The 89th legislative session in Texas is shaping up to be busy, with state representatives and senators proposing hundreds of bills. These proposed bills span various sectors, including education, healthcare, voting rights, and public safety, reflecting the state’s complex and evolving needs.
The Defender has compiled an overview of some key proposals formulated by legislators who represent Houston in some way (at the time of publication).
Bills filed by multiple elected officials
The following bills were proposed by more than one representative and senator.
- HB (House Bill) 1484: This bill allows parents to transfer their child to another public or private school—with state funding following the student—if they believe their child is being exposed to “sexual grooming” in a public school. However, the definition and enforcement of such claims remain vague.
- SB (Senate Bill) 2: This bill, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, proposed allocating $10,000 a year to families for private school enrollment, along with other expenses like books and transport. Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been advocating for school vouchers, declared it an “emergency item,” to fast-track proposals on this topic.
Bills filed by Black senators
Senator Royce West, District 23, has filed 169 bills, including:
1. SB 579: This bill exempts certain scholarships funded by private money from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) requirements at public institutions of higher education in Texas. He has also filed SB 580, which seeks an exemption from certain requirements regarding DEI initiatives for certain scholarly research or creative works at public institutions of higher education, and SB 581, which seeks an exemption from certain requirements regarding DEI initiatives for certain charitable funds at public institutions of higher education.
2. SB 220: This bill amends the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act to allow employees with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are victims of sexual assault or abuse to bring a civil lawsuit against their employer if the injury resulted from employer negligence. The bill provides a legal remedy outside of workers’ compensation for these victims.
Senator Borris L. Miles, District 13, has filed 100 bills, including:
1. SB 283: This bill proposes the creation of the Texas African American Heritage Commission to preserve, promote, and interpret sites reflecting the state’s African American heritage. The commission will be made up of nine members, appointed by the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and university presidents. The bill includes provisions for administrative support, funding and responsibilities related to heritage preservation, education and outreach.
2. SB 491: This bill proposes changes to the confidentiality of certain home address information in property tax appraisal records for individuals such as current and former peace officers, government employees and victims of family violence or sexual assault. The bill broadens the list of eligible individuals who can request confidentiality of their home addresses to enhance their safety.
Senator Brandon Creighton, District 4, has filed 77 bills, including:
1. SB 2: This bill focuses on pay raises for Texas teachers by establishing a permanent allotment that guarantees across-the-board salary increases, with requirements for performance-based compensation and teacher placement at high-need campuses. It creates a grant program to assist districts in implementing local teacher designation systems and increasing the number of teachers eligible for such designations. The bill also expands eligibility for pre-kindergarten enrollment to include children of public school teachers.
2. SB 316: The bill grants the Texas Facilities Commission the authority to exercise eminent domain to acquire property for building a wall along the state’s international border to prevent “human trafficking,” and illegal entry of “aliens without official approval of an appropriate federal governmental authority,” “terrorists and instruments of terrorism” and “contraband, including narcotics and other controlled substances.”
3. SB 318: This bill establishes an election integrity division within the Texas Attorney General’s office to investigate election fraud and violations of the Election Code, with support from state law enforcement agencies.
4. SJR (Senate Joint Resolution) 21: S.J.R. No. 21 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Texas legislature to set a lower limit on the maximum appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem taxation, subject to voter approval in November 2025.
Senator Molly Cook, District 15, has filed 102 bills, including:
1. SB 566: This bill prohibits the sale of over-the-counter weight loss drugs and dietary supplements to minors in Texas, requiring retailers to implement age verification measures and imposing civil penalties for violations.
2. SB 1311: This bill establishes a pilot program in Harris County to award grants to community organizations and political subdivisions for creating disaster relief hub houses that provide shelter, power and emergency supplies during disasters, with an evaluation due in 2026 to consider potential expansion.
3. SB 1312: This bill prohibits the disconnection of residential electric service during an extreme weather emergency in Texas and requires utilities to defer bill payments, establishing a pay schedule for customers affected by such emergencies.
Bills filed by Houston-area representatives
Rep. Senfronia Thompson, District 141, has filed 57 bills, including:
1. HB 539: The bill allows victims of human trafficking or compelling prostitution who were convicted of certain offenses related to trafficking or prostitution to petition for an order of nondisclosure of their criminal history, provided they meet specific requirements and assist in the prosecution of trafficking-related offenses.
2. HB 673: The bill expands workers’ compensation benefits to cover post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for certain first responders, including peace officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel, provided the PTSD is caused by events occurring in the course of their employment.
3. HB 896: The bill prohibits peace officers from intentionally using neck restraints, such as choke holds, or carotid artery holds, during searches or arrests, unless necessary to prevent serious injury or death and mandates training on this prohibition for peace officers.
Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr., District 142, has filed 76 bills, including:
1. HB 2336: This bill proposes including chronically absent students as students at risk of dropping out of school, mandates detailed reporting on chronic absenteeism and requires the Texas Education Agency to publish annual absenteeism data disaggregated by race, ethnicity and status.
2. HB 2394: This bill aims to create an online voter registration system for Texans with a valid driver’s license or state ID. It requires digital signature verification and data checks with the Department of Public Safety to ensure accuracy.
3. HB 2781: This bill allows Texas public schools to provide education and informational materials on menstrual disorders and requires the State Board of Education to create age-appropriate resources covering symptoms, treatment, and self-advocacy.
Rep. Alma Allen: District 131, has filed 37 bills, including:
1. HB 1413: This bill proposes a $400 monthly salary increase for public school teachers, full-time librarians, counselors and nurses in the 2025-2026 school year, guarantees they will not receive a lower salary in subsequent years, and provides $4,000 in additional state funding per eligible employee to school districts to support these raises.
2. HB 1415: This bill bans corporal punishment in Texas public schools. It prohibits school employees, volunteers, and contractors from using physical discipline like spanking or paddling while still allowing reasonable restraint when necessary.
3. HB 2709: This bill limits the workday for public school classroom teachers to a maximum of 480 minutes (8 hours) per day, ensuring that new teacher contracts reflect this restriction starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
Rep. Hubert Vo, District 149, has filed 19 bills, including:
1. HB 1296: The bill establishes an automatic voter registration system for naturalized U.S. citizens. Upon receiving a certificate of naturalization, individuals will be automatically registered to vote by the county registrar.
2. HB 1420: The bill mandates a study by the Health and Human Services Commission on the impact of nurse-to-patient ratios for critical care patients, with a report due by Dec. 1, 2026.
Rep. Ana Hernandez, District 143, has filed 44 bills, including:
1. HB 1362: This bill expands eligibility for unemployment benefits to include individuals who leave their jobs due to sexual harassment, provided they report it to their employer, law enforcement or a relevant agency.
2. HB 1559: This bill establishes strict guidelines for medical procedures on foster children with intersex traits, requiring informed consent, mental health evaluations and court approval for non-medically necessary treatments.
3. HB 2319: This bill mandates annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Teacher Retirement System (TRS) benefits based on inflation, contingent on the system’s financial stability.
Rep. Armando Walle, District 140, has filed 43 bills, including:
1. HB 2271: This bill requires day-care centers, group day-care homes, and family homes to submit capacity and enrollment data to the Texas Workforce Commission for inclusion on a child care availability portal.
2. HB 2573: This bill requires Medicaid to reimburse for doula services provided to medical assistance recipients from the confirmation of pregnancy until the 12th month after pregnancy ends.
