HB 38 amends Texas law to enhance the Texas Information and Referral Network, which connects residents to state and local services. The bill requires the network to integrate transportation service data, improve disaster response through interstate agreements, and implement a text messaging system to reduce client wait times and improve service access. It also mandates a public online portal showing real-time, anonymized client data (like service types and demographics, with explicit consent) and standardized screening for nonmedical health needs. The changes directly affect state/local agencies using the network and the clients they serve, including vulnerable groups like veterans, caregivers, and those in the criminal justice system. The bill focuses on improving coordination, accessibility, and data transparency without altering funding or creating new mandates.
This bill requires digital service providers (like social media platforms) to set default privacy and usage settings for accounts of known minor users (under 18). Default settings include limiting daily usage to one hour, blocking unsolicited messages from strangers, preventing comments/reactions on minors' posts, hiding friend lists publicly, and disabling algorithmic content suggestions. Verified parents can adjust these settings using provided parental tools to control privacy, usage time, and financial transactions. The law directly affects digital services used by minors and their parents in Texas.
This bill requires all Texas state agencies to modernize their websites and digital services to improve accessibility and user experience. Agencies must assess their online platforms for issues like slow loading, complex navigation, and lack of mobile compatibility, then implement changes such as simplifying forms, reducing paper requirements, and adopting consistent design templates. The state department will provide guidance, templates, and best practices for agencies to follow, with a requirement to report progress to the legislature by November 2026. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.
