835 new laws go into effect Sept. 1 in Texas. Here are a few of the more notable ones
More than 830 new bills will take effect on Monday, Sept. 1, impacting many different aspects of life. We covered many during the legislative sessions, but several are worth mentioning again and are included below.
Education
SB 1 covers the state budget in education, including funding for school choice vouchers. SB 2 created the program but won’t take effect until the 2026-27 school year. HB 1586 made it easier for parents to download a vaccine exemption form. Previously, parents had to contact the state health department. SB 11 lets schools set aside time for prayer or religious study during class. And SB 12 bans diversity programs in K-12 schools and prohibits schools from supporting a student’s social transition using a different name or pronoun.
- SB 2: Education Savings Accounts (school vouchers) The new law creates a taxpayer-funded private school tuition program.
- SB 10: Ten Commandments in Schools The new law requires that donated copies of the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms.
- SB 11: Education Mandatory Prayer/Bible Reading The new law adds structured time for prayer/Bible reading in schools.
- HB 1586: Vaccine exemptions for school The new law expands exemptions from required immunizations for school enrollment.
- SB 12: Parental Rights in Education The new law limits DEI, social transitioning support and expands parental oversight.
- HB 1481: Cell Phone Ban The new law requires school boards to adopt policies prohibiting the use of phones and other electronic devices during school hours.
- HB 27: Financial Literacy The new law requires all public high school students in the state to complete a course in personal finance.
Healthcare
We also saw some significant legislative changes in healthcare. HB 4076 said organ transplant patients can’t be refused if they don’t have vaccines. HB 46 expanded the state’s cannabis compassionate use program and allowed for new dispensaries to become licensed and new medical conditions to qualify for the program. This year, Crohn’s disease and traumatic brain injuries now qualify. It also allows prescription vapes to be sold. SB 1257 requires that any insurance company that covers gender transition procedures must now also cover reversal procedures. And HB 5342 funds the suicide hotline in the state. This came after the state faced a major funding deficit.
- HB 46: Expansion of Medical Cannabis The new law expands the Texas Compassionate Use Program.
- HB 4076: Organ Transplant Protections The new law bars discrimination based on vaccination status.
- HB 1052: Telehealth Expansion The new law covers telemedicine across state lines.
- HB 5342: 988 Crisis Lifeline Support The new law funds the state’s suicide prevention hotline and crisis services.
- SB 1257: Gender Transition Reversal Mandate The new law requires insurance coverage for gender transition “adverse effects and reversals,” which critics may see as part of a rollback of trans healthcare protections.
- HB 2187: Nurse Overtime Protections The new law limits mandatory overtime and retaliation.
Crime
Some noteworthy new laws on crime. HB 1902 makes ‘jugging,’ the term used when someone follows a person from a bank or ATM to rob them, a felony. Several laws were passed related to human trafficking, including HB 742 and HB 754, which require training for first responders and healthcare workers. SB 955 increases the penalty for traffickers who recruit near a jail and SB 1212 strengthens existing trafficking laws. SB 835, also called Trey’s Law, bans the use of non-disclosure agreements in sexual abuse cases. And HB 2000 requires people convicted of grooming to register as sex offenders.
- HB 1902: Jugging Law The new law makes robbing people who are followed from banks and ATMs a felony.
- HB 742, HB 754, SB 955, SB 1212: Crime Human Trafficking Bills The new laws increase penalties and mandate training.
- HB 1443: Ban on child-like sex dolls Creates a new criminal offense for sex dolls that look like children and prohibits anyone from owning more than two sex dolls.
- HB 2000: Child grooming penalty The new law requires people convicted of grooming to be enrolled in the sex offender registry.
- HB 2017 and SB 745: Crime Stricter Intoxication Manslaughter Penalties The new laws reduce parole eligibility
- SB 1621: Depictions of children Prohibits sexually explicit visual material involving depictions of children, computer-generated children, or other persons; creating criminal offenses.
SB 31: Road rage shootings The law makes shooting a gun from a car at another car or building a first-degree state jail felony. - HB 2017: Increased penalty for intoxication manslaughter for unauthorized immigrants. The new law, known as Greyson’s Law, increases the mandatory minimum sentence for an intoxication manslaughter conviction from two years to 10 years if the defendant was not in the country legally.
