Quickly, tons of of payments handed earlier this yr by Texas’ 89th Legislature will go into impact. As of Monday, Sept. 1, Texas could have a whopping 835 new legal guidelines on the books.
These measures contact practically each facet of life, from schooling and healthcare to public security, property guidelines and assist for first responders. With so many adjustments coming without delay, Texans can anticipate quite a lot of noticeable impacts on their day by day lives, plus shifts in how some state businesses function.
To catch you up forward of the large day, The Texas Newsroom and companion stations throughout the state have damaged down among the most important measures under — plus different noteworthy new legal guidelines it’s possible you’ll not have heard about but.
Restrictions on Texas land purchases for sure foreign-linked folks
Senate Invoice 17 bars people, corporations and government-affiliated entities with ties to China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia from shopping for most Texas actual property, together with houses, business property and farmland.
Visa holders from these nations might buy one residence to dwell in, however no extra properties. Violations carry legal penalties for people and steep civil fines for corporations. A lawsuit difficult the legislation is pending on the fifth U.S Circuit Courtroom of Appeals.
Texas bans THC vapes and foreign-made e-cigarettes
Senate Invoice 2024 makes it unlawful to promote or promote sure e-cigarettes, together with these containing THC, kratom, kava, alcohol or mushrooms.
The legislation additionally bans e-cigarettes made in China and different designated international nations and expands the definition of e-cigarettes to incorporate non-nicotine vapes. Moreover, SB 2024 restricts merchandise that attraction to minors, similar to these resembling meals, college provides, or cartoons.
Smoke store house owners throughout the state are already adjusting their inventories to conform. Of be aware: The legislation is separate from the continued debate in Texas over broader THC regulation.
Learn extra: Texas to ban gross sales of THC vapes
‘Make Texas wholesome once more’
Senate Invoice 25, generally known as the “Make Texas Wholesome Once more” legislation, requires medical colleges to show vitamin and provides new persevering with schooling necessities for physicians. It additionally bars colleges from taking away recess as punishment for youthful college students.
Beginning in 2027, many processed meals with components should carry a warning label stating the ingredient just isn’t really helpful for human consumption by quite a lot of regulators. Supporters say the change will give Texans clearer details about meals security, whereas critics warn it might confuse consumers or face authorized challenges.
Texas to ban scholar DEI and LGBTQ+ golf equipment
Senate Invoice 12 prohibits Okay-12 scholar organizations primarily based on sexual orientation or gender identification. The legislation additionally expands parental oversight, granting entry to college students’ curriculum, psychological and bodily well being information and requiring colleges to inform dad and mom when college students request a nickname or completely different pronouns. Non-compliance by lecturers might end in disciplinary motion.
Critics warn the legislation strips much-needed assist from LGBTQ+ youth, whereas supporters say it preserves parental rights and ends “woke DEI indoctrination.”
Learn extra: LGBTQ+ college students say new Texas anti-DEI legislation leaves them with out assist
$1.5 Billion in funds for Texas’ movie incentive program
Senate Invoice 22 invests $1.5 billion within the Texas Shifting Picture Trade Program to draw movie, TV exhibits, commercials, animation and online game manufacturing to the state.
This system has operated for practically 20 years, however its finances was beforehand debated every session. Now, $300 million will probably be assured each two years via 2035. Initiatives beginning after Sept. 1 can apply for rebates of as much as 31% of certified in-state spending.
A coordinated marketing campaign by Texas filmmakers and actors, like Matthew McConaughey and Taylor Sheridan, helped safe this legislative win by testifying at the Texas Capitol.
Learn extra: Sept. 1 unlocks first installment of $1.5 billion movie incentive package deal in Texas
Sufferers to obtain some check outcomes on a delayed schedule
Senate Invoice 922 delays the digital launch of sure medical check outcomes for as much as three days, giving medical doctors time to elucidate outcomes to sufferers.
Beforehand, outcomes for severe circumstances — similar to most cancers or genetic illnesses — have been launched instantly, generally leaving sufferers to obtain life-changing info with out steerage. Supporters say the change helps sufferers perceive ends in context.
Peer assist community for first responders
Home Invoice 35 establishes a statewide peer assist community for firefighters and EMS personnel. Modeled after a legislation enforcement program credited with decreasing Texas police suicides, the community will join first responders with confidential, peer-to-peer psychological well being assist.
