HB 1061 authorizes Texas public school districts to be reimbursed for certification examination fees and related costs paid by teachers and students pursuing career and technology education certifications (including cybersecurity). The bill requires districts to pay these costs upfront and submit written applications to the commissioner for reimbursement, limiting students to one subsidy per exam. It modifies Texas Education Code sections to clarify eligibility for teachers who pass qualifying certification exams and establish reimbursement procedures. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year, applying to all eligible certification exams under these provisions.
HB 3097 allows cities, special districts, and other political subdivisions (excluding counties and municipal utility districts) to change their general election dates to the statewide November election date. It amends the Election Code to give these local governments the option to align their elections with the standard statewide schedule. Subdivisions must make this change by December 31, 2026, if they currently hold elections on different dates. This bill standardizes election timing for qualifying local jurisdictions without requiring counties or utility districts to adjust.
This bill protects sensitive personal information of judges, court clerks, and court staff in Texas. It defines specific details to safeguard - including home addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and children's school information - and prohibits data brokers or others from improperly sharing this data. The law creates a legal right for individuals to sue if their protected information is disclosed and establishes criminal penalties for violations. These changes apply to entities collecting or storing such information for judicial branch employees.
HB 1988 amends Texas law to regulate when the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) may disclose records about former juvenile justice clients. The bill requires that disclosure of personally identifiable information only occurs if the individual is at least 18 years old, has been discharged from commitment, and has provided specific consent for the disclosure. Additionally, the department cannot disclose any information beyond what was consented to or for any purpose other than the agreed-upon reason. This law directly affects former youth in the juvenile justice system who seek to share their records, while imposing new restrictions on TJJD's disclosure practices.
HB 3061 increases penalties for certain criminal offenses committed while wearing masks or disguises specifically to hide the offender's identity. It applies to offenses under Texas law covering assault, robbery, public disorder (Title 5, Chapters 28-30, or Sections 42.01/42.02). If proven, the punishment escalates to the next higher offense category, with a minimum 180-day jail term for Class A misdemeanors. Exceptions allow the penalty increase to be avoided if the disguise was for events like Halloween, proven by a preponderance of evidence.
HB 164 increases fines for violations of migrant housing regulations from $50 to $200 per day per person. It allows qualifying migrant agricultural workers (those living in the facility and not on H-2A visas) to sue for penalties, in addition to county attorneys or the state. The bill also prevents duplicate enforcement actions by setting specific timing rules for lawsuits. This directly affects housing facility operators and eligible workers who face violations.
HB 3741 requires foreign students and employees at Texas public universities to sign a sworn affidavit stating they are not agents of a "foreign adversary" (defined as a nation hostile to the U.S. or Texas). The affidavit must include the exact statement: "I affirm that I am not an agent of a foreign nation hostile to the United States of America or the State of Texas." This applies to all non-citizen, non-permanent-resident students and employees enrolled or hired at public institutions, regardless of when they were admitted or hired. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may create rules to implement the requirement, but the bill itself mandates the affidavit as a direct condition of enrollment or employment.
This bill allows Texas counties and cities (taxing units) affected by declared disasters to temporarily adjust their property tax rates. It creates a special formula that factors in debris removal costs (like from hurricanes or floods) when calculating tax rates, using a "disaster debris rate" based on federal estimates. Taxing units can apply this adjustment for up to three years after a disaster declaration or until property values exceed pre-disaster levels. The change prevents tax increases solely due to disaster cleanup costs, directly affecting local government budgeting in disaster-impacted areas.
SB 629 would increase the interest rate for overdue child support from 3% to 6% per year. This change applies to child support payments due on or after January 1, 2026, and to existing child support arrearages not confirmed as a money judgment by that date. For existing arrearages, the 6% interest rate would apply to the total amount of original unpaid support plus any accumulated interest before January 1, 2026. The bill directly affects parents who owe child support and the children they are obligated to support by increasing the interest that accrues on unpaid amounts.
HCR 113 designates El Paso as Texas' official "Boot Capital" for a 10-year period ending in 2035. The resolution recognizes El Paso's historical role in Western boot manufacturing, citing century-old companies like Lucchese and Tony Lama, and its cultural significance to Texas' identity. It does not create new laws or funding but formally honors the city's heritage through symbolic recognition. The designation remains in effect until the 10th anniversary of the resolution's passage. This is a non-binding ceremonial resolution affecting only El Paso's official designation.
HB 4661 authorizes local county officials to temporarily close beaches near space launch sites during launch operations to protect public safety. It requires evacuations from FAA-defined hazard areas and allows beach closures on launch or backup dates, based on federal safety calculations. Violating these closure orders is a criminal offense, punishable as a Class B misdemeanor (or Class A if previously convicted). The bill directly affects beachgoers near launch sites, local governments managing closures, and spaceflight operators coordinating safety protocols.
HB 4806 modifies Texas law governing medical billing disputes in civil cases. It establishes that medical providers can submit an affidavit stating their charges were reasonable and services necessary, which courts must accept as evidence unless the defendant serves written notice contesting it within strict deadlines (120 days after filing an answer or by expert witness deadlines). If a defendant contests the affidavit, the original affidavit loses evidentiary value except to verify medical records. The bill also clarifies that such affidavits cannot prove causation in the underlying lawsuit. This affects medical providers seeking payment and defendants disputing medical bills in civil trials.
