HB 155 prohibits Texas local governments (like counties, cities, school districts, and special districts) from using public funds - such as taxes, fees, or grants - to plan, create, or operate most environmental projects. The bill allows exceptions only for specific cases, including flood control, renewable energy infrastructure for their own facilities, school energy efficiency programs, waste management, and projects required by state or federal law. It does not ban environmental work but restricts how local governments fund it, excluding projects like electric vehicle charging stations or general emissions reduction efforts. The law would take effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would restrict when the Texas legislature can redraw election districts for both the Texas state legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. It would require redistricting to occur only during specific, defined timeframes: when the legislature is constitutionally required to act, or within a 120-day window after the federal census is released. Exceptions allow redistricting within one year if courts invalidate districts, but not during periods when the Legislative Redistricting Board has exclusive authority. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 election to take effect.
SB 34 creates a new exception to Texas abortion restrictions for pregnancies resulting from sexual assault, as defined in specific Penal Code sections (including aggravated sexual assault and offenses under Section 25.02). It specifies that patients do not need to file police reports, provide forensic evidence, or have the alleged assault prosecuted to access this exception. The bill also repeals Chapter 6-1/2, a law regulating abortion in Texas. These changes directly affect individuals seeking abortion care in cases of sexual assault and clarify that the exception does not alter other abortion laws or allow lawsuits against patients.
SB 26 creates a Texas state program to provide disaster recovery loans for small and micro-businesses affected by declared disasters. It establishes a dedicated recovery fund in the state budget and authorizes the state bank to offer zero-interest loans to community development financial institutions (CDFIs). These CDFIs then make interest-bearing loans to qualifying small businesses (20-100 employees) and micro-businesses that struggle to access capital after disasters. The bill requires at least 50% of program funds to support micro-businesses, with specific definitions and administration rules outlined in amended sections of the Texas Government Code.
HB 134 would change Texas public school assessments by replacing current state-mandated tests with a new "instructionally supportive assessment" program. The bill requires the State Board of Education to create a nationally-normed system that meets federal testing minimums (without exceeding them), focuses on helping teachers improve instruction, and tracks student progress in reading, math, and science. It gives school districts more flexibility under federal rules and emphasizes using assessment data to guide learning rather than solely for accountability. The bill directly affects Texas public schools, students, teachers, and parents by altering how student achievement is measured.
HB 158 repeals specific provisions in Texas property tax law that previously allowed local taxing units (like cities, counties, and school districts) to use an "unused increment rate" when calculating certain property tax rates. The bill removes this rate from the formulas used to determine the "voter-approval tax rate" for property tax levies. This change simplifies the calculation process by eliminating the need to account for unused increment rates in tax rate computations. The bill directly affects how local governments calculate property tax rates for voter approval, though it does not change the underlying tax rates themselves.
HB 156 requires Texas to deposit half of any surplus general state revenue (when actual revenue exceeds the biennial estimate) into the property tax relief fund. This fund will be used exclusively by the Texas Education Agency to reduce school district property taxes through lowering the "state compression percentage" under education law. The bill directly affects school districts by providing a mechanism to lower maintenance and operations property tax rates. It takes effect for the 2027-2028 state fiscal biennium.
HB 138 modifies Texas property tax collection rules to better protect property owners with overdue payments. It requires tax collectors to apply payments first toward the unpaid property tax amount itself, not penalties or interest, unless the owner specifies otherwise in writing. The bill also caps total penalties and interest at 5% of the delinquent tax amount, preventing excessive charges. This directly affects Texas property owners who fall behind on their annual property tax bills. The changes apply only to payments received after the law takes effect.
SB 32 creates a second probate court in Hidalgo County, redesignating the existing probate court as Probate Court No. 1 and establishing a new Probate Court No. 2. This directly affects Hidalgo County residents who use probate courts for estate matters like wills, inheritances, and guardianships. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, pending legislative approval, and modifies the county’s court structure without changing other court jurisdictions.
SB 28 requires Texas municipalities and counties with websites to post localized health and safety alerts on their websites when they receive them from official sources like the National Weather Service or Texas Division of Emergency Management. The bill mandates that each alert must include a geographic display of affected areas, links to current information, projected movement of the event, and specific safety instructions. It applies only to alerts received after the bill’s effective date and does not create new alert systems. This requirement ensures consistent public access to critical emergency information during weather or safety events.
HB 157 limits annual increases in the property tax value for Texas primary residences (homesteads) to no more than 5% of the previous year's appraised value, plus the value of new improvements. It directly affects homeowners who live in their primary residence, capping how much their property tax bill can rise each year. The bill amends Texas Tax Code Section 23.23(a) to establish this cap, replacing a previous 10% limit. The law would take effect January 1, 2027, but only if voters approve a related constitutional amendment in 2025.
This Senate Resolution (SR 5) establishes procedural rules for the Texas Senate's redistricting process during the 89th Legislature. It creates a Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting (appointed by the Senate President) to handle redistricting bills, requiring regional public hearings with options for video testimony. The resolution mandates specific advance notice periods for hearings (72 hours for regular sessions, 48 hours for other sessions) and sets guidelines for public participation, including videoconferencing requirements and witness affirmation forms. It does not change redistricting outcomes but governs how the Senate will consider redistricting proposals.
