Texas Bills

in committee · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 4956: Relating to requiring a certification for peace officers to conduct certain polygraph examinations.

HB 4956 requires Texas peace officers to obtain certification before conducting specific polygraph examinations. It mandates that officers complete commission-approved training and pass an exam on investigative polygraphy to legally perform polygraphs for preemployment checks, criminal investigations, or post-conviction sex offender testing. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement must establish these certification rules, with officers required to comply by January 1, 2027. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not apply to existing polygraph use prior to that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 5293: Relating to the establishment of the Texas forensic analyst apprenticeship pilot program.

HB 5293 establishes a pilot program to create forensic analyst apprenticeships in Texas, aiming to increase the state's forensic science workforce capacity. The Texas Forensic Science Commission will set eligibility rules for applicants and accredited crime laboratories that can sponsor apprentices, prioritizing long-term retention of analysts. The program partners with specific universities - University of North Texas Health Science Center (DNA training), Sam Houston State University (drug chemistry), and Texas A&M (firearms analysis) - to develop standardized training curricula. This initiative directly affects new apprentices, crime laboratories, and forensic science training institutions, with the pilot set to expire after a designated period.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Texas · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SB 3001: Relating to requiring contracts with Medicaid managed care organizations to permit the organizations to offer nutrition counseling and instruction services in lieu of other state Medicaid plan services.

SB 3001 requires Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to include nutrition counseling and instruction services in their contracts as an alternative to certain mental health or substance use disorder services. This means MCOs can offer nutrition services instead of other covered Medicaid services, but they cannot replace them with home-delivered meals, food prescriptions, or grocery support. The bill mandates annual reporting on how often these nutrition services are used and requires the state to consider their cost when setting MCO payment rates. It applies to new or renewed contracts starting September 1, 2025, and affects both MCOs and Medicaid beneficiaries seeking these services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 3837: Relating to the regulation of autonomous vehicles; creating a criminal offense.

HB 3837 requires owners of autonomous vehicles (self-driving cars with Level 4 or 5 automation) to provide a valid state permit number when registering or renewing vehicle registration. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles cannot register such vehicles without verified permit ownership, except for vehicles exempt under existing rules. This bill defines key terms like "autonomous vehicle" and "automated driving system" based on SAE standards, creating clear requirements for vehicle identification and permitting. It directly affects owners of self-driving vehicles and the state’s vehicle registration process, adding verification steps to ensure compliance with autonomous vehicle regulations. The bill is currently pending in committee after committee hearings.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Texas · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SB 2819: Relating to the restrictions on political activities of a county elections administrator.

SB 2819 restricts political activities for Texas county elections administrators by prohibiting them from running for public office, holding public office, serving in a political party, or holding positions appointed by elected officials. If an administrator violates these rules, they automatically vacate their position. The bill applies only to appointments made on or after September 1, 2025, meaning current administrators remain unaffected by the new rules. This amendment to the Election Code aims to maintain neutrality in election administration by preventing conflicts of interest for those managing county elections.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 408: Relating to the awarding of contracts by the Texas Department of Transportation for certain materials used in road construction projects.

HB 408 prohibits the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) from favoring construction bids based on environmental, social, or governance criteria (such as carbon emissions) when selecting materials for road projects, if those materials are less cost-effective or durable than alternatives. The bill directly affects TxDOT and contractors bidding on road construction projects by requiring that bid comparisons prioritize cost and durability over ESG factors. It amends the Transportation Code to explicitly ban such preferences in material selection for projects covered under the law. The rule takes effect September 1, 2025, ensuring TxDOT must base contract awards solely on cost and material performance.

Topics ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

in committee · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 4558: Relating to the filing or recording of documents or instruments conveying or purporting to convey an interest in real or personal property.

HB 4558 amends Texas law to require clerks of court to notify specific parties when they reasonably suspect a property-related document is fraudulent. The bill mandates written notice to the person against whom a purported judgment is directed, or to the grantor, grantee, and property owner for documents creating liens or claims on real or personal property. A document is presumed fraudulent if it originates from a non-existent court or claims a lien without legal basis under Texas law. This change establishes a clearer process for addressing potential fraud in property filings, affecting property owners, debtors, and those named in disputed documents.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 4560: Relating to recording requirements for certain instruments concerning real property.

HB 4560 updates Texas property law by adding stricter requirements for recording real estate deeds and heirship affidavits. For deeds filed by title companies or similar entities, the grantor’s signature must be notarized or witnessed by two people; for deeds filed by individuals, both buyer and seller must sign, have two witnesses, and then get the document notarized. Heirship affidavits (used to establish property inheritance) must be signed by the person making the affidavit and all heirs, witnessed by two people, and then notarized. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds legislative vote for immediate implementation.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1775: Relating to reporting information regarding certain evidence collection kits.

HB 1775 requires Texas law enforcement agencies and response teams to report on evidence collection kits used in sexual assault cases. The bill mandates annual reports (by December 1) detailing unanalyzed kits and kits not taken possession of within legal timeframes, plus biennial reports (odd-numbered years) on sexual assault case data like reports received, investigations, and indictments. These reports must include specific metrics on kits not properly handled and be posted online as a "Statewide Electronic Tracking System Report." The law affects all local law enforcement agencies and county response teams handling sexual assault evidence, with implementation set for September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 4914: Relating to the organization, powers, and authority of the Texas State Guard, including the powers and authority of the adjutant general and governor relating to the Texas State Guard.

Based on the provided context, the bill text for HB 4914 is unavailable (marked as "This version is not currently available, but is coming soon"). No specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties are described in the materials provided. The bill's title indicates it relates to the Texas State Guard's organization and authority, but without the actual text or summary details, a factual description cannot be generated. Therefore, a summary of the bill's content cannot be provided at this time.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1378: Relating to municipal and county regulation of certain electric energy storage.

The context provided does not include the actual text or substantive details of HB 1378. While the bill title indicates it relates to "municipal and county regulation of certain electric energy storage," no specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties are described in the available information. The summary section is blank, and recent actions only note committee referrals without policy content. Without access to the bill text or a substantive summary, a factual description of the bill's provisions cannot be provided. For details, the user should refer to the PDF version of the bill text mentioned in the context.

in committee · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 242: Relating to the creation of the criminal offense of disseminating personally identifiable voter information.

HB 242 creates a new criminal offense for obtaining personally identifiable voter information that connects a voter to their specific ballot choices, violating the constitutional right to a secret ballot. It makes this a third-degree felony, with exceptions for election officials acting within their official duties and for court-ordered access during election disputes. The law applies only to offenses occurring on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025), and does not affect past actions. This directly affects individuals or entities attempting to access or collect such private voting data without legal authorization.

Topics ✓ Technology

Bill results