HB 152 requires certain facilities serving vulnerable populations (like children, elderly, or disabled individuals) located in floodplains or with a history of disaster-related communication failures to maintain emergency communication devices. Specifically, these facilities must have portable satellite equipment or radios that work without landlines or cell towers during emergencies. The bill creates civil liability if facilities fail to comply, allowing individuals to sue for damages and recover attorney fees. This law applies only to qualifying facilities and takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.
This bill (HB 151) limits annual increases in the property tax value for Texas primary residences (homesteads). It caps the appraised value increase for a tax year to the lesser of: (1) the property's most recent market value, or (2) 10% of the prior year's value plus the prior year's value plus the value of new improvements. The rule applies only to tax years starting January 1, 2027, but only if Texas voters approve a related constitutional amendment in 2025. It directly affects homeowners with homestead properties paying property taxes under Texas law.
HB 159 requires cities, counties, and other local governments (excluding school districts) to conduct an efficiency audit if they set a property tax rate above the rate that would not generate new revenue for five consecutive tax years, excluding tax years before 2022 (this exclusion ends January 1, 2027). The audit must be completed by an independent auditor within three months, with results shared at a public meeting and posted online within 30 days. Local governments must cover audit costs and provide all necessary records to the auditor. An exception allows a tax rate above that threshold without an audit for two years after a disaster declaration if voters approve.
HB 161 amends Texas law to expand the definition of "federal judge" to include judges from U.S. bankruptcy courts, magistrate judges in U.S. district courts, and U.S. immigration court judges. This change allows these federal judges to apply for a Texas license to carry a handgun under the same eligibility rules as other federal judges. The amendment applies only to applications submitted on or after the bill's effective date, with prior applications governed by existing law. The bill takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.
HB 153 requires Texas school districts to wait at least five years between bond elections seeking voter approval for new school construction or renovations. It directly affects school districts that wish to issue bonds for capital projects, preventing them from holding frequent bond votes. The bill amends the Education Code to add a new provision (Section 45.0034) stating that no bond election may occur before the fifth anniversary of a previous district bond election. This change aims to limit the frequency of such elections, ensuring voter approval is not sought too often for major school funding decisions.
HJR 18 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Texas legislature to set a lower limit on the maximum appraised value used for property taxes on primary residences (homesteads). It would let the legislature cap annual increases at no more than 102% of the previous year's appraised value, instead of the current full market value. This primarily affects homeowners who qualify for the homestead exemption under Texas law. The limit would apply starting the tax year after qualifying for the exemption and expire if the homeowner no longer qualifies for the exemption. The amendment must be approved by voters in the May 2026 election.
HR 17 is a commemorative resolution passed by the Texas House of Representatives to honor the 13 victims of the June 11-12, 2025, San Antonio flooding. It specifically lists the names of the victims (including Esther Chung, Derwin Anderson, and others) and extends condolences to their families, while acknowledging community resilience. This resolution does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change policies - it serves solely as a symbolic tribute to the victims and their families. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct effect on public policy or regulations.
HB 136 establishes the Texas Division of Emergency Management Hill Country 2025 Flood Response Grant Program to provide financial assistance to local governments (including cities, counties, and special districts) in the Hill Country region. The program funds the purchase of interoperable emergency communication equipment (like radios), construction of communication infrastructure, and employee training for first responders. Grants require applicants to submit proposals meeting Division-established criteria and may mandate completion of incident command system training and adoption of standardized emergency procedures. Funds can only be used for flood response-related communication needs, ensuring first responders can effectively communicate during emergencies. The bill creates specific administrative procedures for grant eligibility, award amounts, and contract monitoring.
HB 123 prohibits political subdivisions and private entities receiving state funds from using those funds to pay for lobbying activities. Specifically, it bans spending state funds on lobbying expenses incurred by the recipient, payments to entities required to register with the Texas Ethics Commission, or related parties like employees, contractors, or representatives of associations seeking to influence legislation. The bill applies to expenditures made on or after its effective date, with prior spending governed by existing law. This directly affects organizations that receive state funding and attempt to use those resources for lobbying efforts.
HB 129 requires the state comptroller to dedicate 10% of surplus state revenue exceeding $1.5 billion in each biennium to school district property tax relief. Specifically, if the state has more general revenue than projected at the end of a biennium, the comptroller must deposit 10% of the excess (after required transfers) into a special fund. This fund can only be used to reduce school districts' maintenance and operations property tax rates, directly benefiting school districts and property taxpayers. The bill takes effect for the 2027-2028 biennium and mandates that funds are exclusively for property tax relief, with no other uses permitted.
HB 130 replaces certain school district taxes with a new 6.72% state value added tax (VAT) on businesses selling goods or services for profit. The bill calculates the tax as the difference between taxes businesses pay on purchases (input tax) and taxes they collect on sales (output tax), with exemptions for small businesses, government entities, and nonprofits. It repeals local school district maintenance and operations taxes while excluding financial services, employment, and items already taxed under other laws. The VAT revenue will fund state education, though the bill text cuts off before detailing the full allocation.
HB 131 updates Texas property tax rules for charitable organizations. It requires nonprofits (like hospitals or shelters) that own tax-exempt property to notify tax officials within 30 days of major changes, such as selling the property or losing IRS 501(c)(3) status. For exemptions expiring before January 1, 2026, the bill automatically reinstates them if the organization submits proof of prior exemption and a valid IRS letter, preventing tax liability during the transition. Organizations that paid taxes during the gap between expiration and reinstatement will receive refunds.
