Texas Bills

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 589: Relating to combating human trafficking by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

HB 589 requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to establish an anti-trafficking unit, identify businesses in regulated industries impacted by human trafficking, and coordinate with law enforcement and anti-trafficking organizations. The bill mandates TDLR to adopt rules for inspections and investigations related to human trafficking within its regulated programs. It also creates strict confidentiality protections, making victim-identifying information exempt from public disclosure under Texas law. This bill directly affects TDLR operations, businesses in regulated industries, and victims of human trafficking by adding new oversight and privacy safeguards.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 576: Relating to the persons authorized or appointed to exercise the power of sale under the terms of a contract lien on real property.

HB 576 amends Texas Property Code definitions to clarify who can serve as a substitute trustee or trustee under contract liens for real property. It expands the definition to include corporations, government entities, business trusts, and other legal organizations - replacing the previous vague reference to "a person." This change directly affects mortgage servicers, lenders, and foreclosure professionals who must now appoint these specified entities to exercise power of sale during foreclosure proceedings. The bill makes no new policy changes but standardizes existing foreclosure procedures by defining eligible appointees.

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 4952: Relating to the confidentiality of fraud detection and deterrence information under the public information law.

HB 4952 protects certain fraud detection and deterrence information from public disclosure under Texas law. It makes specific materials - including risk assessments, fraud investigation reports, data protocols, and investigative techniques - confidential and exempt from standard public records requests. This applies directly to state and local government agencies that handle fraud prevention. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and aims to prevent public disclosure of methods used to detect or deter fraud.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1110: Relating to a limitation on civil suits against persons reporting suspicious activity in good faith.

HB 1110 protects individuals who report suspicious activity to law enforcement in good faith from being sued civilly. The bill creates a legal shield for such reporters if they acted reasonably under the circumstances and had a reasonable belief the activity involved a crime or terrorism. This law applies only to lawsuits filed after September 1, 2025, and does not cover reports made with malicious intent or unreasonable conduct. It directly affects citizens, businesses, and organizations reporting potential criminal or terrorist activity to authorities.

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1832: Relating to the punishment for certain criminal offenses involving illegal entry into or illegal presence in this state by a person who is an alien; increasing criminal penalties.

HB 1832 increases criminal penalties for non-citizens who illegally enter or remain in Texas. It amends Texas Penal Code sections to upgrade offenses from misdemeanors to felonies based on prior convictions involving immigration violations, drug crimes, or crimes against persons. For example, a prior misdemeanor under immigration law can elevate a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony, and multiple prior offenses can trigger third-degree or higher felonies. The bill specifically targets individuals removed under federal law (citing 8 U.S.C. sections) or convicted of related crimes. The bill is pending in committee and has not yet been enacted.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 4034: Relating to the administration of the Title IV-D agency, the powers and duties of the Title IV-D agency regarding the collection, modification, and enforcement of child support, and to certain procedures for cases and orders relating to the Title IV-D agency.

HB 4034 modifies how Texas's Title IV-D child support agency operates. It allows remote communication in child support cases (eliminating a requirement for in-person proceedings), shields the agency from liability for mediation costs in support orders, and permits suspending enforcement against a paying parent if the recipient parent is jailed for family violence against a child. The bill also requires the agency to adjust child support payments for parents incarcerated for 180+ days, based on income during confinement, and provides procedures for notifying parents of these adjustments. These changes directly affect the state agency, paying parents, and recipient parents in child support enforcement cases.

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 5139: Relating to a legal justification for the use of force with a less-lethal force weapon by a correctional facility guard or a peace officer.

HB 5139 creates a legal defense for correctional facility guards and peace officers in Texas who use specific less-lethal weapons, such as tasers, pepper spray, or impact devices, during their duties. The bill states officers are justified if their use of force aligns with Texas Penal Code Chapter 9 standards and follows their required training. It applies only to offenses committed on or after the bill’s effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed by two-thirds vote). The law does not change existing force standards but explicitly protects officers meeting these two conditions when using designated less-lethal tools.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 5150: Relating to the transfer of the University of Houston--Victoria to The Texas A&M University System.

HB 5150 transfers governance of the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV) to the Texas A&M University System. It amends the Education Code to establish "Texas A&M University-Victoria" as a component institution under the Texas A&M Board of Regents, transferring all property, facilities, and control from the University of Houston System. Existing rules, contracts, and bonds for UHV remain valid under the new governance, with Texas A&M regents assuming authority over operations and academic programs. The bill directly affects UHV’s administration, faculty, students, and campus assets by changing its governing body.

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 4909: Relating to the creation of the My Texas Future portal and a requirement to submit academic information through that portal to determine acceptance for admission at a public institution of higher education as a condition of high school graduation for public school students.

HB 4909 creates "My Texas Future," an online portal requiring public high school students in Texas to voluntarily share academic records with public colleges and universities to apply for admission. Students must opt-in before graduation (with specific opt-out options for parents, 18+ students, or counselor authorization), but it is not mandatory to share data. The bill mandates school districts to provide a multilingual form for this opt-in process and links it to high school graduation eligibility for public school students. This policy change directly affects Texas public high school students by making college application participation a condition for earning a diploma.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1395: Relating to the regulation of private passenger vehicle rental companies.

HB 1395 would require rental companies to issue partial refunds for damage waiver fees if renters return vehicles early. It changes the definition of a "rental agreement" to 30 days (from 180 days) and clarifies that businesses primarily licensed under Chapter 2301 of the Occupations Code are excluded from the definition of "rental company." The law would only apply to agreements signed on or after September 1, 2025, with existing contracts governed by prior rules. This directly affects renters who return vehicles early and rental companies operating in Texas under the defined terms.

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 2295: Relating to newborn screening tests for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

HB 2295 requires Texas hospitals and physicians to screen all newborns for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) using approved tests, alongside existing screenings for conditions like phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism. The bill amends health code provisions to mandate this screening under Section 33.011 and requires the health department to notify parents or healthcare providers if results indicate potential DMD. It also expands the department's role in developing screening methods and maintaining labs for early detection of DMD and other heritable disorders. This policy directly affects all newborns in Texas and the healthcare providers responsible for their initial care.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 376: Relating to the plan for the operation of a central counting station.

This bill amends Texas Election Code to require county election offices to create detailed operational plans for central counting stations. The plans must include specific procedures for reconciling votes with voter lists, scheduling logic and accuracy tests for voting machines, staffing details (including party affiliations of judges), ballot security protocols, and public livestream availability. Counties must post these plans online five days before elections and update them if revised, with contact information for key staff remaining confidential. The bill directly affects county election operations and ensures standardized transparency in election processing.

Bill results