Texas Bills

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 1757: Relating to eligibility requirements to practice public accountancy.

HB 1757 updates Texas requirements for becoming a certified public accountant (CPA). It specifies that applicants must either complete 150 academic hours (with accounting coursework) or hold a bachelor's degree in accounting, pass the CPA exam, meet work experience standards, and pass a professional conduct exam. The bill adds a new requirement: individuals with a bachelor's degree must now complete two years of work experience to qualify for certification. It also allows Texas to accept CPA exam results from other states under specific reciprocity conditions, such as if exams were prepared by AICPA or NASBA. The changes take effect September 1, 2025, after the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy adopts implementing rules.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 5188: Relating to an exemption from the requirement to obtain a permit from a groundwater conservation district for certain brackish groundwater wells.

HB 5188 creates an exemption from groundwater conservation district permit requirements for certain brackish groundwater wells. Specifically, it allows operators to drill or operate wells in designated brackish groundwater zones without a district permit if they provide documentation showing the well produces water with at least 3,000 milligrams of total dissolved solids per liter. This directly affects oil and gas operations, landowners, and water users who rely on brackish groundwater for drilling or production activities. The key mechanism requires third-party documentation to verify water salinity, while districts retain authority to revoke exemptions if well use changes or exceeds permitted levels.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 4257: Relating to United States citizenship requirements for the licensing and employment of peace officers.

HB 4257 requires peace officer license applicants in Texas to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, with the requirement applying only once per license (renewals don't need re-submission). It directly affects individuals seeking peace officer licenses and law enforcement agencies hiring them, mandating agencies verify citizenship before employment. Exceptions allow hiring for legal permanent residents who've applied for citizenship, or honorably discharged veterans with at least two years of military service. The bill adds these verification steps to existing licensing and hiring processes under the Texas Occupations Code.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 3964: Relating to common law public nuisance claims.

HB 3964 creates new restrictions on common law public nuisance claims in Texas. It prevents lawsuits seeking damages for government-authorized activities (like permitted operations), conduct already addressed by existing statutes, or product-related claims (such as defective goods). The bill explicitly states that aggregating private nuisance claims does not create a public nuisance claim. These rules apply only to cases filed after the law's effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate effect).

Topics ✗ Environment

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 3095: Relating to damage liability for a collision with a motorist who failed to establish financial responsibility.

HB 3095 would prevent drivers without valid insurance (financial responsibility) from recovering pain and suffering damages (noneconomic damages) in car crash lawsuits. Exceptions include drivers uninsured for ≤45 days after having insurance for a year, passengers, minors, active-duty military returning from deployment within six months, or cases involving a DUI driver. The bill directly affects uninsured drivers injured in collisions or families of those who died in crashes caused by uninsured motorists. Currently pending in the Judiciary Committee after a public hearing, the bill has not yet been voted on.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 4570: Relating to an appraisal process for disputed losses under personal automobile or residential property insurance policies.

HB 4570 creates a standardized appraisal process for resolving disputes over claim amounts under Texas personal auto or residential property insurance policies. The bill requires insurers to include specific appraisal provisions in these policies, mandating that disputes about loss value be resolved through a formal process overseen by the Insurance Commissioner. Key provisions include rules for appraiser independence, investigation timelines, and binding outcomes (except for fraud or material mistakes), applying only to policies delivered in Texas after January 1, 2026. This affects homeowners and auto policyholders who disagree with their insurer's valuation of damage.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 1907: Relating to a prohibition on governmental contracts with Chinese companies for certain information and communications technology; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.

HB 1907 prohibits Texas state and local government entities from entering contracts for information and communications technology (ICT) services with companies tied to the Chinese government. It defines "scrutinized companies" as those organized in China, publicly traded with Chinese government control over leadership, or privately held with Chinese government ownership. Government entities may bypass the ban only with the governor’s approval, citing necessity. Violations face civil penalties and potential criminal charges, though the bill focuses on the contractual prohibition itself.

Topics ✗ Technology

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 4079: Relating to the provision of proxy advisory services in connection with certain entities domiciled in this state.

HB 4079 requires proxy advisors - entities that provide voting recommendations to shareholders - to base their advice solely on financial return and risk factors, not non-financial considerations. It directly affects Texas-domiciled publicly traded companies (those organized in Texas or with headquarters there) and the proxy advisors serving their shareholders. The bill prohibits proxy advisors from considering environmental, social, governance (ESG), diversity, equity, or inclusion factors when formulating recommendations. This is implemented through new definitions and requirements added to Texas Business Organizations Code, mandating that all proxy advisory services must prioritize financial outcomes for shareholders.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 4568: Relating to the Texas moving image industry incentive program and the establishment and funding of the Texas moving image industry incentive fund.

HB 4568 establishes rules for Texas's film and television incentive program, affecting production companies seeking state funding. It prohibits grants for projects including pornography, news programming, political ads, religious content, or state commercials, while requiring content reviews before and after production to ensure compliance with "standards of decency." The bill defines the "Texas moving image industry incentive fund" and mandates that the state office review proposed and final project content to prevent ineligible uses. These provisions aim to direct state funding toward eligible entertainment projects that align with Texas values, without changing existing funding levels.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 2385: Relating to the eligibility of the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits or another annual event of the National Rifle Association for funding under the major events reimbursement program.

HB 2385 amends Texas law to include the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits or another annual event of the NRA as an eligible event for funding under the state's major events reimbursement program. This program reimburses costs for large-scale events that generate significant economic activity, such as sports tournaments and music awards. The bill adds the NRA event to an existing list of qualifying events, including the Academy of Country Music Awards and NASCAR races. As a result, the NRA would become eligible to seek state funds for expenses related to hosting its annual gatherings, directly affecting the organization's funding opportunities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 5388: Relating to operating agreements between holders of a distiller's and rectifier's permit and nonresident seller's permit.

Based solely on the provided context, a summary cannot be generated. The bill text is unavailable ("This version is not currently available, but is coming soon"), and no specific provisions, mechanisms, or policy changes are described. The context only lists the bill's title, filing date, and that it was withdrawn from schedule without further detail. Without the actual bill language or a substantive summary, creating an accurate 3-5 sentence summary is not possible.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 3775: Relating to processing early voting ballots voted by mail.

HB 3775 amends Texas Election Code sections 87.0241 and 87.042 to regulate the processing of mail-in early voting ballots. It prohibits county election boards from opening mail-in ballot envelopes or counting ballots before election day polls open, or before the end of in-person early voting in counties with over 100,000 residents. The bill also requires election boards to maintain detailed chain-of-custody records with signatures from a presiding judge, a board member of a different political party, and a poll watcher if present. These changes apply only to elections held on or after September 1, 2025, and do not affect ballots processed before that date. The bill directly affects county election officials managing mail-in early voting in larger Texas counties.

Bill results