Technology and artificial intelligence
We also saw some really interesting laws passed related to technology. HB 150 establishes the Texas Cyber Command to help prevent and respond to cyber attacks in the state. Gov. Greg Abbott made this an emergency item this year. Several bills also regulate AI use in government. Two bills, HB 3133 and SB 2373, dealing with AI deep fakes and scams, will go into effect on Sept. 1, and the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act will also take effect in January 2026. HB 4751 funds the Texas Quantum Initiative, which sets aside funding for research into quantum computing, an area where Texas hopes to get ahead.
- HB 150: Texas Cyber Command The new law creates a state cyber defense entity.
- HB 2818 and SB 1964: AI Oversight The new law regulates AI use in government.
- HB 4751: Texas Quantum Initiative The new law allocates funds for quantum research and development.
- HB 3133 and SB 2373: Deepfake Regulation. The new law addresses explicit AI-generated material and scams.
Other notable bills becoming law Sept. 1
Abortion
SB 31: Made exceptions for when abortions may be performed.
SB 33: Bans governments from abortion assistance funds and continues Texas’ trend of restricting any form of state/local support around abortion access.
Agriculture
SB 261: Food and agriculture ban on lab-grown meat that prohibits the sale of cultivated protein.
SB 17: Property and land ban on foreign land purchases that restricts property sales to certain foreign entities.
Elections
HB 493, HB 640, SB 2217: Election crime bills, poll watcher rules, registrar penalties.
Guns
SB 706: Handgun license reciprocity recognizes licenses from other states.
SB 1362: Ban on Red Flag Laws prohibits extreme risk protective orders.
SB 1596: Relating to the prohibition on short-barreled firearms.
Housing
HB 1533: Reforms the property tax appraisal system.
HB 2559: Restricts city moratoriums on property development.
HB 3010: Funds rebuilding after disasters.
HB 718: Prevents public universities from partnering with developers.
SB 15, SB 840, SB 2477: Limits density rules and conversions for housing restrictions.
Local DFW
HB 2198: Designates Kaufman County roadway as Officer Jacob Candanoza Memorial Highway.
HB 5668: Creates a new taxing/utility district in Tarrant and Wise counties.
SB 2004: Makes INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington eligible for state reimbursement funds.
Medicine
HB 163: Expands EpiPen access in schools
More laws …
See all 835 bills that go into effect on Sept. 1 here.
More than 830 new bills will take effect on Monday, Sept. 1, impacting many different aspects of life. We covered many during the legislative sessions, but several are worth mentioning again and are included below.
Education
SB 1 covers the state budget in education, including funding for school choice vouchers. SB 2 created the program but won’t take effect until the 2026-27 school year. HB 1586 made it easier for parents to download a vaccine exemption form. Previously, parents had to contact the state health department. SB 11 lets schools set aside time for prayer or religious study during class. And SB 12 bans diversity programs in K-12 schools and prohibits schools from supporting a student’s social transition using a different name or pronoun.
- SB 2: Education Savings Accounts (school vouchers) The new law creates a taxpayer-funded private school tuition program.
- SB 10: Ten Commandments in Schools The new law requires that donated copies of the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms.
- SB 11: Education Mandatory Prayer/Bible Reading The new law adds structured time for prayer/Bible reading in schools.
- HB 1586: Vaccine exemptions for school The new law expands exemptions from required immunizations for school enrollment.
- SB 12: Parental Rights in Education The new law limits DEI, social transitioning support and expands parental oversight.
- HB 1481: Cell Phone Ban The new law requires school boards to adopt policies prohibiting the use of phones and other electronic devices during school hours.
- HB 27: Financial Literacy The new law requires all public high school students in the state to complete a course in personal finance.
Healthcare
We also saw some significant legislative changes in healthcare. HB 4076 said organ transplant patients can’t be refused if they don’t have vaccines. HB 46 expanded the state’s cannabis compassionate use program and allowed for new dispensaries to become licensed and new medical conditions to qualify for the program. This year, Crohn’s disease and traumatic brain injuries now qualify. It also allows prescription vapes to be sold. SB 1257 requires that any insurance company that covers gender transition procedures must now also cover reversal procedures. And HB 5342 funds the suicide hotline in the state. This came after the state faced a major funding deficit.
- HB 46: Expansion of Medical Cannabis The new law expands the Texas Compassionate Use Program.
- HB 4076: Organ Transplant Protections The new law bars discrimination based on vaccination status.
- HB 1052: Telehealth Expansion The new law covers telemedicine across state lines.
