Texas Bills

in committee · Texas · House May 9, 2025

HB 1290: Relating to prohibiting certain food additives from being included in free or reduced-price meals provided by school districts.

HB 1290 bans seven specific food additives - brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), red dye 3, and titanium dioxide - from free or reduced-price meals provided by Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. The bill applies to meals served under federal programs like the National School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program. It prohibits these additives in all meals provided to eligible students through school meal programs, effective for contracts entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2025. The law aims to remove these additives from school meals without specifying health outcomes or industry impacts.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Texas · House May 9, 2025

HJR 161: Proposing a constitutional amendment adding individuals who are not United States citizens to the classes of persons not allowed to vote in this state.

HJR 161 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to explicitly prohibit non-citizen residents from voting in Texas elections. The bill would add "persons who are not citizens of the United States" as a new category barred from voting, alongside existing restrictions for minors, those declared mentally incompetent, and convicted felons. If approved by voters in November 2025, this constitutional change would formally enshrine the current legal standard - non-citizens already cannot vote in Texas - into the state constitution. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2025 general election, with ballot language specifying the change. This is a procedural constitutional amendment, not a new voting law.

Topics ✗ Immigration

in committee · Texas · House May 9, 2025

HB 41: Relating to the acquisition or use of certain foreign equipment or services by a governmental entity.

HB 41 prohibits Texas state and local government entities from acquiring or using unmanned aircraft (drones) or related equipment/services produced by companies owned by or tied to the governments of China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or Syria. The law defines "governmental entity" broadly to include state agencies, cities, counties, and school districts, with a grace period allowing existing systems (acquired before September 1, 2025) to remain in use until September 1, 2030. It also establishes a grant program to help law enforcement agencies obtain secure drone technology through the "Law Enforcement Secure Unmanned Aircraft Grant Program." The bill directly affects all Texas public entities purchasing or operating drone systems, aiming to restrict foreign technology access based on national security concerns.

Cole Hefner (R) · 21 co-sponsors

in committee · Texas · House May 9, 2025

HB 7: Relating to parental rights in public education, to the creation of the office of inspector general at the Texas Education Agency, and to the reporting of certain misconduct and child abuse and neglect; creating a criminal offense.

HB 7 expands parental rights in Texas public schools by allowing parents to appeal school district decisions to the Texas Education Agency commissioner if those decisions violate state law or employment contracts causing financial harm to an employee. It creates an office of inspector general at the Texas Education Agency to oversee reporting of child abuse and neglect, making failure to report such incidents a criminal offense. The bill establishes procedures for the commissioner to remand cases back to school districts for additional review if procedural errors or insufficient evidence led to the initial decision. This bill directly affects parents, school districts, and employees, while excluding cases involving extracurricular activities or student disciplinary actions under Chapter 37 of the Education Code.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 2800: Relating to the apprenticeship system of adult career and technology education.

HB 2800 amends Texas Education Code sections to strengthen apprenticeship pathways in adult career and technology education. It requires career programs to align with college readiness standards, offer multiple entry/exit points with portable credentials (like industry certifications), and culminate in specific outcomes such as registered apprenticeships, Texas Workforce Commission-certified programs, or postsecondary degrees. The bill directly affects career education institutions, adult learners, and employers by standardizing apprenticeship requirements and ensuring training leads to recognized credentials. Key provisions include mandating written apprenticeship agreements, requiring programs to be registered with the Office of Apprenticeship or certified by the Workforce Commission, and linking curriculum to industry-specific skills. These changes aim to create clearer, more accessible career pathways for students entering the workforce.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Texas · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 209: Relating to the creation of the Texas technology and innovation program.

SB 209 establishes the Texas Technology and Innovation Program to help Texas businesses access federal innovation funding. The program matches or supplements money from federal small business innovation programs (like SBIR/STTR) for eligible Texas businesses. To qualify, businesses must be based in Texas (with a state headquarters, manufacturing facility, or majority of employees residing here), meet federal program requirements, and not receive similar funding from other state programs. The Texas office will administer the program, requiring businesses to apply with proof of federal program eligibility and other documentation.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 3362: Relating to grand jury proceedings; providing a punishment for contempt of court.

HB 3362 amends Texas law to require recording of grand jury testimony for accused or suspected persons and establish discovery procedures. The bill mandates that all witness testimony and examinations before a grand jury be recorded via stenographer or electronic device (excluding grand jury deliberations), with unintentional recording failures not invalidating proceedings. It also requires prosecutors to provide accused or suspected persons access to certain documents (like offense reports and witness statements) after notice, while excluding work product of prosecutors and investigators from disclosure. This affects criminal defendants, grand juries, prosecutors, and witnesses in Texas criminal cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 2935: Relating to the creation of the Julia C. Hester House State Park.

HB 2935 creates Julia C. Hester House State Park in Houston, directly affecting the Julia C. Hester House settlement house and community center. The bill establishes the park under the Parks and Wildlife Department’s jurisdiction and specifies it consists of the undeveloped land surrounding the existing community center. It authorizes the department to acquire this land through purchase, gift, lease, or condemnation. The park officially takes effect once all required land is acquired, with the law becoming effective September 1, 2025. This is a procedural bill naming a specific park, not a policy change with broader implications.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 4538: Relating to the transfer by the Parks and Wildlife Department to the General Land Office of a portion of the revenue derived from vessel registration fees to cover the cost of removing derelict vessels from waterways.

HB 4538 requires the Parks and Wildlife Department to transfer 5% of monthly vessel registration fees (from source Subsection (b)(15)) to a new "derelict vessels and structures account" managed by the General Land Office. This fund will specifically cover the costs of removing abandoned boats and structures from Texas waterways. The bill creates a dedicated account within the general revenue fund, with money transferred monthly and allowed to carry over if unused in a fiscal year. It directly affects state agencies responsible for waterway maintenance and vessel regulation, providing a dedicated funding source for derelict vessel removal.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

in committee · Texas · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 1679: Relating to the establishment of the Building Better Futures Program to support educational and occupational skills training opportunities and support services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at public and private institutions of higher education.

SB 1679 establishes the "Building Better Futures Program" to provide educational and occupational skills training with support services for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities at Texas public and private colleges. Eligible institutions must have U.S. Department of Education approval for transition programs and follow specific admissions criteria to participate, while students must be Texas residents with a diagnosed disability. The program exempts participating courses from certain existing education code requirements (Sections 61.0512 and 61.822) and requires institutions to award certificates upon program completion. This directly supports students with disabilities in accessing inclusive higher education opportunities at participating institutions.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 3691: Relating to electronic submission of an application for an early voting ballot by mail by certain persons.

HB 3691 allows voters aged 65 or older in Texas to electronically apply for mail-in ballots through the state or county election websites. The bill requires applicants to provide their voter registration number, driver’s license or ID number, and the last four digits of their Social Security number to verify eligibility. It amends election code to permit electronic signatures, automatically deliver applications to the correct voting clerk, and let applicants check their application status online. The program would take effect September 1, 2025, if passed. This directly affects seniors seeking mail-in ballots, simplifying the application process currently requiring paper submissions.

in committee · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 3647: Relating to appeals from orders granting or denying a plea to the jurisdiction by a governmental unit in certain circumstances.

HB 3647 clarifies when appeals can be taken from court decisions regarding government entities' challenges to a court's authority (pleas to the jurisdiction) in specific cases. The bill adds an exception to existing appeal rules, stating that appeals do not apply to orders granting or denying such pleas when the case involves a mandamus action (where someone seeks to force a government official to perform a duty). This directly affects government units (like cities or counties) and individuals or organizations suing them in mandamus cases. The change streamlines the legal process by removing the right to appeal certain jurisdictional decisions in these specific proceedings.

Bill results