Advocates say this system might present a significant lifeline for these dealing with the stress and trauma of emergency work.
Whereas the brand new legislation creating the assist community goes into impact on Sept. 1, it’ll take a number of months to ramp up: This system’s official launch isn’t anticipated till March 2026.
Within the meantime, the state has stuffed within the hole by opening up its legislation enforcement peer assist community to first responders — particularly these concerned in rescue and restoration efforts round July’s historic flooding.
New penalties for assaulting utility staff
Senate Invoice 482 will enhance penalties for assaulting utility staff, making it a third-degree felony and elevating harassment to a Class A misdemeanor if the incident happens whereas the employee is on responsibility.
Sponsored by Houston Sen. Carol Alvarado, the bipartisan measure was prompted by threats confronted by utility crews restoring energy after Hurricane Beryl.
“Regardless of these dangers, utility staff remained on the entrance traces guaranteeing entry to electrical energy, gasoline and telecommunications,” Alvarado stated. “These adjustments make sure that utility staff obtain the identical degree safety as different emergency personnel throughout instances of disaster.”
The legislation covers staff in electrical energy, gasoline, telecommunications and pipeline industries and goals to provide them the identical protections as different emergency personnel.
Statewide alert system for agricultural and wildlife threats
Home Invoice 1592 will create a brand new statewide system that’ll centralize alerts about pests and illnesses that threaten Texas vegetation and wildlife.
Proper now, updates come from a number of state businesses, however underneath HB 1592 they’ll be compiled and managed on-line by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Company. Texans can even have the ability to enroll in digital notifications.
Supporters say the change will assist farmers and ranchers reply quicker to invasive species — just like the emerald ash borer, citrus psyllid and New World screwworms — which pose rising dangers because of local weather change and world commerce.
Greater stakes for educators over ‘dangerous supplies’
Senate Invoice 412 limits authorized protections for lecturers, librarians, medical professionals, and fogeys offering materials deemed dangerous to minors.
For many years, an “affirmative protection” protected these utilizing such materials for academic, scientific, medical, authorities or legislative functions — however beginning Sept. 1, that safety will not apply to educators or different non-officials, leaving it just for judges and legislation enforcement.
Supporters say the change closes a decades-old loophole, whereas critics warn it might drive self-censorship and restrict entry to official academic content material, together with LGBTQ+, racial and sexual well being supplies.
Cities banned from utilizing funds to help with abortion entry
Senate Invoice 33 restricts native governments from utilizing public funds to assist girls in search of abortions. It specifies that taxpayer cash might not be given to both abortion suppliers or funds that help with out-of-state abortion entry. It additionally bans public funds from getting used to supply assist with baby care, journey, lodging or different sorts of “logistical assist” for abortion seekers.
Texas cities together with Austin and San Antonio had beforehand put aside cash to assist organizations or people in search of out-of-state abortion care. Each cities attracted lawsuits from Legal professional Common Ken Paxton, who argued that the funds violated the Texas Structure, in addition to the state’s abortion bans.
Learn extra: New Texas legislation cracks down on metropolis help for abortion seekers
Texas boosts assets for volunteer firefighters
Senate Invoice 34 is designed to assist rural and volunteer firefighters reply extra successfully to wildfires. The legislation, prompted by the 2024 Panhandle fires that burned over 1,000,000 acres, creates a statewide database of firefighting gear to enhance coordination and air assist.
It additionally will increase state funding for volunteer firefighters in areas the forest service identifies as excessive danger. Sen. Kevin Sparks, a Midland Republican who authored the legislation, stated it addresses gaps that hindered response instances throughout final yr’s disasters.
“Regardless of the heroic efforts of the volunteer firefighters, response instances have been hindered by a scarcity of well timed air assist, poor communication between businesses and responders, largely because of incompatible gear,” Sparks stated earlier this yr.
Reporting for this story supplied by Kyle McClenagan of Houston Public Media; KTTZ Lubbock’s Brad Burt; Camila Gonzales with Denton Document-Chronicle; Andy Lusk, Marcheta Fornoff and Invoice Zeeble of KERA Information; KUT Austin’s Nathan Bernier and Olivia Aldridge; Sarah Asch and Michael Marks with Texas Commonplace, and The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez, Blaise Gainey and Rachel Osier Lindley.
