Texas Rolls Out Over 700 New Laws This Labor Day

While you are relaxing on Labor Day, over 700 new laws will go into effect in Texas. The laws were signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott following the regular legislative session. 200 of the 1,115 bills went into effect immediately.

Overview

A few of the laws that immediately went into effect include the school cellphone ban, a property tax cut and more oversight of the Texas energy grid.

Senate Bill 1

This legislation covers Texas’ new two-year, $338 billion dollar spending plan. Over 70% of the budget is reserved for education and health and human services. Property tax cuts, a new school voucher program, and infrastructure improvements to the state’s energy, water and broadband are included in this legislation.

Senate Bill 2

Senate Bill 2 creates a school voucher program, which allows parents to pay for private school tuition or other education-related expenses. Children will receive in the neighborhood of $10,000 per year. Students with disabilities could receive up to $30,000 in additional funding. More than $4 billion will go toward raising educator’s pay.

Senate Bill 10

Senate Bill 10 will require the visible display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The posters must be donated and measure at least 16 by 20 inches.

Senate Bill 12

Senate Bill 12 extends the ban on divisive diversity, equity and inclusion policies to K-12 schools. Schools will be prohibited from hiring based on race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation. Schools will also be banned from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity.

Senate Bill 13

Senate Bill 13 will give parents and school boards more power over what students are exposed to in public school libraries. Boards can delegate oversight if 50 parents in the same district sign a petition for the creation of an advisory council.

Senate Bill 37

Senate Bill 37 will establish more oversight over the state’s university system. An appointed board will play a larger role in the hiring of administrators. The bill also creates an office that can investigate universities for failure to comply with state laws, like DEI initiatives.

House Bill 33

House Bill 33 requires law enforcement agencies statewide to establish crisis response policies. It mandates that law enforcement agencies and emergency medical service providers complete training programs on active shooter response at primary and secondary schools.

Senate Bill 7

Senate Bill 7 creates a framework for oversight and funding of water projects through the Texas Water Development Board.

Senate Bill 17

Senate Bill 17 bans governments, companies and individuals who legally reside in China, North Korea, Russia and Iran from owning land and properties in Texas. The purpose of the law is to protect Texas resources and national security from hostile nations.

Senate Bill 33

Senate Bill 33 bans cities or counties from using their money to support women seeking abortions outside Texas.

House Bill 46

House Bill 46 will expand the state’s medical marijuana program to include patients with chronic pain, traumatic brain injury and Crohn's disease.

House Bill 229

House Bill 229 defines man and woman based on biological reproductive systems. Government offices are required to base data on this definition.

Senate Bill 835

Senate Bill 835 (also known as “Trey’s Law”,) bans the use of nondisclosure agreements in sexual assault and human trafficking cases. The law is named in honor of Trey Carlock, who signed a non-disclosure agreement after being abused as a child by a camp counselor. He died by suicide in 2019.