Texas Bills

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 1130: Relating to liability of a cavern entity for injuries arising from certain activities.

HB 1130 creates limited liability for commercial cavern tour operators (cavern entities) in Texas for injuries sustained by participants during recreational or educational cavern activities. It requires cavern entities to post a specific warning sign at all entrances stating Texas law limits their liability for such injuries, unless the injury resulted from the entity's negligence, known dangerous conditions, or intentional harm. The law applies to injuries occurring after its effective date (May 29, 2025) and exempts cases involving the cavern entity's failure to address safety hazards or properly train staff. This directly affects cavern tour businesses and their participants by shifting legal responsibility unless the required warning is displayed.

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 431: Relating to the regulation by a property owners' association of the installation of solar roof tiles.

HB 431 clarifies that property owners' associations (POAs) cannot restrict the installation of solar roof tiles by explicitly including them in the legal definition of "solar energy device" under Texas Property Code. The bill amends Section 202.010(a)(2) to state that "solar roof tile" is part of the definition, aligning with existing tax code provisions. This change ensures POAs cannot impose blanket bans on solar roof tiles under their regulations, directly affecting homeowners and POAs managing residential communities. The bill is purely definitional and does not create new restrictions or requirements.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 142: Relating to the Health and Human Services Commission's office of inspector general, the review of certain Medicaid claims, and the recovery of certain overpayments under Medicaid.

HB 142 streamlines how Texas' Medicaid Inspector General reviews claims and recovers overpayments. It allows the Inspector General to directly contract with qualified experts for claim reviews without competitive bidding when no bids are received, and clarifies that the office may share certain oversight information with state, federal, or local agencies. The bill directly affects Medicaid providers (through revised eligibility checks) and the Health and Human Services Commission's Inspector General office (by changing its review processes). Key provisions include simplified contracting for expert reviews and expanded information-sharing authority for oversight purposes, all while maintaining compliance with federal Medicaid requirements. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 48: Relating to the creation of an organized oilfield theft prevention unit within the Department of Public Safety.

HB 48 creates a dedicated oilfield theft prevention unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety to investigate and prevent the theft of oil and gas equipment used in drilling, production, and transportation. The unit, headquartered in the El Paso region, will coordinate with local law enforcement, the Railroad Commission, and victims to develop specialized training for police and conduct public awareness campaigns. It will investigate specific theft offenses under Texas law related to oilfield equipment and must follow department rules for operations, including staff training and equipment procurement. The bill establishes this unit as a permanent part of DPS to address theft targeting the energy sector.

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 29: Relating to water losses reported by certain municipally owned utilities to the Texas Water Development Board; authorizing administrative penalties.

HB 29 requires large municipally owned water utilities (those serving over 150,000 connections) to verify their annual water loss reports through independent validation within 180 days of filing. It mandates these utilities to develop and submit a water loss mitigation plan within one year, updated every 10 years with detailed goals and projects. The bill also requires these plans to be integrated into existing water conservation reporting and includes specific guidelines for certified validation personnel. This law directly affects major municipal water providers across Texas, focusing on improving accuracy in water loss reporting and reducing waste through structured planning.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 1022: Relating to the course levels offered at Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College.

This bill updates the legal description of Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College in the Texas Education Code by removing the term "upper-level" from its official designation. It directly affects the university's Rio Grande College campuses in Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Uvalde, which are part of Sul Ross State University. The change takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not alter course offerings, funding, or academic programs. The bill is purely procedural, adjusting how the institution is formally referenced in state law.

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 451: Relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.

HB 451 requires Texas child welfare and juvenile justice systems to screen children in state custody or under juvenile probation for risk of commercial sexual exploitation. It mandates this screening using validated tools within 45 days of a child entering state conservatorship or before juvenile case dispositions, if age-appropriate or concerns exist. The screening must be conducted by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit under the Texas Government Code. Implementation depends on legislative funding, with the law taking effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 198: Relating to periodic health screenings for firefighters.

HB 198, known as the Wade Cannon Act, requires Texas cities and counties that employ firefighters to provide free occupational cancer screenings starting in a firefighter's fifth year of service, with annual screenings thereafter. The screenings must include specific tests: urine, pulmonary function, electrocardiogram, infectious disease screening, breast cancer screening, blood tests, and chest x-rays (limited to once every five years). Political subdivisions may exempt themselves if they already offer annual occupational medical exams meeting standards set by the National Fire Protection Association and approved by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, directly affecting all Texas firefighters employed by local governments.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 1242: Relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 281 as the Ernesto Soliz Cantu Memorial Highway.

HB 1242 designates a specific 3.5-mile segment of U.S. Highway 281 in Brooks County (between County Road 304 and Huppergate Road) as the "Ernesto Soliz Cantu Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install permanent markers at both ends of the designated segment and at appropriate intermediate locations along the highway. This is a commemorative act with no policy changes or funding provisions, directly affecting travelers on that highway segment and the state transportation agency responsible for marker installation. The law took effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on May 29, 2025.

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 1261: Relating to the disposition of abandoned or unclaimed property seized by a peace officer.

HB 1261 changes how Texas law enforcement handles property seized but not claimed after 30 days (if not used as evidence in a case). It requires county or municipal officials to notify owners via certified mail or online posting within 90 days, giving them time to claim items. For property valued at $500 or more with an unknown owner, a public notice must be published in local media or online. Proceeds from sales of unclaimed property, after deducting storage and disposal costs, will go to the local government treasury.

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 210: Relating to contracting with a school district or open-enrollment charter school by a vendor with whom a member of the board of trustees or governing body of the district or school or a related individual has certain business interests; creating a criminal offense.

HB 210 prohibits vendors from bidding on or receiving contracts with Texas school districts or open-enrollment charter schools if a board member or related individual has certain financial ties to the vendor. Specifically, it bans contracts when a board member owns over 10% of the vendor, is closely related to someone who does, or has received gifts worth more than $250. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors (escalating to felonies for repeat offenses or when money/gifts were given as consideration), targeting vendors - not board members. The law applies to all vendors providing goods or services to school districts and takes effect September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · House May 29, 2025

HB 303: Relating to the authority of a Type A or Type B general-law municipality to change to a Type C general-law municipality.

HB 303 amends Texas law to allow Type A municipalities (with 4,999 or fewer residents) and Type B municipalities (with 999 or fewer residents) that have 500 or fewer inhabitants to change their classification to Type C general-law municipalities. The bill lowers the population threshold from "501 to" to "4,999 or fewer" for Type A and "999 or fewer" for Type B, making it easier for very small towns to transition. This change directly affects small municipalities seeking a different governance structure under Texas general-law classifications. The bill became effective immediately on May 29, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Bill results