Texas Bills | MyRepTracker

died · Texas · House May 10, 2025

HB 3368: Relating to the repeal of wheelbase and horsepower restrictions for the state's passenger vehicle fleet.

HB 3368 repeals existing restrictions on the wheelbase (length between front and rear axles) and horsepower for Texas state government passenger vehicles. This bill directly affects state agencies that operate vehicle fleets, such as those used by state departments and offices. The key provision removes Section 2158.003 of the Government Code, allowing agencies to purchase or lease vehicles without adhering to the previous length and power limitations. If passed, the change would take effect on September 1, 2025, enabling state agencies greater flexibility in vehicle selection. The bill focuses solely on policy change, not outcomes or advocacy.

died · Texas · House May 9, 2025

HB 4288: Relating to the administration of elections, including the public inspection of certain election records.

HB 4288 amends Texas election law to change how election records are handled and inspected. It extends the period for public access to original voted ballots from 61 to 300 days after an election (starting September 1, 2025), while adding new privacy protections for certain voter information. Specifically, it prohibits disclosing poll list timestamps or spoiled ballot details (like voter names and ballot serial numbers) to protect voter privacy. The bill affects election officials who manage records, voters whose privacy is safeguarded, and the public who gains later access to ballot records. (Note: The bill failed committee vote in May 2025 but was reported favorably as substituted.)

Topics ✓ Technology

died · Texas · House May 9, 2025

HB 3528: Relating to the registration and inspection of vehicles.

HB 3528 modifies Texas vehicle registration and emissions inspection rules. It extends emissions inspections from annual or biennial to a three-year cycle for qualifying vehicles, while adjusting fees to maintain revenue. The bill also creates a new 24-month registration period for new passenger cars and light trucks meeting specific criteria (sold in Texas, first-time registration, current or previous model year). Vehicle owners must pay all applicable fees upfront at registration, including optional fees under Subchapter H. These changes apply to passenger vehicles and light trucks registered under Texas Transportation Code provisions.

died · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 3539: Relating to the use of a high occupancy vehicle lane by an operator of a motor vehicle who is pregnant.

HB 3539 allows pregnant drivers in Texas to use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of how many people are in their vehicle, as long as only the unborn child (not additional passengers) is present. This bill amends the Texas Transportation Code to specifically exempt pregnant operators from standard HOV lane occupancy requirements. The law directly affects pregnant drivers who operate vehicles on Texas highways, removing the need for a second passenger to legally use these lanes. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Transportation

died · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 872: Relating to the burden of proof in certain derivative proceedings.

HB 872 shifts the burden of proof in shareholder lawsuits challenging corporate decisions involving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. If a shareholder sues alleging a corporation improperly considered ESG criteria, the corporation must prove the decision was in the company's best interest. This applies only to lawsuits filed on or after September 1, 2025, with pre-existing cases governed by prior law. The bill directly affects shareholders initiating derivative suits and corporations defending such claims.

failed · Texas · House May 8, 2025

HB 4166: Relating to an exemption for certain property owners from regulatory requirements for residential mortgage loan originators.

HB 4166 would exempt small-scale residential property owners from Texas mortgage licensing requirements. Specifically, it would allow owners who make no more than three residential mortgage loans per year to operate without registering as mortgage loan originators. This applies to individuals or entities purchasing property for their own use (not as a business), such as landlords or homeowners selling their property. The exemption removes the need for registration, business plans, complaint handling, and other regulatory requirements under Section 156.2012 of the Texas Finance Code. The bill failed to pass in the 2025 legislative session.

died · Texas · House May 7, 2025

HB 2947: Relating to truancy and the offense of a parent contributing to nonattendance.

HB 2947 increases criminal penalties for parents whose children repeatedly miss school without excuse, raising fines from $100 to $150 for a first offense (up to $800 for fifth+ offenses). It requires schools to certify they applied truancy prevention measures before referring cases to court and mandates schools to report annual truancy data by campus and grade. The bill also allows courts to dismiss fines if parents prove the child turned 21, graduated, or joined the military. These changes directly affect parents of chronically absent students, school districts, and truancy courts. The bill adds new reporting requirements for school districts to track attendance patterns and referrals.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · Texas · House May 7, 2025

HB 333: Relating to the authority of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to commission peace officers.

HB 333 amends Texas law to explicitly include the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribe among tribes authorized to commission peace officers. The bill adds the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to Article 2A.003(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, allowing its tribal council to employ and commission peace officers who can enforce state law within the tribe's reservation. This change directly affects the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo by expanding its existing authority to employ tribal peace officers. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not alter existing enforcement powers for other tribes like the Alabama-Coushatta or Kickapoo Traditional Tribe.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Texas · House May 7, 2025

HB 4635: Relating to disclosure of the use of artificial intelligence in the denial of insurance claims.

HB 4635 requires insurance companies and health maintenance organizations to disclose when artificial intelligence (AI) is used to deny a claim. Insurers must provide claimants with a written notice containing three specific items: (1) confirmation that AI made the denial, (2) the basis for the AI decision, and (3) instructions for appealing the denial. This law applies only to claims submitted on or after September 1, 2025, and does not apply to claims denied without AI involvement.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

died · Texas · House May 6, 2025

HB 5062: Relating to requiring a public institution of higher education to award certain course credit for a dual credit course in computer science.

HB 5062 requires public Texas colleges and universities to award undergraduate course credit toward a foreign language requirement for students who successfully complete dual credit computer science courses. This applies to students not majoring in a foreign language, beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year. The bill text contains an apparent inconsistency, as it references "foreign language course credit" for computer science courses, though the bill's title and purpose relate to computer science credit. The bill was withdrawn from consideration on May 6, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

died · Texas · House May 6, 2025

HB 2893: Relating to authorization by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for certain public junior colleges to offer certain baccalaureate degree programs.

HB 2893 would allow Texas public junior colleges to offer bachelor's degrees in specific fields - applied science (with emphases in early childhood education, applied technology, or nursing) or education - subject to approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. To qualify, a college must already offer degrees in one of those fields and demonstrate a clear workforce need for the new program. The bill also limits each junior college to no more than five bachelor's degree programs at any time, down from eight. This change would take effect for the 2025-2026 academic year if approved.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Texas · House May 6, 2025

HB 1713: Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of criminal mischief involving impairment of electric vehicle supply equipment.

HB 1713 increases criminal penalties for damaging electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by elevating offenses involving impairment of EV supply equipment to a Class A misdemeanor. This change applies when the damage causes impairment or interruption to EV charging infrastructure, regardless of the financial loss amount. The bill specifically targets individuals who disrupt or tamper with public or private EV charging equipment, making such acts punishable more severely than general property damage under Texas Penal Code. It directly affects anyone who intentionally damages or interferes with EV charging stations, including vandals or those causing accidental disruption during maintenance. The amendment modifies existing penalty tiers to prioritize protection of emerging EV infrastructure.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation