Texas Bills | MyRepTracker

introduced · Texas · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 104: Relating to the vote required in an election to approve an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds a taxing unit's voter-approval tax rate; making conforming changes.

This Texas bill changes the voter approval requirement for property tax rate increases that exceed a taxing unit's current voter-approved rate. It lowers the threshold from two-thirds to a simple majority of votes cast in the election. The change applies to cities, school districts, and other local taxing units seeking to raise property taxes. Governing bodies can no longer block tax rates approved by a majority of voters based solely on that rate.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Texas · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 57: Relating to a requirement that an appraisal review board rely on an appraisal of residential real property prepared by an appraiser and submitted to the board by the property owner to determine a protest regarding the value of the property.

HB 57 requires Texas property tax appraisal review boards to accept and rely on residential property owners' submitted appraisals when challenging tax assessments. Specifically, if a homeowner provides a certified appraisal (prepared within 180 days before the hearing, from an appraiser not affiliated with tax consultants) at least 14 days before the hearing, the board must rule in the owner's favor and adjust the property's assessed value accordingly. This applies only to residential properties and new protests filed after the bill takes effect. The law also adds penalties for fraudulent appraisals filed with the board.

introduced · Texas · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 37: Relating to the separation of federal elections from state and local elections, and to related practices and procedures.

HB 37 updates Texas election law by clarifying definitions to separate federal elections from state and local elections. It redefines "federal election" to exclude presidential elections, specifies "federal office" as only U.S. Senate or House seats, and adjusts terms like "general election for state and county officers" and "statewide office" to exclude federal contests. These changes primarily affect Texas election administrators and voters by clarifying which elections are classified under state law, ensuring federal contests (except Senate/Representative races) are handled distinctly from state/local voting procedures. The bill is procedural, focusing on terminology rather than altering voting mechanics.

introduced · Texas · House Aug 15, 2025

HJR 8: Proposing a constitutional amendment providing that members of the legislature are not entitled to receive a state salary, per diem, or reimbursement for mileage for an unexcused absence when the applicable house of the legislature lacks a quorum.

HJR 8 proposes a constitutional amendment to deny Texas legislators salary, per diem, or mileage reimbursement for unexcused absences when their legislative chamber lacks a quorum. This would directly affect all Texas state legislators (House and Senate members) who miss sessions without a valid excuse during periods when no quorum exists. The amendment would change the current pay structure by withholding compensation for those specific unexcused absences, as outlined in the proposed addition to Article III, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution. The measure must be approved by voters in a 2026 election before taking effect.

introduced · Texas · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 88: Relating to the effect of a disaster on the calculation of the voter-approval tax rate for a taxing unit that is located in a large federally declared disaster area.

HB 88 modifies Texas tax law to adjust how voter-approval tax rates are calculated for taxing units (like counties or cities) located in large federally declared disaster areas. It defines a "large disaster area taxing unit" as a county covering at least three counties in a Stafford Act disaster area, or other taxing units where most territory lies within such a county. For these units, the bill requires using the special taxing unit calculation method instead of standard formulas, while other units use a modified formula that factors in maintenance, debt, and disaster relief rates. The change applies only to tax years starting January 1, 2026, aiming to prevent automatic tax increases after major disasters.

introduced · Texas · Senate Aug 15, 2025

SB 31: Relating to the regulation of the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, use, and taxation of cannabis and cannabis products and the local regulation of licensed cannabis growers, cannabis establishments, cannabis testing facilities, and cannabis secure transporters; providing for expunction of records relating to certain decriminalized conduct; authorizing the imposition of fees; requiring an occupational license; creating a criminal offense; imposing a tax.

SB 31, titled the "Texas Regulation of Cannabis Act," proposes comprehensive state-level regulation of cannabis cultivation, sale, and taxation while establishing licensing requirements for businesses. It would require occupational licenses for cannabis growers, testing facilities, and transporters, impose a tax on cannabis products, and provide for expungement of records related to decriminalized cannabis offenses. The bill also mandates a study by state agencies to establish a new commission for cannabis oversight, with findings due by December 2026. This legislation directly affects cannabis businesses, consumers, and law enforcement by creating new regulatory frameworks and record-clearing mechanisms. It does not legalize cannabis use but regulates its commercial activity under state authority.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Texas · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 105: Relating to the calculation of certain ad valorem tax rates of a taxing unit and the manner in which a proposed ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax rate is approved; making conforming changes.

HB 105 changes how local governments calculate property tax rates (taxes based on property value) and establishes a new approval process for tax rates exceeding the level previously approved by voters. Taxing units, such as cities, counties, or school districts, would need to follow this specific procedure to raise property taxes above the voter-approved limit. This bill directly affects property owners, as their tax bills could be influenced by these updated rules. The bill also includes minor adjustments to other related laws to maintain consistency with these changes.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Texas · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 90: Relating to the postponement of the effective date of certain changes in law regarding the effects of a disaster and related costs on the calculation of certain tax rates and the procedure for the adoption of a tax rate by a taxing unit.

HB 90 postpones the effective date of specific tax calculation changes related to disaster impacts. It delays the implementation of provisions from H.B. 30 (2025) that would have adjusted how taxing units (like cities or counties) calculate property tax rates after disasters, shifting the effective date from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2028. The bill amends Section 4 of H.B. 30 to reflect this delay, directly affecting local governments managing tax rates. It does not change the underlying tax rules but provides additional time for implementation.

introduced · Texas · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 147: Relating to prohibited considerations in governmental entity contracting and elimination of the state's historically underutilized business program.

HB 147 prohibits Texas government entities from considering race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or diversity, equity, and inclusion programs when awarding contracts. Instead, contracts must be based solely on merit-based criteria like price and qualifications. The bill eliminates Texas' "historically underutilized business program" (Chapter 2161 of the Government Code), which previously provided preferential treatment to certain businesses. This applies to all state and local government contracting decisions made on or after the bill's effective date. The law does not affect existing contracts entered into before the effective date.

introduced · Texas · Senate Aug 15, 2025

SB 37: Relating to fetal development instruction included as part of the public school health curriculum in certain grade levels.

SB 37 requires Texas public schools to provide age-appropriate, medically accurate fetal development instruction to students in grades 7 and 8 as part of the health curriculum. The bill mandates specific content, including the human reproductive process, pregnancy, infertility prevention, birth defect prevention (covering drug/alcohol effects and environmental hazards), and trimester-by-trimester fetal growth descriptions. It does not apply to other grade levels unless the State Board of Education adopts additional rules. The instruction must be integrated into the existing health curriculum framework under state education standards. This policy directly affects Texas public school districts and health educators in grades 7-8.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Texas · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 120: Relating to prohibiting public institutions of higher education from offering programs or courses in LGBTQ or DEI studies.

HB 120 prohibits Texas public universities from offering certificate or degree programs, majors, minors, or courses in LGBTQ studies or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The bill requires all academic programs to align with a definition of "biological reality" stating there are only two unchangeable sexes (male/female), banning DEI programs that promote differential treatment based on race, color, or ethnicity. It mandates annual state audits to check compliance, with non-compliant institutions losing state funding, and imposes penalties on faculty (unpaid leave for first violation, termination for repeat violations). The law directly affects Texas public higher education institutions, their faculty, and students enrolled in affected programs.

Topics ✗ Education

introduced · Texas · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 114: Relating to a prohibition on the guarantee of public school bonds.

HB 114 prohibits school districts and charter districts from having their bonds guaranteed or underwritten using money from the permanent school fund. It directly affects public school districts and charter districts by banning this specific financial mechanism for new bonds approved after September 1, 2025. Existing bonds approved before that date remain guaranteed until maturity under a grandfather clause. The bill amends the Education Code to remove language allowing such guarantees and makes technical updates to related charter school funding provisions.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Education