More than 30 new Texas laws took effect Jan. 1, ranging from immigration enforcement to evicting squatters, regulating technology, providing tax breaks and improving the state’s water infrastructure. About 800 other new laws passed this year by the Legislature took effect Sept. 1. 

Senate Bill 8: Sheriff cooperation with ICE. SB 8 requires sheriffs in counties that operate a jail to enter into formal agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to assist with federal immigration enforcement inside detention facilities. The bill makes participation in the federal 287(g) program mandatory rather than optional and authorizes state grants to help counties cover related costs. Supporters frame the change as a public safety measure, while critics argue it could strain relations between law enforcement and immigrant communities. 

House Bill 9: Business inventory tax exemption. HB 9 exempts up to $125,000 of a business’s tangible personal property from local property taxes. The bill significantly raises the existing exemption and is intended to reduce tax burdens on small and mid-sized businesses. State budget analysts have warned that cities, counties and school districts could see reduced revenue unless tax rates are adjusted.

Senate Bill 38: Faster eviction process for squatters. SB Bill 38 speeds up eviction cases involving people who occupy property without legal authorization. The bill narrows the issues justice courts may consider and shortens timelines, limiting procedural delays that previously slowed removals. Housing advocates have raised concerns that the changes could weaken tenant protections and reduce flexibility during emergencies.

House Bill 149: Artificial intelligence oversight. HB 149 establishes a statewide framework regulating how artificial intelligence systems may be developed and used in Texas. The bill restricts certain harmful or discriminatory applications and requires disclosures when AI is deployed in specified settings. Enforcement authority rests with the attorney general, reflecting growing state involvement in technology governance.

House Bill 2067: Insurance declination and cancellation notices. HB 2067 requires insurers to provide written explanations whenever they decline, cancel or refuse to renew regulated insurance policies. The bill also requires insurers to report those reasons by ZIP code to the Texas Department of Insurance, which will publish aggregated data online. The law is designed to increase transparency and oversight in insurance underwriting decisions.

House Bill 3699: Unemployment claim processing. HB 3699 revises how initial unemployment claims are handled by the Texas Workforce Commission. The bill simplifies definitions related to a claimant’s last employer and removes prior thresholds that complicated eligibility determinations. The changes apply only to claims filed on or after Jan. 1.

House Bill 30: Disaster-related tax rate adjustments. The bill allows local governments to account for disaster-related costs when calculating property tax rates following a declared emergency. HB 30 creates a limited mechanism to recover expenses such as debris removal and emergency services while restricting how long and how often the provision may be used. School districts are excluded from the new authority.

Senate Bill 2420: App store age verification. SB 2420, known as the App Store Accountability Act, would require digital app platforms to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for minors’ downloads and in-app purchases. The bill also limits how personal data used for verification may be stored or shared. Enforcement has been blocked by a federal court, and the state is expected to pursue an appeal.

Senate Bill 14: Water conservation impact fee credits. SB 14 allows cities and water authorities to offer developers credits against impact fees in exchange for approved water conservation or reuse projects. SB 14 is intended to encourage infrastructure investments that reduce long-term water demand. It gives local governments another tool to promote water efficiency as growth continues.

Senate Bill 1023: Property tax calculation transparency. SB 1023 changes how taxing units calculate property tax rates by requiring standardized electronic forms with embedded links to supporting documents. The bill does not alter tax rates but is intended to make calculations easier for the public to review. Supporters say the changes will reduce errors and improve transparency.

House Bill 22: Intangible personal property tax exemption. HB 22 removes intangible personal property from the state’s ad valorem tax base. The bill excludes assets such as certain forms of business goodwill from local property taxes. The change standardizes treatment of intangible property across Texas and narrows the tax base for local governments.

To stay informed, support local journalism and your community newspaper The Princeton Herald subscribe today!

By Bob Wieland | [email protected]