- HB 5342: 988 Crisis Lifeline Support The new law funds the state’s suicide prevention hotline and crisis services.
- SB 1257: Gender Transition Reversal Mandate The new law requires insurance coverage for gender transition “adverse effects and reversals,” which critics may see as part of a rollback of trans healthcare protections.
- HB 2187: Nurse Overtime Protections The new law limits mandatory overtime and retaliation.
Crime
Some noteworthy new laws on crime. HB 1902 makes ‘jugging,’ the term used when someone follows a person from a bank or ATM to rob them, a felony. Several laws were passed related to human trafficking, including HB 742 and HB 754, which require training for first responders and healthcare workers. SB 955 increases the penalty for traffickers who recruit near a jail and SB 1212 strengthens existing trafficking laws. SB 835, also called Trey’s Law, bans the use of non-disclosure agreements in sexual abuse cases. And HB 2000 requires people convicted of grooming to register as sex offenders.
- HB 1902: Jugging Law The new law makes robbing people who are followed from banks and ATMs a felony.
- HB 742, HB 754, SB 955, SB 1212: Crime Human Trafficking Bills The new laws increase penalties and mandate training.
- HB 1443: Ban on child-like sex dolls Creates a new criminal offense for sex dolls that look like children and prohibits anyone from owning more than two sex dolls.
- HB 2000: Child grooming penalty The new law requires people convicted of grooming to be enrolled in the sex offender registry.
- HB 2017 and SB 745: Crime Stricter Intoxication Manslaughter Penalties The new laws reduce parole eligibility
- SB 1621: Depictions of children Prohibits sexually explicit visual material involving depictions of children, computer-generated children, or other persons; creating criminal offenses.
SB 31: Road rage shootings The law makes shooting a gun from a car at another car or building a first-degree state jail felony. - HB 2017: Increased penalty for intoxication manslaughter for unauthorized immigrants. The new law, known as Greyson’s Law, increases the mandatory minimum sentence for an intoxication manslaughter conviction from two years to 10 years if the defendant was not in the country legally.
Technology and artificial intelligence
We also saw some really interesting laws passed related to technology. HB 150 establishes the Texas Cyber Command to help prevent and respond to cyber attacks in the state. Gov. Greg Abbott made this an emergency item this year. Several bills also regulate AI use in government. Two bills, HB 3133 and SB 2373, dealing with AI deep fakes and scams, will go into effect on Sept. 1, and the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act will also take effect in January 2026. HB 4751 funds the Texas Quantum Initiative, which sets aside funding for research into quantum computing, an area where Texas hopes to get ahead.
- HB 150: Texas Cyber Command The new law creates a state cyber defense entity.
- HB 2818 and SB 1964: AI Oversight The new law regulates AI use in government.
- HB 4751: Texas Quantum Initiative The new law allocates funds for quantum research and development.
- HB 3133 and SB 2373: Deepfake Regulation. The new law addresses explicit AI-generated material and scams.
Other notable bills becoming law Sept. 1
Abortion
SB 31: Made exceptions for when abortions may be performed.
SB 33: Bans governments from abortion assistance funds and continues Texas’ trend of restricting any form of state/local support around abortion access.
Agriculture
SB 261: Food and agriculture ban on lab-grown meat that prohibits the sale of cultivated protein.
SB 17: Property and land ban on foreign land purchases that restricts property sales to certain foreign entities.
Elections
HB 493, HB 640, SB 2217: Election crime bills, poll watcher rules, registrar penalties.
Guns
SB 706: Handgun license reciprocity recognizes licenses from other states.
SB 1362: Ban on Red Flag Laws prohibits extreme risk protective orders.
SB 1596: Relating to the prohibition on short-barreled firearms.
Housing
HB 1533: Reforms the property tax appraisal system.
HB 2559: Restricts city moratoriums on property development.
HB 3010: Funds rebuilding after disasters.
HB 718: Prevents public universities from partnering with developers.
SB 15, SB 840, SB 2477: Limits density rules and conversions for housing restrictions.
Local DFW
HB 2198: Designates Kaufman County roadway as Officer Jacob Candanoza Memorial Highway.
HB 5668: Creates a new taxing/utility district in Tarrant and Wise counties.
SB 2004: Makes INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington eligible for state reimbursement funds.
Medicine
HB 163: Expands EpiPen access in schools
More laws …
See all 835 bills that go into effect on Sept. 1 here.