Texas Bills

in committee · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 2225: Relating to the approval of land use assumptions, capital improvement plans, and impact fees.

HB 2225 requires local governments (cities and counties) to publicly share land use assumptions and capital improvement plans at least 60 days before related hearings. It mandates that impact fees must be approved by a 3/4 vote of the governing body within 30 days of a public hearing, and limits any fee increases to once every five years from the fee's adoption or last increase. The bill also requires public disclosure of proposed fee changes per service unit before hearings on amendments. These provisions aim to increase transparency and control over development-related fees imposed by local governments.

in committee · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 1514: Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to issue certain public securities to purchase or lease tangible personal property or purchase, improve, or construct an improvement to real property.

HB 1514 limits Texas local governments' ability to issue bonds for equipment, vehicles, or real estate improvements. It prohibits political subdivisions (like cities, counties, school districts, and special districts) from using bonds to purchase or lease tangible personal property if the asset's useful life ends before the bond matures. The bill also requires that bond terms for real property improvements align with the asset's economic life, capping maturity at 120% of that life. These changes take effect September 1, 2025, to ensure bond financing matches federal tax depreciation rules.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Transportation

in committee · Texas · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 577: Relating to the establishment of the foster child trust account program.

SB 577 proposes a program to manage federal benefits for foster children in Texas. It requires the Department of Family and Protective Services to work with the comptroller to establish interest-bearing trust accounts for children in foster care who receive U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The department would serve as the child's representative payee, deposit benefits into these accounts, and manage funds to maintain the child's eligibility for ongoing benefits. Funds would be disbursed in full (or in $5,000 quarterly installments for larger balances) when the child turns 18 or leaves foster care, whichever occurs first. The bill is pending in committee and not yet law.

in committee · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 1655: Relating to a policy prohibiting public school employees from assisting a student with social transitioning; authorizing a civil penalty; authorizing injunctive relief.

HB 1655 prohibits public school employees in Texas from assisting students with social transitioning, defined as helping students change their name, pronouns, clothing, or hairstyles to express a gender identity different from their sex assigned at birth. School districts must adopt a policy banning such assistance, and parents or staff can report suspected violations to the district board, which must investigate and report confirmed violations to the state commissioner. If violations occur, the commissioner may withhold state funding for the affected school year and adjust future funding to recover any payments made during that year. The bill applies starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✗ Education

in committee · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 3369: Relating to the removal of a spectator of certain school extracurricular athletic activities or competitions.

HB 3369 amends Texas Education Code to change how school officials handle disruptive spectators at athletic events. It removes the requirement for referees or judges to issue a verbal warning before ejecting spectators who behave inappropriately. The law directly affects school officials (like referees) and spectators at district or UIL-sanctioned sports events, allowing immediate ejection without prior warnings. The bill applies starting the 2025-2026 school year and takes effect September 1, 2025, unless it receives a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation.

in committee · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 5539: Relating to the provision of adoption cost information by a licensed child-placing agency.

HB 5539 requires licensed child-placing agencies in Texas to post an itemized list of all adoption-related costs on their public websites. This directly affects adoption agencies, which must now disclose every fee associated with the adoption process (such as agency fees, legal costs, or travel expenses). The bill mandates that this information be clearly listed and accessible online, helping prospective adoptive parents understand full costs upfront. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

in committee · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 4862: Relating to business organizations.

HB 4862 clarifies jurisdiction for business disputes and strengthens Texas business law. It requires references to "district courts" in business law to include specialized "business courts" established under Chapter 25A of the Government Code. The bill also prohibits other states' laws from overriding Texas business regulations (Section 1.057(a)) and allows business managers to consider other states' practices without breaching Texas law (Section 1.057(b)). Additionally, it updates corporate formation rules to specify share details and management structures, and permits business entities to mandate that internal disputes be resolved exclusively in Texas courts. This bill directly affects Texas business entities, their managers, and the state's court system.

in committee · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 497: Relating to requiring parental consent for behavioral or mental health treatment by school district personnel.

HB 497 requires Texas school staff to obtain written parental consent before providing students with behavioral or mental health services, including counseling, contraceptives, or materials on family planning, sexuality, or mental health. The bill directly affects students in Texas public schools and their parents, as it mandates consent for these specific services starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Key provisions include exceptions for special education requirements under existing law and prohibitions on school staff conducting psychological exams or recording students without parental permission. The law does not apply to general school counseling but specifically targets services involving sensitive health topics. It remains pending in committee as of the latest actions.

Topics ✗ Education ✗ Healthcare

in committee · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 1325: Relating to the transfer of public school students who are children of certain public servants.

HB 1325 allows students who are children of judges, peace officers, prosecuting attorneys, or active-duty servicemembers to request a school transfer within their district or to another district under existing agreements. School districts must honor these transfer requests when made by a parent in one of these professions, but are not required to provide transportation for the transfer. The bill amends Texas Education Code to establish this process, replacing a previous 2023 provision. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects eligible students and their families in these public service roles.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 4101: Relating to the liability of a funeral service provider for mental anguish damages.

HB 4101 limits funeral service providers' liability for mental anguish damages. It applies only to claimants (like family members with legal rights to a body or remains) seeking emotional distress damages due to mishandled remains. Providers are not liable unless claimants prove three specific conditions: the remains were mishandled, reasonable practices would have prevented it, and the claimant suffered severe emotional distress from their close relationship with the deceased. This creates a clear legal standard for such claims, restricting liability to cases meeting all three criteria.

in committee · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 3458: Relating to the source of dogs and cats sold by pet stores; providing a civil penalty.

HB 3458 bans pet stores from selling dogs or cats, with limited exceptions for animal control agencies and nonprofit adoption organizations that meet specific criteria. These exceptions require organizations to not obtain animals for compensation, breed them, or have ties to breeders or brokers, and pet stores cannot charge fees or claim ownership for adoption showcases. Violations carry a civil penalty of up to $500 per day per animal sold. The law applies only to animals obtained by pet stores on or after the effective date.

in committee · Texas · House May 13, 2025

HB 4820: Relating to the issuance of obligations by certain water districts bordering certain counties during a disaster declaration.

HB 4820 allows specific water districts bordering the Gulf of America and an international border to issue short-term debt (notes) during disaster declarations without the usual three-year term limit. It directly affects districts in counties without cities over 750,000 population and not adjacent to such counties. The bill requires these districts to submit note authorizations to the attorney general for approval and makes issued notes "incontestable" in court during the declared disaster period. This change streamlines emergency funding access for affected water districts while maintaining oversight through attorney general review.

Bill results