Texas Bills

in committee · Texas · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 3049: Relating to the release of a conservation easement burdening the Nueces County historic courthouse property.

SB 3049 releases a conservation easement and related legal restrictions on the Nueces County historic courthouse property. This bill directly affects Nueces County, which received state funds for courthouse preservation under Texas Historical Commission requirements, and the Texas Historical Commission, which held the easement as a condition of funding. The bill requires the commission to execute and file a formal release document within 60 days of the law's effective date. The law takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, otherwise on September 1, 2025. This is a procedural change removing an existing legal restriction tied to historic preservation funding.

Topics ✗ Environment

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1330: Relating to the period for which an applicant for admission as an undergraduate student to a public institution of higher education is entitled to an academic fresh start.

HB 1330 allows public Texas colleges to disregard undergraduate applicants' college credits or grades earned more than 10 years before their enrollment semester, except for credits from the most recent five years. It directly affects students applying to Texas public universities who have not attended college for over a decade. Institutions must create and publish clear policies on how long they will consider academic records, and credits disregarded under this policy will not count toward degree requirements. The law applies to admissions starting in the 2025 fall semester.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 4148: Relating to the records, management, and taxation of navigation districts and certain port and harbor facilities.

HB 4148 modifies record-keeping, meeting rules, and purchasing authority for Texas navigation districts, port authorities, and certain harbor boards. It allows these entities to adopt electronic record storage standards (including converting hard copies to digital formats), exempts port commissions from recording closed security-related meetings, and increases routine purchasing limits from $100,000 to $500,000 for delegated officials. The bill ensures electronic retention standards comply with existing state/federal retention requirements and excludes these entities from certain governmental entity definitions. It directly affects local port and harbor management bodies by changing their administrative procedures.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 5466: Relating to the compensation of directors of the Aliana Management District.

HB 5466 sets compensation limits for directors of the Aliana Management District in Texas. It specifies that directors may be paid up to $150 per board meeting, with a maximum annual total of $7,200 per director. The bill amends the Special District Local Laws Code to establish these specific pay limits. This directly affects the district's board members by defining their allowable compensation. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation.

in committee · Texas · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 2942: Relating to certain charter school programs and students.

SB 2942 amends Texas Education Code provisions related to charter schools and adult education programs. It grants charter schools and their employees immunity from liability similar to traditional school districts (Section 1), lowers the age limit for adult education program eligibility from 60 to 50 years old (Section 2), and clarifies that students in these programs can earn high school diplomas by passing assessments approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Section 3). The bill also modifies accountability frameworks to include career readiness metrics and streamlines approval processes for charter expansions (Sections 4-6). These changes directly affect charter schools, adult learners aged 18-50, and their educational pathways.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1997: Relating to the issuance by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs of certain federal forms for purposes of allocating low income housing tax credits; authorizing an administrative penalty.

HB 1997 requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) to issue Internal Revenue Service Form 8609 within 120 days of receiving a complete application packet from development owners seeking low-income housing tax credits. The bill directly affects developers applying for federal tax credits by mandating specific required documents, including owner certifications, cost schedules, independent auditor reports, and ownership structure details. Key provisions define the exact "documentation packet" needed and authorize administrative penalties for noncompliance. This legislation streamlines the state's process for allocating federal low-income housing tax credits to qualifying developments.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 2985: Relating to the eligibility of certain at-risk developments to receive low income housing tax credits.

HB 2985 amends Texas law to clarify which housing developments qualify for low-income housing tax credits. It specifically defines "at-risk developments" as those receiving federal subsidies (like Section 8 housing assistance or HUD-insured mortgages) where affordability requirements are nearing expiration or mortgages are ending. The bill also includes developments planning to rehabilitate housing units funded under Section 9 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, owned by public housing authorities. This change directly affects housing developers and public housing entities managing subsidized properties in Texas, ensuring these developments remain eligible for tax credits to maintain affordable housing. The policy update focuses on concrete eligibility criteria without altering credit amounts or application processes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1710: Relating to the issuance of a certificate of convenience or necessity for a facility to import or export power into or out of the ERCOT power region.

This bill prohibits Texas utility regulators from issuing certificates for electricity transmission facilities that would enable power imports into or exports out of the ERCOT grid if such facilities would fall under federal FERC jurisdiction. It directly affects energy companies seeking to build transmission infrastructure connecting Texas to external power grids. The key provision amends state law to block these certificates, ensuring ERCOT remains outside federal regulatory oversight. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Energy

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 2007: Relating to commercial signs along certain roads.

HB 2007 requires county commissioners courts to approve new or rebuilt commercial signs along four specific Ranch-to-Market Roads in Texas: 12, 150, 967, and 1826. It mandates that the Texas Department of Transportation cannot issue permits for such signs without prior county approval. This bill directly affects businesses or property owners seeking to construct or reconstruct commercial signage adjacent to those roads. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025, and does not alter existing sign regulations outside these designated routes.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 411: Relating to the repeal of the prohibition against certain municipal or county regulation of the rental or leasing of housing accommodations.

HB 411 removes a state law that previously prevented cities and counties from creating their own rules for rental housing. This would allow local governments to establish their own regulations on issues like security deposits, lease terms, or tenant protections. The bill directly affects municipalities seeking to address housing needs, as well as landlords and renters subject to local policies. Currently pending in committee with no vote taken, the bill has not yet become law.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 295: Relating to including antisemitism in the definition of bullying for the purpose of school discipline policies.

HB 295 would amend school discipline policies to explicitly include antisemitism as a form of bullying. This change would directly affect students, school staff, and administrators in public schools, requiring schools to address antisemitic behavior under bullying protocols. The bill's key provision is updating the definition of bullying to encompass antisemitism, ensuring such conduct is treated with the same seriousness as other forms of bullying. However, the provided context does not include the full bill text or specific implementation details, so this summary is based solely on the title and available description.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Texas · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 3331: Relating to the operation of vehicles transporting steel; authorizing a fee.

HB 3331 creates a new permit system for trucks transporting steel between production sites and first marketing locations. Trucking companies must pay a $1,200 annual fee to operate vehicles with six axles (equipped with safety systems) at up to 90,000 pounds gross weight, exceeding standard axle weight limits under specific spacing conditions. The permit allows temporary weight exemptions for two-axle groups (max 36,500 lbs) and three-axle groups (max 42,500 lbs) when measured axle spacing meets requirements. This directly affects steel transport companies operating within Texas, adding a regulatory fee and permitting process for their heavy-haul operations.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Bill results