HB 113 would prevent local governments (such as cities or counties) from resubmitting a bond proposal for the same purpose to voters within five years of a previous rejection at a bond election. The bill adds a new rule to Texas law stating that if voters previously rejected a bond for a specific project, the government cannot ask again for that same project within five years. This rule would only apply to bond elections ordered on or after the bill's effective date. The legislation does not change existing bond requirements but limits how often a government can retry a rejected proposal.
HB 161 authorizes the Texas Attorney General to investigate and sue local governments (municipalities or counties) for violating state law. If the AG finds a violation, they may file a lawsuit, and during the case, the comptroller must withhold state funds, the local government cannot raise property tax rates above their "no-new-revenue" limit, and grant applications are denied. If the AG wins, the local government faces a five-year ban on exceeding tax rate limits or receiving state grants, plus potential penalties. The bill creates specific court procedures, assigning exclusive jurisdiction to the First Business Court Division and Fifteenth Court of Appeals.
HB 78, the Texas Sovereignty Act, would authorize the Texas legislature or state courts to declare certain federal actions unconstitutional, based on the bill's interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. The bill's preamble argues that federal powers are limited to those explicitly delegated in the Constitution, with all other powers reserved to the states under the Tenth Amendment. It establishes a framework for making such declarations and specifies their legal effect and enforcement within Texas. This bill directly affects Texas's legal relationship with the federal government and could influence how federal laws are applied in the state.
HB 175 amends Texas Family Code to establish that courts must presume ordering retroactive child support from a child's conception date (determined by medical evidence or parental testimony) is reasonable and in the child's best interest. It requires courts to calculate retroactive support beginning at conception and allows additional orders for prenatal/postnatal medical expenses paid by the obligor. The bill applies only to new court orders or paternity acknowledgments issued after the law takes effect (91 days post-session), not past cases. It does not change existing support obligations but sets new standards for future retroactive calculations.
HB 153 requires Texas insurers to provide specific written notices when using aerial images to decide not to renew residential property insurance policies. It mandates that notices include date-stamped images showing property defects (taken within the past year) and clear steps for policyholders to address issues. Insurers must establish contact points for policyholders to submit repair documentation and create an appeals process for disputed decisions. This bill directly affects Texas homeowners whose insurance may be nonrenewed based on aerial image assessments. The law applies to all residential property insurers licensed in Texas and aims to increase transparency in nonrenewal decisions.
SB 23 establishes the Texas Redistricting Commission, a new body tasked with drawing congressional, state House, and state Senate district boundaries. The commission will consist of nine members: eight appointed bipartisanship by the legislature (two from each chamber’s majority party and two from each minority party), plus one independent member. To qualify, members must be Texas voters over 25, not hold public office, not work for campaigns or lobbies, and cannot run for office during their term or for two years after redistricting. This bill shifts redistricting authority from the legislature to the commission, directly affecting how Texas voters are represented in all three legislative bodies.
This bill allows local governments within regional transportation authorities to use up to 25% of their annual sales tax revenue for local mobility projects. It directly affects cities and counties that are part of these regional authorities, enabling them to fund sidewalks, trails, streetlights, traffic signals, and drainage improvements. Funds must be distributed with 50% provided at the start of the fiscal year and 50% reimbursed later, with unused funds required to pay down debt secured by a 1% sales tax. The bill creates a formal process for local units to allocate transportation funds while maintaining regional oversight.
HB 54 would require U.S. citizenship for individuals appointed to or serving in certain public offices within Texas state or local government, including positions on advisory boards or task forces. It applies to roles in the state executive, legislative, or judicial branches and to political subdivisions (like cities or counties), but excludes offices with constitutional qualification requirements. Current non-citizen officeholders in affected roles would lose their positions on the bill’s effective date unless they become U.S. citizens before then. The law would take effect 91 days after the end of the current legislative session.
HB 106 creates a joint interim committee to study how to replace revenue lost from abolishing ad valorem taxes (property-based taxes) with local sales and use taxes. The committee, composed of five House members appointed by the Speaker and five Senators appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, must determine required sales tax rates, assess local governments' authority to impose sales taxes, and address revenue disparities. The bill also repeals tax code provisions allowing ad valorem taxes and prohibits their future imposition. The committee must submit a report by December 1, 2026, and expires January 1, 2027.
HB 111 requires a two-thirds majority vote of all voters in an election to approve general obligation bonds issued by Texas political subdivisions (like cities, counties, or school districts). It changes the existing standard by mandating that at least 66.7% of voters must approve bond issuances, instead of a simple majority. This applies only to bonds authorized on or after the law's effective date. The bill does not affect existing bond authorizations or alter the process for other types of bonds.
HB 65, the Flood Victims Memorial Plaques Act, requires the Texas Historical Commission to install commemorative plaques in each impacted Texas House district honoring victims of the 2025 Hill Country flood. The Commission must coordinate with local governments, property owners, and families to select locations and determine plaque content, which must include the flood dates and may list victim names and ages. The bill takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends, focusing solely on creating permanent memorials without altering policies or funding.
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to repeal the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and its dedicated fund. It would redirect $3 billion from that fund to the Texas Education Agency to reduce property taxes through lower state compression percentages. If approved by voters in the November 2025 election, the amendment would eliminate dedicated dementia research funding while shifting those resources to property tax relief. The bill does not change existing dementia research programs but redirects existing funding to a different state priority.
