Texas Bills

introduced · Texas · House Aug 4, 2025

HB 17: Relating to the requirements regarding notice of certain property tax-related information to be provided by taxing units and appraisal districts.

HB 17 requires Texas school districts to include specific, standardized statements in property tax notices sent to homeowners. The bill mandates that notices must show how population changes and state inflation rates affected the district's previous tax collections, plus a comparison to the proposed current tax revenue. This directly affects property owners by providing clearer context for tax rate decisions. The key provision (added as Section 44.004(c-3)) requires districts to state: "In the [previous year], the population changed by [X]%, inflation was [Y]%, and if adjusted for these factors, the district would collect [$Z] instead of the proposed [amount]." Failure to include this information could allow property owners to seek legal action to block tax collection.

introduced · Texas · House Aug 4, 2025

HB 259: Relating to the vote required in an election to approve an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds a taxing unit's voter-approval tax rate; making conforming changes.

HB 259 changes the voter approval threshold for property tax rate increases that exceed a taxing unit's current voter-approved rate from two-thirds to a simple majority. This affects cities, counties, and school districts when seeking to raise property taxes above existing approved levels, as they will now need only over half of votes cast instead of two-thirds. The bill also updates required election notices to clearly compare the proposed tax rate with the current no-new-revenue and voter-approval rates. This policy change lowers the barrier for passing tax increases, requiring fewer voter approvals to implement rate changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

introduced · Texas · House Aug 4, 2025

HB 267: Relating to the inclusion of instruction regarding the beginning of human life in the health curriculum for public school students.

HB 267 requires Texas public school districts to include in the health curriculum for K-12 students the statement that "human life begins at conception and has inherent dignity and immeasurable worth from the moment of conception." This instruction must be part of the health curriculum's enrichment component, which also covers topics like nutrition, mental health, and suicide prevention. The requirement will take effect for the 2026-2027 school year.

Topics ✗ Education

introduced · Texas · House Aug 4, 2025

HJR 34: Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the determination of a quorum of the senate or house of representatives.

This bill proposes changing the Texas Constitution to require only a majority (not two-thirds) of members in the Senate or House to form a quorum for legislative business. Currently, two-thirds of members are needed to meet quorum, but this amendment would lower that threshold to a simple majority. If approved by voters in the May 2026 election, it would alter how Texas legislators convene and conduct official business. The change directly affects all Texas state senators and representatives in determining when legislative sessions can legally proceed.

introduced · Texas · House Aug 4, 2025

HB 263: Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue an emergency or temporary order requested by a county judge following a weather emergency.

HB 263 allows the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to issue emergency or temporary orders for debris disposal or controlled burning after weather emergencies, based solely on a county judge's request - without requiring a declared state of disaster. It directly affects county judges (who can request these orders) and the TCEQ (which must act promptly). The bill adds Section 5.517 to the Water Code, overriding normal procedural requirements (Section 5.502) for such requests. This streamlines debris management following weather events, applying to emergencies occurring before, during, or after the bill's effective date.

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 4, 2025

SB 5: Relating to the regulation of certain products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; requiring occupational licenses and registrations; imposing fees; creating criminal offenses; authorizing an administrative penalty.

SB 5 regulates hemp-derived consumable products (like edibles, oils, and topicals containing cannabinoids such as CBD) sold in Texas. It requires businesses to obtain occupational licenses, imposes fees, and prohibits sales to anyone under 21. The bill creates criminal penalties for violations and administrative fines, while exempting certain products (like hemp seed oil in food), research activities, low-THC cannabis, and medical prescriptions. These changes directly affect hemp product manufacturers, retailers, and distributors operating in Texas.

introduced · Texas · Senate Aug 4, 2025

SB 65: Relating to the criminal offense of interference with child custody.

This bill amends Texas law to criminalize a noncustodial parent knowingly enticing or persuading a child under 18 to leave the custody of the custodial parent or guardian. It classifies this offense as a Class C misdemeanor (fined $500) but elevates it to a state jail felony if the parent has two prior similar convictions or entices the child to leave the state. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after the bill's effective date, not to past actions. It directly affects noncustodial parents who interfere with established custody arrangements.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

introduced · Texas · House Aug 4, 2025

HB 265: Relating to the elimination of ad valorem taxes and the creation of a joint interim committee on the elimination of those taxes.

HB 265 creates a temporary joint committee (composed of five House members and five Senators) to study how to replace local property tax revenue if ad valorem taxes (commonly called property taxes) are eliminated. The committee must examine alternative tax methods, assess how political subdivisions (like cities and counties) could implement them, and determine if revenue redistribution would be needed to address disparities. It must report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by November 1, 2026, and the committee will dissolve on January 1, 2027. The bill does not eliminate property taxes itself but sets up a structured study to evaluate the feasibility of such a change.

introduced · Texas · House Aug 4, 2025

HB 270: Relating to disasters, including the regulation of social media platforms, disaster relief organizations, and disaster volunteers; creating criminal offenses; increasing criminal penalties; authorizing a fee.

HB 270 requires social media platforms to display warnings on posts soliciting disaster-related donations, informing users about potential scams and encouraging source verification. It creates a state certification program for disaster relief organizations through the Attorney General's office, allowing them to apply for official recognition. The bill also authorizes the Texas Division of Emergency Management to access criminal history records for individuals registering as disaster volunteers. These provisions directly affect social media platforms, disaster relief organizations, and volunteer registrants in Texas.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Texas · Senate Aug 4, 2025

SB 60: Relating to emergency preparedness and safety requirements for youth camps.

SB 60 requires youth camp operators in Texas to meet new emergency preparedness standards to obtain or renew their licenses. It mandates camps to maintain operable radios for real-time weather alerts, install emergency warning systems with public address capabilities (not reliant on internet), and monitor local weather and emergency alerts. Camps must also adopt a written emergency plan detailing evacuation routes, muster zones, and the location of emergency equipment like fire extinguishers and flotation devices. These requirements directly affect all licensed youth camps operating overnight accommodations in Texas.

introduced · Texas · Senate Aug 4, 2025

SB 63: Relating to a sales and use tax exemption for certain unprocessed materials used in the manufacture of hydrocarbons.

SB 63 creates a sales and use tax exemption for unprocessed sand, dirt, and gravel used in manufacturing hydrocarbons (such as oil and gas products). The exemption applies only when these materials undergo basic handling activities - like gathering, sorting, or washing - without undergoing chemical changes. This directly benefits oil and gas manufacturers by reducing their tax burden on these specific raw materials. The bill amends Texas Tax Code Section 151.318(b) to include these materials under existing manufacturing tax exemptions.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 4, 2025

SB 11: Relating to the duty of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.

SB 11 requires Texas law enforcement agencies to report election-related crimes to the attorney general and gives the attorney general exclusive authority to prosecute these offenses. Local prosecutors and law enforcement must share relevant information with the attorney general to assist in these cases, and the attorney general can direct local offices to handle or support prosecutions. The law applies only to election crimes committed after its effective date (91 days after the legislative session). This shifts prosecution responsibility for election law violations from local to state-level authorities.

Bill results