SB 22 requires that residential real estate contracts in a "colonia" (a defined border-area community with 11+ dwellings in close proximity) must provide a Spanish translation upon buyer request, with translations done by a certified Spanish translator. The final binding contract, however, must still be written in English. This law applies only to new contracts entered into on or after the effective date (91 days after the legislative session ends), not to existing contracts. It directly affects buyers and sellers in colonias during residential property transactions.
SB 23 amends Texas law governing the election and term of local administrative district judges in counties with multiple district courts. It sets a two-year term limit for these judges (or the remainder of a term if elected before the second anniversary), prohibits election based on rotation or seniority, and requires the regional presiding judge to break deadlocks if judges cannot agree. The bill also creates an annual court administration conference for regional presiding judges, local administrative judges, and court administrators to discuss court budgets, case statistics, and administrative duties. These changes apply only to elections occurring after the bill's effective date.
SB 24 lowers the threshold for civil cases handled by statutory county courts in Texas from $325,000 to $250,000 for the amount in controversy (excluding interest, damages, and fees). This change directly affects individuals and businesses filing civil lawsuits where the claimed amount falls between $500 and $250,000, shifting these cases to county courts instead of district courts. The bill also requires the Texas Supreme Court to create rules for efficiently resolving these lower-value cases and updates jury size requirements for cases exceeding $250,000. These provisions apply only to cases filed after the bill's effective date.
HB 102 expands the authority of county courts at law in Hidalgo County by granting them concurrent jurisdiction with district courts in family law cases, civil cases, and certain criminal cases (specifically state jail felonies where the alleged damages don't exceed $750,000). This change directly affects residents of Hidalgo County who file or are involved in these types of cases after the law takes effect. The bill modifies existing law to allow county courts to handle these matters alongside district courts, but only for cases filed on or after the effective date (91 days after the legislative session ends). Cases filed before this date remain governed by the previous jurisdictional rules.
This is a symbolic resolution (HR 11), not a policy bill. It formally congratulates Hemulata Basumatary, a Katy baker who owns Hemu's Sweet Sensation, for appearing in the Food Network series *Super Mega Cakes*. The resolution recognizes her baking achievements, including prior competition wins and media features, and extends "sincere best wishes for continued success." It has no legal effect or policy impact - it simply provides a ceremonial expression of appreciation from the Texas House of Representatives.
HB 103 aims to establish statewide consistency by clarifying that Texas state law, not local municipalities or counties, holds regulatory authority over commerce, trade, elections, and criminal justice. It prevents local governments from creating conflicting rules in these areas while explicitly allowing them to build/maintain roads, impose taxes, provide services like general-law municipalities, run public awareness campaigns, or correct ordinances that violate the bill. The bill does not create new state powers but reaffirms existing state authority under the Texas Constitution. It is a newly filed bill (July 16, 2025) with no further legislative action recorded yet.
SB 27 amends Texas law to clarify the jurisdiction of the 2nd Multicounty Court at Law and update juvenile board compositions in Bee, Live Oak, and McMullen Counties. It adds the judge of the 2nd Multicounty Court at Law to each county’s juvenile board (replacing "and" with a comma in the composition language). The bill changes the court’s civil jurisdiction to share authority with district courts (excluding cases exceeding $25,000), but only for cases filed after the law’s effective date. Pre-existing cases remain governed by prior law. The bill takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.
HB 104 sets spending limits for Texas cities and counties by capping annual expenditures at either last year's total or last year's total adjusted for inflation and population growth. The bill requires local governments to calculate their spending limit using the sum of the state's inflation rate (based on consumer prices) and population growth rate, published annually by the Legislative Budget Board. Exceptions allow spending above the cap if voters approve the increase or if a governor declares a state of disaster affecting the area. This bill directly affects all Texas municipalities and counties by requiring them to track and report expenditures against these new limits.
This bill requires the State Preservation Board to install repeater systems on the Capitol grounds to improve communication for first responders during natural disasters or emergencies. The repeaters would boost radio and public safety network signals in hard-to-reach areas like elevators, parking garages, the Capitol basement, and the Capitol extension. The State Preservation Board may use existing funds to implement this without needing new appropriations. The bill takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.
HJR 14 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring a three-fifths (60%) supermajority vote of voters, not just a simple majority, to approve any local government (like cities, counties, or school districts) issuing general obligation bonds or debt funded by property taxes. This would directly affect political subdivisions seeking to borrow money for projects such as infrastructure or schools using property tax revenue. The amendment would take effect January 1, 2026, for bond authorizations approved by voters on or after that date. It must be approved by Texas voters in the November 4, 2025, election to become part of the state constitution.
This bill would create a 35% property tax exemption for landowners in designated priority groundwater management areas who do not irrigate their land. To qualify, the land must be at least half an acre (excluding structures), located in a priority groundwater management area, and not subject to other tax appraisal categories. The exemption applies to the appraised value of qualifying land and would take effect January 1, 2026, contingent on voter approval of a related constitutional amendment. It directly affects agricultural and landowners in specific groundwater regions who maintain non-irrigated parcels.
HB 101 prohibits political subdivisions (like cities or counties) from submitting the same or similar bond proposal to voters for general obligation bonds within two years after voters previously rejected it. Specifically, it adds a new provision to the Texas Government Code stating that a local government cannot re-propose a bond measure for the same project if voters rejected an identical or substantially similar version in the prior two years. This rule applies only to bond elections ordered on or after the bill’s effective date. The bill does not affect past rejections or alter existing bond election procedures for new proposals.
