Texas Bills

in committee · Texas · House May 9, 2025

HB 298: Relating to the content of a driver's license or personal identification certificate.

HB 298 requires Texas driver's licenses and personal ID certificates to include a clear indication that the holder is a U.S. citizen. This applies to all licenses issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The bill specifies that licenses must also display the holder's full name, date of birth, a full-face photograph, a distinguishing number, and either a residence address or, for certain federal judges or officials, the courthouse address. It does not change existing requirements for non-citizens. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Mano DeAyala (R) Ben Bumgarner (R) Cody Harris (R) A.J. Louderback (R) Keith Bell (R) · 51 co-sponsors

introduced · Texas · Senate May 9, 2025

SCR 51: Authorizing the creation and appointment of joint legislative study committees.

This resolution authorizes Texas legislators to create joint study committees by mutual agreement between the Senate and House presiding officers. It outlines procedures for forming committees (including membership composition), requiring a joint proclamation identifying study topics and members, and directing committees to use existing staff resources. The resolution also establishes steps for budget proposals, funding approvals, and subcommittee creation with presiding officer approval. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new policy but formalizes how committees operate during the 89th Legislature.

in committee · Texas · Senate May 9, 2025

SB 2553: Relating to the authority of an owner of property that qualifies for an exemption as a historic or archaeological site to protest the allocation of the appraised value of the property between the land and the improvements to the land.

This bill (SB 2553) amends Texas property tax appraisal rules for historic or archaeological sites. It requires chief appraisers to consider how restrictions on altering, improving, or repairing a property (due to its historic designation) affect its market value when calculating ad valorem taxes. The law directly affects owners of properties qualifying for historic or archaeological tax exemptions, ensuring their tax assessment reflects the reduced value caused by preservation restrictions. The change applies only to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Texas · House May 9, 2025

HB 1290: Relating to prohibiting certain food additives from being included in free or reduced-price meals provided by school districts.

HB 1290 bans seven specific food additives - brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), red dye 3, and titanium dioxide - from free or reduced-price meals provided by Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. The bill applies to meals served under federal programs like the National School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program. It prohibits these additives in all meals provided to eligible students through school meal programs, effective for contracts entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2025. The law aims to remove these additives from school meals without specifying health outcomes or industry impacts.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Texas · House May 9, 2025

HJR 161: Proposing a constitutional amendment adding individuals who are not United States citizens to the classes of persons not allowed to vote in this state.

HJR 161 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to explicitly prohibit non-citizen residents from voting in Texas elections. The bill would add "persons who are not citizens of the United States" as a new category barred from voting, alongside existing restrictions for minors, those declared mentally incompetent, and convicted felons. If approved by voters in November 2025, this constitutional change would formally enshrine the current legal standard - non-citizens already cannot vote in Texas - into the state constitution. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2025 general election, with ballot language specifying the change. This is a procedural constitutional amendment, not a new voting law.

Topics ✗ Immigration

in committee · Texas · House May 9, 2025

HB 41: Relating to the acquisition or use of certain foreign equipment or services by a governmental entity.

HB 41 prohibits Texas state and local government entities from acquiring or using unmanned aircraft (drones) or related equipment/services produced by companies owned by or tied to the governments of China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or Syria. The law defines "governmental entity" broadly to include state agencies, cities, counties, and school districts, with a grace period allowing existing systems (acquired before September 1, 2025) to remain in use until September 1, 2030. It also establishes a grant program to help law enforcement agencies obtain secure drone technology through the "Law Enforcement Secure Unmanned Aircraft Grant Program." The bill directly affects all Texas public entities purchasing or operating drone systems, aiming to restrict foreign technology access based on national security concerns.

Cole Hefner (R) · 21 co-sponsors

in committee · Texas · House May 9, 2025

HB 7: Relating to parental rights in public education, to the creation of the office of inspector general at the Texas Education Agency, and to the reporting of certain misconduct and child abuse and neglect; creating a criminal offense.

HB 7 expands parental rights in Texas public schools by allowing parents to appeal school district decisions to the Texas Education Agency commissioner if those decisions violate state law or employment contracts causing financial harm to an employee. It creates an office of inspector general at the Texas Education Agency to oversee reporting of child abuse and neglect, making failure to report such incidents a criminal offense. The bill establishes procedures for the commissioner to remand cases back to school districts for additional review if procedural errors or insufficient evidence led to the initial decision. This bill directly affects parents, school districts, and employees, while excluding cases involving extracurricular activities or student disciplinary actions under Chapter 37 of the Education Code.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 2800: Relating to the apprenticeship system of adult career and technology education.

HB 2800 amends Texas Education Code sections to strengthen apprenticeship pathways in adult career and technology education. It requires career programs to align with college readiness standards, offer multiple entry/exit points with portable credentials (like industry certifications), and culminate in specific outcomes such as registered apprenticeships, Texas Workforce Commission-certified programs, or postsecondary degrees. The bill directly affects career education institutions, adult learners, and employers by standardizing apprenticeship requirements and ensuring training leads to recognized credentials. Key provisions include mandating written apprenticeship agreements, requiring programs to be registered with the Office of Apprenticeship or certified by the Workforce Commission, and linking curriculum to industry-specific skills. These changes aim to create clearer, more accessible career pathways for students entering the workforce.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Texas · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 209: Relating to the creation of the Texas technology and innovation program.

SB 209 establishes the Texas Technology and Innovation Program to help Texas businesses access federal innovation funding. The program matches or supplements money from federal small business innovation programs (like SBIR/STTR) for eligible Texas businesses. To qualify, businesses must be based in Texas (with a state headquarters, manufacturing facility, or majority of employees residing here), meet federal program requirements, and not receive similar funding from other state programs. The Texas office will administer the program, requiring businesses to apply with proof of federal program eligibility and other documentation.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 3362: Relating to grand jury proceedings; providing a punishment for contempt of court.

HB 3362 amends Texas law to require recording of grand jury testimony for accused or suspected persons and establish discovery procedures. The bill mandates that all witness testimony and examinations before a grand jury be recorded via stenographer or electronic device (excluding grand jury deliberations), with unintentional recording failures not invalidating proceedings. It also requires prosecutors to provide accused or suspected persons access to certain documents (like offense reports and witness statements) after notice, while excluding work product of prosecutors and investigators from disclosure. This affects criminal defendants, grand juries, prosecutors, and witnesses in Texas criminal cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 2935: Relating to the creation of the Julia C. Hester House State Park.

HB 2935 creates Julia C. Hester House State Park in Houston, directly affecting the Julia C. Hester House settlement house and community center. The bill establishes the park under the Parks and Wildlife Department’s jurisdiction and specifies it consists of the undeveloped land surrounding the existing community center. It authorizes the department to acquire this land through purchase, gift, lease, or condemnation. The park officially takes effect once all required land is acquired, with the law becoming effective September 1, 2025. This is a procedural bill naming a specific park, not a policy change with broader implications.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 4538: Relating to the transfer by the Parks and Wildlife Department to the General Land Office of a portion of the revenue derived from vessel registration fees to cover the cost of removing derelict vessels from waterways.

HB 4538 requires the Parks and Wildlife Department to transfer 5% of monthly vessel registration fees (from source Subsection (b)(15)) to a new "derelict vessels and structures account" managed by the General Land Office. This fund will specifically cover the costs of removing abandoned boats and structures from Texas waterways. The bill creates a dedicated account within the general revenue fund, with money transferred monthly and allowed to carry over if unused in a fiscal year. It directly affects state agencies responsible for waterway maintenance and vessel regulation, providing a dedicated funding source for derelict vessel removal.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Bill results