SB 925 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to certain agreements with collective bargaining organizations related to certain publicly funded public work contracts.

SB 925 prohibits public entities from discriminating against contractors or subcontractors based on their relationship with a labor union or willingness to join one for public work projects. It applies to contracts funded by state, local, or federal money, including federal matching programs and government-administered financial assistance. The law prevents public agencies from requiring, discouraging, or favoring bidders based on union status, ensuring contractor selection is based solely on qualifications. This amendment to the Education Code and Government Code standardizes fair treatment in public contracting.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 24, 2025 Last action Apr 9, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Mar 27, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates Texas state law to prohibit public work contracts from discriminating against contractors or subcontractors based on their agreements with collective bargaining organizations (such as labor unions). The changes clarify that government entities cannot require, discourage, or discriminate against bidders who negotiate with unions over wages, hours, or working conditions. This matters because it ensures contractors can freely negotiate with their workers without government interference, promoting fair labor practices in publicly funded projects.

Scope change

The bill expands applicability to include federal match programs and clarifies that the prohibition applies to contracts funded with state, local, or federal money, including debt guarantees, ratepayer funds, and user fees.

DEFINITION

Added clear definitions for 'collective bargaining organization,' 'federal match program,' 'governmentally administered financial assistance,' and 'public work contract' to clarify what is covered.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified eligibility criteria to explicitly include federal match programs and clarify that the anti-discrimination rules apply regardless of whether the funding source is state, local, or federal.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements prohibiting government entities from giving preference to or discriminating against bidders based on their involvement with collective bargaining agreements.

TIMELINE

Maintained the effective date of September 1, 2025, for contracts where solicitation is published on or after that date, while preserving prior law for earlier solicitations.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 26, 2025

How they voted

20–10

Passed

Total votes 30

Mar 26, 2025

D Democratic10

10 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 9, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (20-10)

senate

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Referred to Business & Commerce

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors