Texas Bills

signed · Texas · Senate May 28, 2025

SB 1844: Relating to disannexation of certain areas of a municipality for failure to provide services.

SB 1844 allows property owners in annexed areas to request disannexation (removal from a city) if the municipality fails to provide water and wastewater services to those areas. The bill requires the city to act within 60 days of a valid petition; if it doesn’t, owners can sue in court to force disannexation and recover attorney fees. It specifically targets areas where service obligations under annexation agreements weren’t met, such as lack of connection to municipal water systems. The law, effective September 1, 2025, applies directly to property owners and municipalities in Texas.

signed · Texas · Senate May 28, 2025

SB 1146: Relating to the plugging or replugging of certain inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas.

SB 1146 allows mineral estate owners, surface owners, or operators in good standing to contract with Railroad Commission-approved well pluggers to plug or replug inactive oil and gas wells without current operators (so-called "orphaned wells"). The bill requires contractors to send 30-day notice to the well's operator or surface owner before work begins and mandates compliance with Commission rules. Crucially, it clarifies that paying for plugging does not create liability for future plugging obligations, and evidence of such payments cannot be used against the payer in legal disputes about well responsibility. This law, effective September 1, 2025, provides a clear legal pathway for voluntary well plugging while protecting parties from unintended legal exposure.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Texas · House May 28, 2025

HB 1593: Relating to an advisory committee to study suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in this state.

HB 1593 creates an advisory committee to study suicide prevention and peer support programs specifically for fire departments across Texas. The committee, composed of 8 members including firefighters, fire chiefs, and licensed mental health professionals, will examine existing programs, licensing requirements, and confidentiality issues. It must submit a detailed report to the governor and legislature by September 1, 2026, with recommendations on implementing such programs. This bill does not create new programs but directs a formal study to inform future policy decisions affecting Texas fire departments and their personnel.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Texas · House May 28, 2025

HB 3012: Relating to the fee for a driving safety course.

HB 3012 sets minimum fees for driving safety courses in Texas. It requires course providers to charge at least $25 per student and an additional $3 fee for materials and administration. The law applies directly to driving safety course providers and takes effect September 1, 2025. This is a straightforward fee regulation with no changes to course content or eligibility. The bill was signed into law on May 28, 2025.

signed · Texas · House May 28, 2025

HB 2703: Relating to designating July as American Patriotism Month.

HB 2703 designates the month of July as "American Patriotism Month" in Texas, with no direct impact on individuals or specific policies. The bill requires state agencies and citizens to observe July through ceremonies and activities celebrating U.S. values, honoring historical figures (including Revolutionary War patriots, founding fathers, astronauts, civil rights leaders, and post-9/11 unity), and fostering national pride. It became law immediately upon the governor's signature on May 28, 2025, with no funding or regulatory changes. This is a symbolic designation, not a substantive policy change.

signed · Texas · House May 28, 2025

HB 1238: Relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well.

HB 1238 amends Texas Water Code to allow virtual inspections for Class I injection well permit applications. The bill permits licensed engineers or geoscientists to use satellite imagery, mapping software, or other virtual tools to assess well locations and confirm local conditions, instead of requiring in-person visits. It mandates that these virtual reports must verify the assessment and state casing requirements, with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality retaining authority to request in-person follow-ups if issues arise. This change applies only to new permit applications filed on or after September 1, 2025.

signed · Texas · Senate May 28, 2025

SB 480: Relating to the authority of a local government to enter into an interlocal contract with certain governmental entities to participate in water research or planning activities.

SB 480 allows local governments (like cities and counties) to form formal partnerships with other local governments, the state, or the federal government to jointly conduct water research or planning projects. The bill directly affects local governments seeking to collaborate on water resource management, such as watershed studies or drought planning. Its key provision adds a new section to the Government Code enabling these interlocal contracts without requiring additional legislative approval. This policy change simplifies collaboration but does not fund projects or alter existing water rights. The bill became effective immediately upon the governor's signature on May 28, 2025.

signed · Texas · House May 28, 2025

HB 2890: Relating to an interstate compact for the liquefied natural gas industry.

HB 2890 establishes a legal framework for Texas to join an interstate compact with Gulf Coast states (like Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama) focused on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry. It authorizes the Texas governor to negotiate and sign this compact without needing congressional approval, ensuring it doesn’t increase states' political power relative to the federal government. The compact requires participating states to share information, resources, and services to protect and grow the LNG industry along the Gulf Coast while improving industry coordination. This bill directly affects Texas and other Gulf Coast states participating in the compact, creating a formal mechanism for regional collaboration. The bill became effective immediately on May 28, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Topics ✗ Energy

signed · Texas · Senate May 28, 2025

SB 682: Relating to the designation of a portion of Farm-to-Market Road 2493 in Smith County as the Captain Kevin Williams and Firefighter Austin Cheek Memorial Highway.

This bill designates a specific segment of Farm-to-Market Road 2493 in Smith County (between Church Street in Flint and County Road 150) as the "Captain Kevin Williams and Firefighter Austin Cheek Memorial Highway." It requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the highway and at appropriate intermediate locations along the route. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025. (Procedural designation; no policy changes beyond naming.)

signed · Texas · Senate May 28, 2025

SB 462: Relating to establishing a child-care services waiting list priority for the children of certain child-care workers.

SB 462 requires Texas child-care providers to give priority placement on waiting lists to children of licensed child-care workers who work at least 25 hours per week. This applies to workers employed in licensed facilities (excluding facility owners/directors unless their child is in a separate program). The law mandates that these priority placements must be reviewed annually for eligibility. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, after being signed into law by the Governor on May 28, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Texas · Senate May 28, 2025

SB 2173: Relating to the effect of a tax certificate accompanying a transfer of certain property.

SB 2173 modifies Texas Tax Code Section 31.08 to clarify when a tax lien on property is extinguished after a transfer. It states that if a tax certificate incorrectly claims no delinquent taxes are owed (due to an erroneously granted homestead exemption later canceled), the new property owner is relieved of liability for those taxes. However, this relief does not apply if the transfer occurs between related individuals (e.g., family), an employer and employee, a parent company and subsidiary, or a trust and its beneficiary. The law applies only to tax certificates issued on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect certificates issued before that date.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Texas · Senate May 28, 2025

SB 1921: Relating to a common characteristic or use project in a public improvement district in certain municipalities.

SB 1921 amends Texas law to allow public improvement districts in certain municipalities to fund hotel-related projects like advertising, promotion, and business recruitment. It requires petitions to establish such districts to be signed by qualified hotel managers (e.g., owners, general managers, or authorized management staff) representing over 60% of both the appraised value and number or area of affected hotels. This change affects hotels and their managers in municipalities where these districts operate, streamlining the process for district creation focused on hotel development. The bill became effective immediately after passing both chambers and being filed without the governor’s signature on May 28, 2025.

Bill results