Texas Bills

in committee · Texas · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 2739: Relating to requiring the address on certain identification documents presented by a voter match the address of the voter on the list of registered voters.

HB 2739 requires that voters presenting certain identification documents at polling places must have an address matching their registered voter address. Specifically, it applies to Texas driver's licenses, election ID certificates, and handgun licenses issued by the Department of Public Safety (as listed in Section 63.0101(a)(1) and (5)). Election officials may no longer accept these documents if the address does not match the voter's registration address. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not affect other acceptable IDs like military IDs or passports.

Carrie Isaac (R) Steve Toth (R) Valoree Swanson (R) Janie Lopez (R) · 26 co-sponsors

in committee · Texas · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 231: Relating to a study on food deserts and their disproportionate impact among communities of color.

HB 231 requires Texas' Department of State Health Services to study food deserts - geographic areas with limited access to healthy food - and their disproportionate impact on communities of color. The study must examine causes, health effects, financial costs, and how food access varies by age, race, ethnicity, and income. Based on findings, the department must develop recommendations to address food access disparities and increase healthy food availability, then submit a report to the legislature by September 2026. The bill directly affects communities of color in Texas experiencing food access challenges.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 1090: Relating to prohibiting certain individuals from serving as a volunteer deputy registrar.

HB 1090 prohibits certain individuals from serving as volunteer deputy registrars in Texas elections. It directly affects people seeking these volunteer roles by adding eligibility restrictions: applicants cannot have a final felony conviction (unless fully discharged or pardoned), cannot have been convicted of election-related offenses under Penal Code §32.51, and cannot currently face felony charges. The bill amends election code requirements to require these specific disqualifications for appointment. This change aims to ensure only eligible individuals serve in these election administration roles.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 496: Relating to a ballot option to not vote for any candidate or not vote for or against a proposition.

HB 496 would add a "None of the Above" option to Texas ballots for both candidate races and propositions. Voters could select this option instead of voting for any candidate or measure, though such votes would not count toward determining election winners. The bill requires the Secretary of State to design the ballot format for this option and amends election code sections to include it in ballot instructions and layout. This is a procedural change to ballot design, not a policy affecting specific groups or outcomes.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 1835: Relating to the regulation of new HUD-code manufactured housing.

HB 1835 requires Texas municipalities to permit the installation of new HUD-code manufactured homes as residential dwellings in appropriate areas, including subdivisions and rental communities, unless they provide written denial within 45 days. It prohibits local governments from imposing unreasonable restrictions, specific use permits, or fees for transportation and installation beyond actual costs incurred. The bill mandates that municipalities allow these homes under at least one residential zoning classification and prevents zoning rules that indirectly ban them across all residential zones. This affects homeowners, manufacturers, retailers, and local governments by standardizing regulations for new manufactured housing. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Texas · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 124: Relating to the school safety allotment under the Foundation School Program.

HB 124 increases funding for school safety under Texas' Foundation School Program. It raises the per-student allotment from $10 to $14 annually for each student in average daily attendance and increases the per-campus allotment from $15,000 to $37,000. These changes directly affect all Texas public school districts and campuses by providing additional state funding for safety measures. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, with no further procedural details provided in the text.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Texas · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 5487: Relating to the operation and administration of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium.

The bill text for HB 5487 is currently unavailable (stated as "coming soon" with a PDF reference), so a substantive summary cannot be provided. The bill's title relates to the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium's operation and administration, but no specific provisions or mechanisms are described in the available context. The bill was filed on March 14, 2025, read first time on April 7, 2025, and withdrawn from schedule on April 16, 2025. Without access to the full text, concrete policy details or affected parties cannot be identified.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 4392: Relating to prohibited insurance discrimination on the basis of an insured's marital status following the death of the insured's spouse.

HB 4392 prohibits Texas insurance companies from denying coverage, limiting benefits, or charging higher rates to individuals solely because they are widowed or their marital status reflects a spouse's death. It applies to new insurance policies issued on or after September 1, 2025, but does not affect existing policies in force before that date. The law requires insurers to treat widowed people the same as married individuals for rate and coverage purposes. This change updates the Texas Insurance Code to eliminate marital status discrimination following spousal loss.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Texas · Senate Apr 16, 2025

SB 2510: Relating to establishment of the temporary prescribed burn manager self-insurance pool; authorizing a fee.

SB 2510 establishes a temporary self-insurance pool for certified prescribed burn managers in Texas, administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service. The program provides liability coverage specifically for prescribed burns conducted by participating managers, excluding workers' compensation, auto liability, or professional errors. A fee will be authorized to fund the pool, with coverage limits aligned to minimum requirements under Natural Resources Code. Participation requires a written request to the program, and managers must meet eligibility and safety standards set by the service.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Texas · Senate Apr 16, 2025

SB 302: Relating to the payment of certain costs associated with certain assignments of a statutory probate court judge.

SB 302 requires statutory probate court judges assigned to hear contested matters to order estates and parties to reimburse counties for costs paid to the judge. Specifically, it mandates that judges direct the estate to cover county payments for the judge's compensation and expenses, as specified in Section 25.0022(o-1) of the Government Code. This applies to motions filed on or after September 1, 2025, for judges serving outside their home county, where counties currently pay $25 per day for such assignments. The bill shifts the financial responsibility from county general funds to the probate estate or involved parties. It directly affects counties, probate estates, and parties in contested probate cases.

in committee · Texas · Senate Apr 16, 2025

SB 2689: Relating to the development, promotion, and funding of certain recycling projects.

SB 2689 establishes a state program to develop and promote recycling markets in Texas. It requires the program administrator to create a detailed plan identifying current recycling volumes, unused materials, economic benefits, processing capacity, and barriers to using recycled materials in manufacturing. The plan must include recommendations to increase recycling use, support processors, and expand facilities, with updates due every even-numbered year. This bill directly affects Texas state agencies, local governments, and recycling processors by setting requirements for statewide recycling strategy and funding.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Texas · Senate Apr 16, 2025

SB 1211: Relating to an exemption from sales and use taxes for certain tangible personal property used in hydraulic fracturing.

SB 1211 creates a sales and use tax exemption for oil and gas companies in Texas that purchase equipment to process, reuse, or recycle water (excluding freshwater) specifically for hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") operations at oil or gas wells. The bill amends Texas Tax Code Section 151.355 to add this exemption as a new category, applying to tangible personal property directly used in water processing for fracturing. It defines "freshwater" as water with less than 1,000 milligrams per liter of dissolved solids, excluding such water from the exemption. The tax exemption would take effect September 1, 2025, and does not affect taxes due before that date. This policy change directly benefits oil and gas operators engaged in hydraulic fracturing by reducing their equipment costs.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✗ Environment

Bill results