Texas Bills | MyRepTracker

died · Texas · House May 6, 2025

HB 2777: Relating to the applicability of the death penalty to a capital offense committed by a person with severe mental illness.

HB 2777 would prohibit the death penalty for defendants found to have had "severe mental illness" (defined as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder with active psychotic symptoms impairing judgment or understanding of wrongfulness) at the time of a capital offense. The bill requires defendants to file a 30-day notice before trial to present evidence of this condition, which they must prove by "clear and convincing evidence." If notice is not filed, such evidence becomes inadmissible unless the court finds "good cause" for the delay. The law would directly affect defendants in Texas capital cases who qualify under this mental health definition, altering sentencing eligibility.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Toni Rose (D) Jeff Leach (R) Joe Moody (D) Charlie Geren (R) Senfronia Thompson (D) · 23 co-sponsors

died · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 4085: Relating to the sales and use tax exemption for the repair, remodeling, or maintenance of aircraft.

HB 4085 would have expanded Texas sales tax exemptions for aircraft maintenance by removing restrictions on which aircraft operations qualify. It specifically exempted repair services, tools/supplies used in maintenance, and certain materials permanently attached to aircraft (like fuel or oil) from state sales and use taxes. This change would directly benefit aircraft repair shops, maintenance businesses, and operators (such as airlines or private aviation companies) by reducing their operational costs. The bill was withdrawn on May 5, 2025, before becoming law, so no policy changes took effect.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

died · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 1671: Relating to the establishment of parentage and the duty to pay retroactive child support, including the duty to pay retroactive child support beginning on the date of the child's conception.

This bill amends Texas Family Code provisions to establish that courts must presume retroactive child support should begin on the date of a child's conception, not just from birth. It requires courts to determine the earliest conception date using medical evidence (per Health and Safety Code) or parental testimony, and mandates that obligors pay retroactive support from that date. The bill also adds provisions for courts to order obligors to cover an equitable share of prenatal/postnatal health care costs as part of retroactive support. It directly affects children, parents establishing paternity, and child support enforcement agencies by expanding the scope of retroactive payments. The changes apply to cases where paternity is established, including those involving pre-birth proceedings.

died · Texas · House May 5, 2025

HB 3354: Relating to the designation of a portion of State Highway 11 in Morris County as the Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle Memorial Highway.

HB 3354 designates a specific section of State Highway 11 in Morris County (between Daingerfield and Hughes Springs) as the "Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the highway and at intermediate locations along the designated stretch. This is a ceremonial designation with no funding or policy changes - its sole purpose is to honor Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle through highway naming. The bill does not affect any laws, regulations, or government programs beyond the memorial signage.

Topics ✓ Veterans

died · Texas · House May 2, 2025

HB 3213: Relating to excavation for the installation of buried fiber-optic cable.

HB 3213 requires companies installing buried fiber-optic cable to submit a map of their proposed installation to local municipalities or counties before excavation begins if work occurs in public right-of-ways. The bill directly affects construction firms and telecom providers performing underground cable work. Key provisions include mandating map submission (with local governments setting format requirements) and increasing civil penalties for violations - from $500-$1,000 for first offenses to $8,000-$10,000 for repeat violations within a year. It also clarifies that liability for damage to underground utilities remains regardless of whether penalties were pursued.

Topics ✓ Technology

died · Texas · House May 2, 2025

HB 2915: Relating to the criminal penalty for rigging a publicly exhibited contest; increasing a criminal penalty.

HB 2915 increases criminal penalties for rigging publicly displayed contests, such as raffles or sweepstakes. It amends Texas Penal Code Section 32.44(c) to upgrade the offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony. This change applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, not to past actions. The bill directly affects individuals who tamper with contests open to the public, making the penalty more severe for this specific crime.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice