Texas Bills

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 14: Relating to certain files maintained by a law enforcement agency regarding certain employees of the agency.

SB 14 creates confidential "department files" for law enforcement agencies to track information about licensed employees who hold state-issued law enforcement licenses. These files must include documents about alleged misconduct where evidence was insufficient, but exclude standard personnel records. Agencies must share these files only with the licensing commission during investigations or when hiring new employees, and the files are exempt from public disclosure under Texas law. This policy directly affects law enforcement agencies and their licensed staff by standardizing how sensitive employment-related information is handled and shared.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

introduced · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HR 70: In memory of legendary accordionist Flaco Jiménez.

This is a commemorative resolution (not a policy bill) introduced by Representative Lujan in the Texas House of Representatives. It honors Flaco Jiménez, a legendary San Antonio accordionist and Tex-Mex music pioneer who died in 2025, by recognizing his life, career, and contributions to American music. The resolution pays tribute to his Grammy Awards, National Medal of Arts, influence on musicians like Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, and his community work. It does not create any new laws or affect any policies - it solely serves as a formal expression of respect from the Texas Legislature to Jiménez and his family.

introduced · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HJR 40: Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the determination of a quorum of the senate or house of representatives.

HJR 40 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to require a two-thirds majority of members present for a quorum in either the Texas Senate or House of Representatives, instead of the current simple majority requirement. If approved by voters in the May 2026 election, this change would directly affect how often Texas lawmakers can legally conduct business, potentially making it harder to reach quorum. The amendment would alter a core procedural rule governing legislative operations for both chambers. This is a procedural change requiring voter approval, not a policy shift affecting public programs or services.

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 2: Relating to outdoor warning sirens in flood-prone areas.

SB 2 creates a grant program administered by the governor to help municipalities and counties cover the costs of installing outdoor warning sirens in flood-prone areas. The bill defines "flood-prone areas" as regions affected by a specific 2025 flood event and requires local governments to install sirens in locations with a history of severe flooding and high risks to life or property. The grant program must include clear rules for eligibility, application processes, and monitoring of funds to ensure proper use. This legislation amends both the Government Code (to establish the grant) and Water Code (to mandate siren requirements).

Paul Bettencourt (R) · 20 co-sponsors

introduced · Texas · House Aug 12, 2025

HR 71: Commemorating the 50th anniversary of American Legion Post No. 667 in Universal City.

This Texas House resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of American Legion Post No. 667 in Universal City, Texas (chartered in 1975). It extends the House's best wishes to the post's members and provides an official copy of the resolution to the post as a gesture of recognition for their community service and support of veterans. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it is a symbolic tribute to the post's contributions.

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 43: Relating to an exemption from the requirement to obtain a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain dams or reservoirs operated and maintained for the purposes of erosion, floodwater, and sediment control.

SB 43 exempts certain local water management districts from needing permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to build or maintain small dams and reservoirs. Specifically, it applies to "qualified local sponsors" (like districts created under Texas Constitution Article III or XVI) operating dams with normal storage under 200 acre-feet for erosion, floodwater, and sediment control. The bill allows these entities to construct, maintain, and divert water for repairs without TCEQ permits, while ensuring the exemption continues even if their federal USDA agreement ends. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must adopt implementing rules by April 2026.

Topics ✗ Environment

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 1: Relating to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; requiring a license; authorizing fees.

This bill modifies Texas law regarding death investigations by allowing justices of the peace to skip inquests for deaths resulting from natural disasters, provided clear evidence shows the death was caused by disaster-related injuries and not unlawful acts. It directly affects local courts and families seeking death investigations in disaster-impacted areas. The key provision requires justices to verify disaster causation through clear evidence before waiving the inquest, with similar rules applying to autopsy certifications. The bill expires April 1, 2027, and applies to deaths occurring in the justice's county.

