Texas Bills

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 31: Relating to exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician's reasonable medical judgment.

SB 31, titled the "Life of the Mother Act," amends Texas Health and Safety Code to create a specific exception allowing abortions when a physician determines in "reasonable medical judgment" that a pregnancy poses a life-threatening risk of death or serious risk of substantial impairment to a major bodily function. It directly affects pregnant individuals with pregnancy-related conditions that threaten life or major bodily function, removing prior requirements that risks be imminent or that physical damage already occur. The law permits physicians to act proactively to address such risks before symptoms manifest, without needing to wait for documented harm. Signed by the governor on June 20, 2025, it became effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Lacey Hull (R) Donna Howard (D) Charlie Geren (R) Bryan Hughes (R) Angelia Orr (R) · 73 co-sponsors

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 138: Relating to the establishment of the Health Impact, Cost, and Coverage Analysis Program; authorizing a fee.

HB 138 establishes the Health Impact, Cost, and Coverage Analysis Program at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. The program analyzes proposed legislation that would require health insurers (including Medicaid managed care organizations) to cover new services, change payment rates, or add administrative requirements. Legislators or committee chairs can request these analyses before voting on such bills. The bill authorizes a fee to fund this program’s operations.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 140: Relating to certain definitions relating to the regulation of and private rights of action arising from certain solicitation-related communications.

This bill amends Texas law to define "telephone call" for telemarketing regulations, specifically directing readers to Section 304.002 of the Business & Commerce Code for the official definition. It does not create new rules but clarifies terminology used in existing laws governing solicitation calls and related private lawsuits. The definition affects businesses making phone solicitations and consumers who may pursue legal action under current telemarketing laws. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5680: Relating to the creation of the Bayou Belle Municipal Management District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

HB 5680 creates the Bayou Belle Municipal Management District No. 1 in Liberty County, Texas, to promote economic development and public welfare. The bill grants the district limited eminent domain authority to acquire land, the power to issue bonds for financing projects, and the ability to impose assessments, fees, and taxes on properties within the district. It directly affects property owners and residents in the designated district area by enabling the district to fund improvements like infrastructure, parks, and safety services. The district is designed to supplement, not replace, existing county services, with its creation intended to support employment, commerce, tourism, and community development.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 5394: Relating to prohibiting single source continuum contractors and child-placing agencies from imposing certain requirements on or adopting certain policies and procedures related to relative and designated caregivers.

HB 5394 prohibits single-source continuum contractors and child-placing agencies in Texas from imposing additional requirements or creating policies related to relative or designated caregivers beyond what is specified in existing law or by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) rules. This directly affects relative caregivers (like grandparents or family friends caring for children) and designated caregivers (those formally approved to care for children in foster care). The bill requires these agencies to follow only the rules explicitly authorized by statute or HHSC regulations, eliminating their ability to add extra conditions. The law took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3806: Relating to prohibited activities of a state trust company under supervision.

HB 3806 restricts certain activities of Texas state trust companies under banking supervision. The bill prohibits these companies from selling assets, lending funds, incurring debt, paying dividends, accepting new clients, changing leadership, or engaging in other activities that threaten their safety and soundness without prior approval from the banking commissioner. These restrictions apply during any period of supervision by the banking commissioner. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting all Texas state trust companies operating under regulatory oversight.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2594: Relating to the venue for the prosecution of certain criminal conduct involving theft.

HB 2594 changes where prosecutors can file cases involving theft of digital or financial assets (like cyber theft or financial fraud). It allows prosecutions to occur in the county where the victim resides, where the suspect was arrested, or where they were extradited. This applies specifically to theft of "intangible personal property" and only for offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The bill does not change what constitutes theft but clarifies jurisdiction for these specific cases.

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 3699: Relating to initial claims under the unemployment compensation system.

HB 3699 modifies how "last work" is defined for initial unemployment compensation claims in Texas. It specifies that "last work" refers to either the last employer the claimant actually worked for (if they worked at least 30 hours that week) or the employer defined under Texas law (or another state's law), unless federal or state law provides otherwise. This change applies only to claims filed on or after January 1, 2026, with prior claims governed by existing law. The bill directly affects Texas residents filing for unemployment benefits for the first time. It clarifies eligibility criteria without altering benefit amounts or duration.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 668: Relating to the renewal of a license to carry a handgun.

HB 668 amends Texas law to change how handgun license holders renew their permits. It requires license holders to submit a renewal application form, pay a $40 nonrefundable fee, and sign an informational form on or before their license's expiration anniversary. This applies to all license holders renewing permits expiring before, on, or after the law's effective date. The bill, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025, took effect immediately and directly affects Texas residents holding active handgun carry licenses seeking renewal.

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 66: Relating to a study on authorizing a supporter under a supported decision-making agreement to assist an adult with a disability with legal proceedings.

SB 66 amends Texas Estates Code to explicitly allow supporters under a supported decision-making agreement to assist adults with disabilities in legal proceedings, including civil and criminal cases. This directly affects adults with disabilities who use supported decision-making agreements, clarifying that supporters may help them access legal information, understand options, and communicate decisions - without making decisions for them. The bill adds "legal proceedings" as a specific area where supporters can provide assistance, aligning with existing provisions for other life decisions like healthcare and finances. It does not create new authority but formalizes current practice by expanding the scope of permitted support in the agreement form.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 863: Relating to water withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer and to the use of certain reclaimed water in an aquifer storage and recovery project.

SB 863 restricts the transportation of water withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer outside the designated aquifer authority boundaries via pipeline or other methods. It requires such water to be used either within the aquifer authority's boundaries or within the certified service area of a retail public utility (as defined by its certificate of convenience and necessity existing on September 1, 2025). The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting water users and utilities operating within or drawing from the Edwards Aquifer region. This policy change modifies existing water usage rules to limit out-of-area transfers.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 2791: Relating to powers and duties of the Texas Workforce Commission with respect to the procurement of goods and services for the provision of vocational rehabilitation services.

HB 2791 allows the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to directly contract for goods and services needed to provide vocational rehabilitation services to Texans with disabilities. The bill requires TWC to select vendors using procurement methods that deliver the "best value," considering factors like cost, quality, vendor reliability, and long-term impacts. It specifically directs TWC to evaluate whether vendors meet the needs of rehabilitation recipients, support historically underutilized businesses, and ensure cost-effectiveness. This change gives TWC flexibility to streamline procurement while maintaining accountability for how taxpayer funds are spent on these critical services.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results