SB 884 establishes a shared savings program requiring health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider benefit plans in Texas to disclose average contracted rates paid to healthcare providers for covered services. The bill mandates that insurers create a public website showing monthly average rates for specific services and operate a toll-free number for enrollees to request this information. It applies only to medically necessary nonemergency care covered under HMOs (Chapter 843) or preferred provider plans (Chapter 1301). The program aims to increase transparency about provider payment rates, allowing consumers to compare costs directly. This bill was referred to the Health & Human Services Committee but was reported adversely on April 14, 2025.
SB 758 updates Texas law to clarify which entities qualify as "governmental bodies" under the public information law (Government Code § 552.003). It explicitly adds specific groups like school district boards, county boards of education, water district governing boards, and local workforce development boards to the definition. The bill also excludes certain economic development entities from the definition if they meet strict criteria, such as not receiving over $1 million in public funds annually or lacking authority over tax incentives. This definition change applies only to public information requests received on or after September 1, 2025.
HB 2794 restricts the use of evidence about a victim's past sexual behavior in criminal cases involving sexual assault (Section 22.011), indecent assault (22.012), or aggravated sexual assault (22.021) under Texas law. The bill generally prohibits such evidence, but allows limited exceptions - like proving consent with the defendant or rebutting scientific evidence - only if a judge reviews the evidence in private and determines it outweighs potential harm to the victim. It also disapproves Texas Rule 412, which previously governed this evidence standard. The law applies to cases starting on or after September 1, 2025.
SB 2255 allows military spouses in Texas to practice licensed professions without obtaining a new Texas license if they hold a current, comparable license from another state. It specifically permits spouses to work in their licensed field if their out-of-state license is "similar in scope of practice" and they are in good standing, provided they notify the state agency, submit a military ID and permanent change of station (PCS) order as residency proof, and receive agency confirmation. The bill amends Texas Occupations Code sections 55.004 and 55.0041 to remove residency documentation requirements for military spouses seeking to practice under this provision. This directly affects military spouses seeking employment in licensed occupations (e.g., nursing, cosmetology, teaching) without requiring duplicate state licensing. The bill does not change licensing requirements for non-military residents.
SB 49 amends Texas law to change how public junior colleges receive state funding based on student outcomes. It establishes three specific metrics for evaluating colleges: (1) the number of "credentials of value" (degrees/certificates leading to better jobs, with extra weight for high-demand occupations), (2) the number of students transferring to four-year colleges or completing structured co-enrollment programs, and (3) the number of students completing dual credit courses that count toward college degrees. These metrics will directly affect Texas public junior college districts by determining their state funding levels. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, but remains pending in committee as of the latest update.
HB 1667 expands workers' compensation coverage in Texas to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for specific first responders. It defines "first responders" as peace officers, emergency medical personnel (EMTs/paramedics), and certified firefighters whose primary duties involve life-saving work. The bill requires that PTSD claims be based on a diagnosis linking the condition to employment-related traumatic events, not personnel actions like transfers or terminations. This policy change applies only to claims filed after the bill's effective date, creating a new pathway for affected workers to seek benefits under the state's workers' compensation system.
HB 5400 would amend Texas labor law to strengthen protections against workplace sexual harassment. It clarifies that "sexual harassment" includes unwanted advances, requests for sexual favors, or conduct that creates a hostile work environment, and explicitly extends anti-retaliation protections to individuals who report such harassment. The bill's key provision (Section 4) allows victims to directly file civil lawsuits for damages related to sexual harassment without first having to file a complaint with the state commission or wait for a notice of their right to sue. This change would directly affect employees and job applicants experiencing sexual harassment in Texas workplaces by providing a more direct legal path for seeking redress. The bill is currently pending in committee and has not yet become law.
This bill requires Texas to catalog unused state land in cities with 25,000+ residents or counties with 50,000+ residents. It directs the state land office, with input from housing authorities, to identify properties suitable for affordable housing development using criteria like location near jobs/transit, property features, and housing shortage severity. The bill mandates creating a public map showing these properties overlaid with areas needing affordable housing, then issuing requests for developers to bid on long-term leases for building affordable units. It directly affects state property management, housing developers, and communities facing housing affordability challenges. The law focuses on identifying and mapping potential sites rather than changing tax policies.
HB 4931 modifies Texas water law to allow certain aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects that cross through the Edwards Aquifer, specifically authorizing ASR injection wells in Medina County for water storage. It permits these projects under a new exception to a general rule banning most injection wells in the Edwards Aquifer, while maintaining restrictions on other types of injections. The bill requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to adopt implementing rules by March 1, 2026. This change directly affects water management projects in Medina County seeking to store water underground in the Edwards Aquifer formation.
SB 3005 directs Texas' Department of State Health Services to study the use of psychedelic therapies (including MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine) for treating PTSD, depression, and related conditions. The study requires reviewing clinical trials, FDA actions, treatment guidelines, and patient access barriers like provider availability and affordability. The department must consult with Baylor College of Medicine and UT Austin's Dell Medical School and submit a report with recommendations by December 1, 2026. This bill does not change current laws or provide immediate access to psychedelic therapies - only studies their potential use after future FDA approval. It expires September 1, 2027, and affects no current patients or providers.
SB 2434 requires Texas gas utilities to prioritize natural gas deliveries to natural-gas-fired power plants during supply shortages, placing them at the same priority level as hospitals, water facilities, and other essential services. This directly affects gas utilities and natural-gas-powered electricity generators by mandating that these power plants receive gas before non-essential commercial or industrial customers during shortages. The bill defines "human needs customers" to include these power plants under Section 121.159 of the Utilities Code. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not alter existing priorities for residential or emergency services.
HB 769 creates a grant program administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) to fund sidewalk, curb, and pedestrian lighting projects. Neighborhood organizations can apply for non-repayable grants (including forgivable loans) to improve local pedestrian infrastructure. The program will be funded through dedicated state appropriations, federal grants, and interest earnings in a new "Pedestrian Infrastructure Grant Fund." TDHCA must ensure grants serve public safety and community benefits, with the program taking effect September 1, 2025.