Charles Perry (R) · 22 co-sponsors

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 8: Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of an instructionally supportive assessment program and the adoption and administration of assessment instruments in public schools, indicators of achievement, public school performance ratings, and interventions and sanctions under the public school accountability system, a grant program for school district local accountability plans, and actions challenging Texas Education Agency decisions related to public school accountability.

SB 8 establishes a new statewide "instructionally supportive assessment program" for Texas public schools, requiring the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to create assessments focused on student growth rather than punitive measures. It mandates that school districts provide parents with one-click access to their child’s test results through a secure parent portal, meeting specific security and privacy standards. The bill also requires districts to adopt local accountability plans with TEA grants and ensures transparency in school performance ratings and interventions. Directly affecting parents, school districts, and the TEA, the law aims to shift accountability toward supporting student learning through accessible data and updated assessment practices.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 16: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court security, court documents and arrest warrants, document delivery, juvenile boards, constitutional amendment election challenges, record retention, youth diversion, court-ordered mental health services, the powers of the Texas Supreme Court, and jurors; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing fees.

SB 16 reorganizes judicial districts in Texas, renaming the 522nd Judicial District to include specific counties (Colorado, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Lavaca) and adjusting jurisdiction for the 274th District Court (Comal, Guadalupe, and Hays counties). It directs the 173rd District Court (Henderson County) to prioritize civil and family law cases and the 392nd District Court to prioritize criminal cases. The bill clarifies that county clerks handle certain matters (like misdemeanors and juvenile cases) while district clerks manage others, and authorizes new fees while increasing penalties for specific crimes. These changes affect court operations, case handling, and administrative procedures across multiple Texas counties.

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 6: Relating to abortion, including civil liability for the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs, exemptions from the Texas Citizens Participation Act and Religious Freedom Restoration Act, authorizing civil and qui tam actions, amendments to the fee-shifting statute governing abortion litigation, immunity defenses and limits on state-court jurisdiction and relief, the parens patriae standing of the attorney general, and the jurisdiction of the Fifteenth Court of Appeals; providing for severability.

SB 6 establishes civil liability for the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs, with limited exemptions for medical emergencies (like treating ectopic pregnancies or spontaneous abortions). It directly affects drug manufacturers, distributors, healthcare providers, and internet service providers by removing protections under Texas' Citizens Participation Act and Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Key provisions include authorizing civil lawsuits and "qui tam" actions (whistleblower suits), changing fee-shifting rules in abortion litigation, and limiting state-court jurisdiction over such cases. The bill also grants the Texas Attorney General special legal standing to enforce abortion laws and shifts jurisdiction for certain cases to the Fifteenth Court of Appeals.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

passed · Texas · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 4: Relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Texas.

SB 4 establishes new boundaries for Texas' 38 congressional districts, defining which counties and specific subdivisions (like portions of Bowie and Harris counties) belong to each district. It directly affects Texas voters by determining which geographic areas elect representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill specifies exact county compositions and tract details for each district, such as District 1 covering East Texas counties and parts of Bowie County, and District 2 including sections of Harris County. These changes will govern how Texas residents are grouped for congressional elections starting in the next cycle. The bill passed the Texas Senate on August 12, 2025.

introduced · Texas · House Aug 11, 2025

HB 16: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court security, court documents and arrest warrants, document delivery, juvenile boards, constitutional amendment election challenges, record retention, youth diversion, court-ordered mental health services, the powers of the Texas Supreme Court, and jurors; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing fees.

HB 16 reorganizes Texas judicial districts and clarifies court jurisdictions across multiple counties. It creates the 490th Judicial District for Brazoria County (effective September 2026) and modifies existing districts, such as expanding the 274th District's jurisdiction in Comal, Guadalupe, and Hays counties. The bill also specifies that district clerks handle most civil/criminal cases while county clerks manage Class A/B misdemeanors, juvenile matters, and probate. It includes procedural changes to court operations but does not establish new substantive law. This is a procedural bill focused on administrative structure, not policy outcomes.

Bill results