local justices of the peace and individuals seeking emergency management roles.

Morgan Meyer (R) Joe Moody (D) Mando Martinez (D) Terry Wilson (R) · 24 co-sponsors

in committee · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HB 2: Relating to the creation and operation of the Texas Interoperability Council and a grant program administered by the council.

HB 2 creates the Texas Interoperability Council to develop a statewide strategic plan for emergency communication equipment and infrastructure. The council will administer a grant program to help local governments (municipalities, counties, and special districts) purchase interoperable equipment and build communication infrastructure. This ensures first responders can effectively communicate during emergencies by standardizing technology across jurisdictions. The bill establishes the council’s structure, including appointments by state leaders, and exempts it from certain public disclosure laws.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HR 69: Recognizing El Valle Bakery of Rio Grande City for its 50 years of service to the community.

This resolution recognizes El Valle Bakery in Rio Grande City for its 50 years of service to the community, specifically acknowledging its closure on June 30, 2025, after operating since 1975. It commemorates the bakery's role in serving generations of customers and honors the Berlanga family's legacy, including Rafael Berlanga's retirement after leading the business. The resolution is purely ceremonial, with no policy changes or new obligations. It directs the Texas House of Representatives to provide an official copy to Rafael Berlanga as a gesture of respect.

in committee · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HB 20: Relating to certain measures to prevent and reduce fraudulent charitable solicitations during disasters, including establishing a voluntary certification program for disaster relief organizations.

HB 20 establishes a voluntary certification program for disaster relief organizations in Texas, allowing the state attorney general to maintain a public registry of certified groups to help donors identify legitimate charities during disasters. The program requires the attorney general to set eligibility rules, application procedures, and processes for renewal or revocation, though organizations may choose not to participate. Additionally, the bill mandates that the attorney general create and share public educational materials on recognizing and avoiding fraudulent charitable solicitations during disaster situations. This directly affects disaster relief organizations (through optional certification) and the public (via the registry and educational resources).

introduced · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HB 300: Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to use certain tax revenue derived from a hotel and convention center project.

HB 300 amends Texas Tax Code Section 351.152 to clarify which municipalities may use hotel and convention center tax revenue for specific projects. The bill defines 17 distinct categories of eligible cities based on population thresholds and geographic criteria, such as municipalities with populations over 95,000 bordering Lake Lewisville (item 15) or those located in counties with specific population sizes. It directly affects qualifying cities by expanding their authority to allocate these tax revenues toward convention center developments. The key mechanism is a technical update to eligibility rules in the Tax Code, without creating new funding sources or altering tax rates.

in committee · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HB 18: Relating to the authority of the comptroller to provide funding for the deployment and operation of certain emergency communication systems.

HB 18 expands the Texas comptroller’s authority to fund emergency communication systems by adding specific provisions to the state’s funding rules. It authorizes state funds to support early warning systems for natural disasters and interoperable emergency radio systems, including their equipment, operations, and administration. This change directly affects local governments and emergency services providers who deploy these systems. The bill modifies existing funding mechanisms under the Government Code to ensure resources are available for these critical communication tools.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Greg Bonnen (R) · 23 co-sponsors

introduced · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HB 299: Relating to a limit on political subdivision expenditures and the adoption of ad valorem tax rates.

HB 299 limits annual spending increases for local governments (like counties, cities, school districts, and special districts) that impose property taxes or issue bonds. It requires these entities to calculate a spending cap based on the previous year's inflation rate (measured by the consumer price index) plus their population growth rate. The bill defines key terms like "disaster relief cost" to exclude emergency spending from the spending cap calculation. This policy change directly affects how local governments budget and set property tax rates, tying spending limits to measurable economic and demographic factors.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Education

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 10: Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution.

This bill creates a legal defense for individuals who were victims of human trafficking or forced prostitution and were compelled by force, fraud, or coercion to commit criminal acts. It allows such victims to argue in court that they engaged in the charged conduct solely because of their traffickers' actions, provided they wouldn't have committed the act without coercion and the coercion would have compelled a reasonable person in their situation. The defense does not apply to certain offenses listed in Texas law, and the person doesn't need to prove their trafficker was charged or convicted. The law applies only to prosecutions for offenses committed on or after the bill's effective date (91 days after the 2025 legislative session).

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 13: Relating to the provision by a political subdivision of credits against impact fees to builders and developers for certain water conservation and reuse projects.

SB 13 requires Texas cities and counties (political subdivisions) to offer credits against water and wastewater impact fees to builders and developers who implement eligible water conservation or reuse projects. These credits apply to facilities or systems that reduce per-unit water consumption, decrease wastewater treatment needs, minimize stormwater infrastructure demand, or exceed standard water efficiency requirements. Political subdivisions must establish fair procedures for calculating, applying, and reviewing these credits. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, directly benefiting developers who invest in qualifying water-saving infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HJR 39: Proposing a constitutional amendment to exempt from ad valorem taxation the total market value of the residence homesteads of certain elderly persons and their surviving spouses.

HJR 39 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt the full market value of primary homes from property taxes for Texans aged 65 or older who have held the exemption for 10 consecutive years, and for surviving spouses aged 55 or older who continued living in the home after their spouse’s death. The exemption would apply to the total market value (not just a portion), take effect January 1, 2027, if approved by voters, and require the legislature to develop revenue protection formulas for school districts. Exceptions allow continued taxation for properties with debt backed by property taxes until the debt is paid. The amendment must be voted on by Texas voters in a May 2, 2026, election.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 3: Relating to making supplemental appropriations for disaster relief and giving direction and adjustment authority regarding those appropriations.

SB 3 provides $294 million in supplemental state funding for disaster relief following a July 2025 flood event in Texas. It allocates funds to match federal disaster aid, support local governments in 27 specific counties (including Travis and Bexar) for flood warning systems and equipment, improve weather forecasting in the Texas Hill Country, and build a swift water training facility for first responders. The bill directs the Office of the Governor to manage these funds over two years, with specific requirements for how each allocation must be used. It directly affects local governments in designated flood-impacted areas and emergency response agencies preparing for future weather events.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Joan Huffman (R) · 16 co-sponsors

introduced · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HB 301: Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total appraised value of the residence homesteads of certain elderly individuals and their surviving spouses.

HB 301 creates a new property tax exemption for Texas homeowners aged 65 or older who have already received a homestead exemption for at least 10 consecutive years. It also extends this full exemption to surviving spouses aged 55 or older who were living in the same home when their spouse died (and meet other conditions). The bill directly affects elderly homeowners and their surviving spouses by eliminating all property taxes on their primary residence homestead. This policy change modifies Texas Tax Code Section 11.13 to add these specific exemption criteria, effective only if a related constitutional amendment passes or fails as specified.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Bill results