Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 4341: Relating to critical infrastructure facility emergency response maps and the critical infrastructure emergency response map grant program.

HB 4341 requires certain critical infrastructure facilities - specifically Texas-owned or operated airports (as shown on FAA charts) and military installations - to develop detailed emergency response maps if they receive a grant under the new program. The maps must include accurate floor plans overlaid on verified aerial imagery, with labeled rooms, hallways, doors, external hazards, safety equipment locations (like defibrillators and trauma kits), and utility points. The bill establishes a grant program administered by the governor's criminal justice division to fund map development, with facilities only required to comply if they secure a grant. This law, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025, takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3595: Relating to an emergency preparedness and contingency operations plan, including temperature regulation, for assisted living facility residents during an emergency; providing penalties.

HB 3595 requires Texas assisted living facilities to create emergency plans ensuring resident safety during power outages. Specifically, facilities must provide climate-controlled areas (at least 15 square feet per resident) for non-bedfast residents and dedicated climate-controlled rooms for bedfast residents (those unable to move during emergencies). The bill mandates maintaining temperatures between 68°F and 82°F in these spaces and reporting extended power outages (over 12 hours) to the state commission. It also sets new construction standards for facilities built after September 2026, including backup power systems. The law applies directly to all assisted living facilities and their residents, prioritizing safety during emergencies.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 24: Relating to procedures for changes to a zoning regulation or district boundary.

HB 24 establishes new procedures for Texas municipalities to adjust zoning regulations or district boundaries. It requires a public hearing with 15 days' notice published in a newspaper and online before any zoning change takes effect. For changes that do not allow more residential development (non-comprehensive changes), property owners can protest by signing a written protest if they own 20% of the affected area or 60% of adjacent land within 200 feet. The bill, effective September 1, 2025, applies to all Texas cities and aims to balance development decisions with community input.

Topics ✗ Housing

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 101: Relating to creating the Texas State Guard Professionalization Task Force.

HB 101 creates the Texas State Guard Professionalization Task Force to advise the adjutant general on improving the Texas State Guard’s training, structure, and capabilities. The task force, composed of state agency leaders (including the DPS director, emergency management chief, and transportation department head), must examine the Guard’s missions, identify operational challenges, and develop solutions by August 2026. It will recommend policy priorities, budget needs, and strategies to align the Guard’s capabilities with state emergency response requirements. The bill directly affects the Texas State Guard’s future operations and requires formal input from key state agencies to guide professionalization efforts. The bill was signed into law on June 20, 2025, and is now effective.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 18: Relating to the establishment and administration of certain programs and services providing health care services to rural counties.

This bill, the Rural Health Stabilization and Innovation Act, creates a State Office of Rural Hospital Finance to develop and implement a strategic plan for rural hospitals in Texas. The plan must include specific strategies to improve access to hospital services - such as enhanced Medicaid reimbursement, hospital rate enhancements, or reduced regulatory costs - and require annual financial vulnerability assessments to evaluate each hospital’s ability to maintain services, meet obligations, and remain operational. The office will submit annual reports to the legislature, governor, and budget board detailing progress on these goals. This law directly affects rural hospitals by mandating participation in this structured program to address financial challenges and sustain healthcare access in underserved communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3866: Relating to the installation and operation of intermediate bulk container recycling facilities; authorizing a fee.

HB 3866 regulates intermediate bulk container (IBC) recycling facilities in Texas by requiring them to be located at least 2,000 feet from private residences. The bill mandates that facility owners register with the state commission before operation, undergo annual inspections every three years, and pay an annual registration fee. It directly affects businesses operating IBC recycling sites (which handle large reusable containers over 275 gallons for reconditioning or disposal). The law, effective September 1, 2025, aims to protect residential areas from potential environmental risks associated with these facilities.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1230: Relating to the designation of Farm-to-Market Road 10 in Panola County as the Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson Memorial Highway.

SB 1230 designates Farm-to-Market Road 10 in Panola County as the "Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson Memorial Highway" under Texas Transportation Code. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the highway and at appropriate intermediate locations along the route. This is a ceremonial designation with no new funding, regulations, or policy changes; it solely honors Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after receiving approval from both legislative chambers and the Governor.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3627: Relating to allowing the chair of the State Board of Education to employ personnel to assist in performing the board's duties.

HB 3627 allows the chair of Texas' State Board of Education to hire staff to support the board's work. The bill authorizes the chair to employ personnel, set their duties, pay them using existing legislative funds, and make employment decisions like promotions or terminations. Staff hired under this law would receive retirement benefits, expense reimbursements, and report directly to the board chair. The law took effect September 1, 2025, and affects the State Board of Education's internal operations.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 1379: Relating to increasing the criminal penalties for forgery.

SB 1379 increases criminal penalties for forgery in Texas by creating a new value-based penalty structure. It raises penalties based on the value of property or services obtained through forgery, ranging from Class B misdemeanors for under $100 to first-degree felonies for $300,000+ (Section 1, subsection e-1). The bill also specifies higher penalties for forging certain documents like wills, deeds, credit cards, government records, or instruments issued by government entities (Sections 1(d) and 1(e)). Additionally, it mandates enhanced penalties when forgery targets elderly individuals (Section 1(e-2)). The law applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025).

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 108: Relating to the use of metal or body armor while committing certain offenses; increasing a criminal penalty.

HB 108 increases penalties for certain felony offenses when defendants use metal or body armor during the crime. It requires judges to make an affirmative finding if a defendant used such armor (as defined in Texas law) during the commission of a third-degree felony or lower under Title 5 of the Penal Code (excluding first-degree felonies). If this finding is made, the punishment is raised to the next higher category of offense (e.g., a third-degree felony becomes a second-degree felony). The law exempts peace officers, military personnel, and licensed security officers from these penalties. This bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2885: Relating to allowing the governing bodies of certain political subdivisions to call for a local option election relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages.

HB 2885 allows specific counties (with 70,000-100,000 residents, containing part of the Colorado River, and bordering a city of 1 million+ residents) and municipalities to hold local elections on legalizing alcohol sales. County commissioners courts or city councils can initiate these votes by resolution or motion to decide if alcohol sales should be permitted in their area. The bill creates a new process under Texas Election Code Section 501.0211, directly affecting eligible communities seeking to change local alcohol regulations. It takes effect September 1, 2025, without altering current alcohol laws but providing a structured voting mechanism.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2686: Relating to the registration of frac tanks; authorizing a fee.

HB 2686 requires oil and gas companies to register frac tanks (equipment used in oil/gas fracturing) with permanent license plates instead of annual registration. It authorizes a one-time $5 fee for these plates, which remain valid as long as the tank stays in service or is sold. The bill eliminates the need for separate registration receipts under Section 621.002 for tanks displaying these plates. This applies directly to operators of frac tanks used in oil and gas exploration across Texas.

Bill results