Texas Bills

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 1247: Relating to consolidating certain nonresident hunting licenses.

This bill consolidates Texas nonresident hunting license categories by removing outdated terms like "nonresident special" and standardizing them as "nonresident hunting license" throughout the Parks and Wildlife Code. It sets a $100.75 fee for the general nonresident license (or higher if set by the commission) and clarifies that a nonresident five-day hunting license fee cannot exceed 50% of the general license fee. The bill repeals redundant sections (42.014, 42.0142, 42.0144) and prohibits nonresidents from holding multiple general licenses or combining general and spring turkey licenses in a single year. It directly affects nonresident hunters seeking to hunt in Texas, simplifying license requirements and fees effective September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 651: Relating to the requirement that a veterans county service office report to the commissioners court or a designated county executive official.

SB 651 requires veterans county service offices in Texas counties with 200,000+ residents to report directly to the commissioners court or a designated county executive official. The bill mandates these offices be separate from other county departments and staffed with at least one full-time employee. It applies specifically to large-county veterans service offices, changing their reporting structure without altering their core services. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, following Governor approval on May 30, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 1662: Relating to notice provided to certain public drinking water supply systems before water quality testing.

SB 1662 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to provide public drinking water systems (specifically those using underground water sources) with notice of up to 24 hours before conducting water quality testing to investigate a complaint. This notice requirement applies when the commission is investigating potential water quality issues at a public water supply system. The bill does not change testing standards or water quality requirements, only the timing of notification to affected systems. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 1537: Relating to the appointment of an interpreter in a criminal proceeding.

SB 1537 requires Texas courts to appoint interpreters in criminal cases when a defendant or witness does not understand English, as determined by a motion from a party or the court. The bill specifies that interpreters must be appointed per Government Code Section 57.002 and sworn to interpret, and it adds that if the appointed interpreter lacks skills or knowledge of slang, the court may allow the defendant or witness to nominate another person to assist as an intermediary during proceedings. This directly affects non-English-speaking defendants and witnesses in Texas criminal trials. The bill does not change who can serve as an interpreter but clarifies the process for ensuring effective communication.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 745: Relating to enhancing the criminal penalty for the offense of intoxication manslaughter in certain circumstances.

SB 745 enhances criminal penalties for intoxication manslaughter in specific cases by elevating it to a first-degree felony. It applies when the victim is a person described in Subsection (b-1) of the law or when more than one person dies during the same incident. This bill directly affects drivers convicted of causing death while intoxicated under these circumstances. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and only applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 1620: Relating to the establishment of the Texas forensic analyst apprenticeship pilot program.

SB 1620 creates a state-funded forensic analyst apprenticeship pilot program to increase Texas' forensic science workforce. The program establishes contracts between the state office, accredited crime laboratories, and academic institutions offering relevant training. It prioritizes long-term retention of forensic analysts by setting eligibility rules for apprentices and sponsoring labs through the Texas Forensic Science Commission. The pilot program, effective September 1, 2025, expires on September 1, 2030, and directly affects forensic analysts in training, crime labs, and participating educational institutions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 958: Relating to the eligibility of certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information.

This bill (SB 958) allows certain victims of human trafficking or compelling prostitution to petition courts for an order sealing their criminal history records. It applies specifically to individuals convicted of offenses like prostitution (Penal Code § 43.02) or drug-related crimes (Health and Safety Code § 481.120/121) that they committed "solely as a victim" of trafficking under Penal Code §§ 20A.02, 20A.03, or 43.05. To qualify, petitioners must prove they assisted law enforcement in trafficking investigations (or were unable to due to age/disability) and meet other court requirements. If approved, courts prohibit public disclosure of related criminal records, aiding victims' reintegration without criminal history barriers.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 1248: Relating to the disclosure of certain harvest report information submitted to the Parks and Wildlife Department.

SB 1248 restricts the disclosure of specific location data from wildlife harvest reports submitted to Texas Parks and Wildlife. It prohibits sharing details like exact harvest locations or personal identifiers (e.g., the hunter's name) with the public, exempting this information from standard public records laws. The bill allows disclosure only to law enforcement with a subpoena, for anonymized statistical reports, or to contracted researchers under strict confidentiality agreements. This directly affects hunters and anglers who submit harvest reports by protecting their location data from public access. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 693: Relating to notaries public; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a fee.

SB 693 creates a new criminal offense for Texas notaries public who perform a notarization with knowledge that the person for whom the document is being notarized did not personally appear at the time of notarization. The offense is a Class A misdemeanor, but becomes a state jail felony if the document involves real estate transfer. The law includes a defense: if the person appearing presented a valid ID identifying themselves as the signer, the notary cannot be prosecuted. This bill directly affects Texas notaries by adding specific penalties for a common type of notarial fraud.

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 1497: Relating to the search of certain wireless communications devices by a peace officer.

SB 1497 requires Texas peace officers to obtain a warrant before searching a person's cell phone or wireless device during a lawful arrest, amending the Code of Criminal Procedure. This applies to most personal devices like smartphones but excludes devices such as skimmers or those designed to illegally obtain payment card information. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting law enforcement procedures during arrests. It changes existing practice by mandating judicial oversight for device searches rather than allowing warrantless searches incident to arrest. The bill was signed into law by Governor Abbott on May 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 1321: Relating to compensation and leave for certain peace officers.

SB 1321 amends Texas law to clarify which peace officers qualify for state employee benefits and leave protections. It expands the definition of "state employee" to include specific law enforcement roles across multiple agencies, such as Texas Department of Public Safety officers, university peace officers, and security personnel at the Texas Military Department. The bill also specifies that certain peace officers commissioned by agencies like the Parks and Wildlife Commission or the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission are covered under leave provisions. These changes directly affect thousands of peace officers working for state agencies by standardizing their eligibility for compensation and leave benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 1734: Relating to status of certain documents or instruments purporting to convey title to or an interest in real property.

SB 1734 establishes a legal presumption that certain documents claiming to transfer real property titles or create liens are fraudulent under Texas law. It specifically targets documents that: (1) mimic court judgments from unrecognized courts/entities, (2) create unauthorized liens, (3) are filed by inmates, or (4) relate to convictions under specific Texas Penal Code sections (Title 7/8) or unchallenged owner affidavits. Property owners can now file a court motion with documentary proof (like a conviction record or uncontroverted affidavit) to challenge such documents in the county where the property is recorded. The bill creates a streamlined process for courts to review these documents and determine if they should be disregarded as fraudulent conveyances, without invalidating legitimate property transfers.

Bill results