Texas Bills

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HB 2588: Relating to cottage food production operations.

HB 2588, the "Food Freedom Act," expands home-based food production rules in Texas by defining "cottage food production operations" for individuals or small nonprofits operating from home. It allows these businesses to produce specific non-perishable foods like baked goods, jams, dried fruits, and nut butters, while excluding high-risk items such as meat, seafood, raw milk, CBD products, and canned goods. The bill sets an annual income cap of $100,000 (adjusted for inflation) for these operations and restricts sales to direct consumer purchases or other cottage food vendors. This primarily affects small-scale home food entrepreneurs seeking to legally sell their products without full commercial kitchen requirements.

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HB 5348: Relating to acquiring real property interests for environmental mitigation required for water projects.

HB 5348 requires water project developers (like those building reservoirs) to first seek environmental mitigation by offering to pay property owners for easements on nearby land instead of purchasing full ownership. If property owners reject these offers or agreements fail, developers may then acquire land through standard legal processes. Developers who choose not to use easements must submit a written explanation to the state board detailing their reasons. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HB 4136: Relating to the availability of certain personal information of a member of the governing board of an institution of higher education, the chief executive officer of the institution, or the chief executive officer of a university system.

HB 4136 would make certain personal information about university officials confidential under Texas law. Specifically, it exempts home addresses, phone numbers, emergency contacts, and social security numbers of university governing board members, chief executives, and university system leaders from public disclosure requirements. The bill expands existing protections by explicitly including these officials in a list of protected individuals, ensuring their personal details would not be publicly accessible through the Texas Public Information Act. This change directly affects higher education leadership across Texas public institutions.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HB 1642: Relating to expedited credentialing of certain chiropractors by managed care plan issuers.

HB 1642 creates a new process in Texas law requiring managed care plans (like health insurance companies) to treat qualifying chiropractors as participating providers during their credentialing process. It directly affects chiropractors licensed in Texas who join established professional practices already contracted with a managed care plan. The bill mandates that during credentialing, plans must allow these chiropractors to collect copayments from enrollees and receive payments for services provided, as if they were already in-network. This applies only to chiropractors who submit required documentation, maintain active licensure, and agree to their practice's existing provider contract terms. The key change is accelerating payment access while credentialing is pending, without altering the final credentialing requirements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HR 1102: Recognizing May 13, 2025, as Falun Dafa Day.

This resolution (HR 1102) is a symbolic recognition by the Texas House of Representatives designating May 13, 2025, as "Falun Dafa Day" in Texas. It acknowledges Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) as a spiritual practice with historical roots in Chinese culture and notes its global following, including over a dozen practice sites established in Texas since 1994. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any legal rights; it is purely a ceremonial acknowledgment of the community's presence and practices. It directly recognizes Texas-based Falun Dafa practitioners without imposing any obligations on government or individuals.

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HB 1033: Relating to the applicability of the law governing a grant program for public improvement projects for unincorporated communities in certain counties.

HB 1033 modifies eligibility rules for a state grant program funding public improvement projects in unincorporated communities. It changes which counties qualify by adding two new criteria: (1) counties on an international border with specific population and adjacency requirements, or (2) counties on an international border that partially contain a national park under 100,000 acres. The bill directly affects unincorporated communities in qualifying counties by determining their access to these grants. It does not create new funding but adjusts which existing counties can apply under the current program. The bill is pending further legislative action after committee approval.

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HB 5645: Relating to the term of the chair of a county ethics commission.

HB 5645 changes the term length for chairs of county ethics commissions in Texas. It amends the Local Government Code to require that county ethics commission chairs serve a one-year term (previously six months), selected by a majority vote of commission members. This change applies only to chairs selected on or after September 1, 2025, with existing chairs continuing under the previous six-month term rules. The bill directly affects county ethics commission chairs and their selection process in Texas counties.

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HB 4492: Relating to the failure to pay child support by certain biological fathers; creating a criminal offense.

HB 4492 creates a criminal offense for biological fathers who fail to pay child support for six months or longer for children born to mothers who were unable to access abortion services during pregnancy. It classifies this as a Class B misdemeanor (minimum 180-day jail term) for first offenses, escalating to a Class A misdemeanor (minimum one year) for second offenses, and a state jail felony for two or more prior offenses. The bill allows courts to reduce jail time if the father consents to a voluntary vasectomy, and establishes an affirmative defense if the father supported the mother’s efforts to access abortion services. This law applies only to child support arrears accruing on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025).

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HB 5537: Relating to the prescriptive authority of certain psychologists; authorizing a fee.

HB 5537 would allow certain psychologists with specialized certification to prescribe medications, expanding their current practice scope. The bill amends Texas' Occupations Code to clarify that prescribing falls under the "practice of psychology" for psychologists certified under Subchapter H-1. It specifically targets psychologists who meet training and certification requirements for medication management. The bill also authorizes a fee related to this new prescriptive authority. This measure is currently pending in the Public Health committee as of May 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HB 5274: Relating to the licensing and regulation of anesthesiologist assistants; requiring an occupational license; providing an administrative penalty; authorizing fees.

HB 5274 creates a new licensing system for anesthesiologist assistants in Texas, requiring them to obtain a state license to use that title or the initials "C.A.A." or "A.A." The bill establishes the Texas Anesthesiologist Assistant Board (with two assistants, two anesthesiologists, and one public member) to regulate the profession, set standards, and impose administrative penalties for violations. It specifically clarifies that healthcare workers performing similar tasks without using the title "anesthesiologist assistant" do not need this license. The bill directly affects individuals seeking to practice as anesthesiologist assistants and the healthcare facilities employing them under this new framework.

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HB 3704: Relating to notaries public; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a fee.

HB 3704 creates a new criminal offense for notaries public who perform notarizations when the person signing a document did not personally appear before them at the time of notarization. It classifies this as a Class A misdemeanor, but elevates it to a state jail felony if the document involves real property transfer. The bill directly affects Texas notaries public by adding criminal liability for this specific violation, which was previously addressed only through administrative penalties. Key provisions define "personal appearance" as either physical presence during in-person notarizations or using approved video technology for online notarizations. This bill amends Texas Government Code sections related to notary qualifications, disciplinary actions, and criminal penalties.

in committee · Texas · House May 12, 2025

HB 256: Relating to the Department of Public Safety performing DNA testing of certain individuals crossing the Texas-Mexico border and restrictions on the use of the results of those tests.

HB 256 authorizes the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to conduct rapid DNA tests using mouth swabs on individuals detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Texas-Mexico border who are suspected of falsely claiming family relationships with others detained by CBP. The program requires DPS to destroy biological samples after testing and prohibits creating a DNA database from these tests. Results must be shared with CBP for federal immigration enforcement, and the agreement with CBP must include these destruction and database restrictions. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Bill results