On Sept. 1, 2025, greater than 800 payments handed in the course of the 89th Texas Legislature turned regulation, marking a sweeping replace throughout varied sectors, from training and public security to agriculture, healthcare and public morality.
Listed below are a few of the most consequential legislative adjustments and their potential impression.
1. Schooling, faith and faculty coverage
Mandating the Ten Commandments in lecture rooms
Senate Invoice (SB) 10 requires public colleges to show a 16-by-20-inch framed copy of the Ten Commandments in each classroom. The regulation formalizes the show however contains no state funding for implementation, leaving districts such because the Houston Unbiased Faculty District to deal with procurement. Authorized challenges have ensued, with civil liberties advocates citing constitutional considerations and looking for injunctions.
“Proper to non secular speech” at work
SB 965 protects public faculty staff’ proper to interact in non secular speech or prayer whereas on obligation, reinforcing non secular expression amongst workers.
Vitamin training
SB 25, dubbed the “Make Texas Wholesome Once more” initiative, requires medical colleges to institute vitamin training and units persevering with training necessities for physicians. It additionally prohibits colleges from utilizing recess as a disciplinary software.
2. Public well being, substance regulation and meals security
Ban on lab-grown meat
Texas turns into the seventh U.S. state to ban the sale of cell-cultured (lab-grown) meat by way of SB 261, citing client safety and assist for conventional agriculture. Violations are categorized as Class A misdemeanors, with repeat infractions doubtlessly rising to felony-level penalties.
THC vaping merchandise banned
SB 2024 outlaws the sale, advertising and marketing, and promoting of vape pens containing cannabinoids, together with THC, CBD, Delta-8 THC and THCA. This ban focuses strictly on business exercise and doesn’t criminalize possession or private use. Violators face Class A misdemeanor costs, as much as a yr in jail and/or a superb of $4,000.
Nonetheless, Texas lawmakers failed to achieve assist for laws that regulates hemp THC merchandise. This implies customers can nonetheless entry merchandise containing the substance. The legislature tried to ban hemp THC merchandise in the course of the common legislative session, however Gov Greg Abbott vetoed the proposal. He introduced up the regulation once more throughout particular legislative classes, however GOP lawmakers couldn’t attain a consensus on it.
3. Felony justice and security
New crimes and enhanced penalties
A number of payments launched new felony offenses and elevated penalties:
Home Invoice (HB) 1778 strengthens legal guidelines in opposition to human trafficking, baby pornography and prostitution, together with creating new offenses and growing felony penalties; it additionally adjusts the statute of limitations
HB 166 particularly targets people endangering weak teams (youngsters, aged, disabled) by actions involving managed substances listed in Penalty Group 1-B
“Jugging” turns into a criminal offense
HB 1902 criminalizes “jugging”, a type of organized theft, regulation enforcement jargon for snatching objects from folks in public. This displays a response to a perceived uptick in one of these crime
Additionally,
HB 108 will increase penalties for utilizing metallic or physique armor throughout sure offenses
HB 1422 expands protections for victims of sexual abuse by creating new offenses, altering parole eligibility, and strengthening prosecution parameters
4. Authorities, oversight and lobbying
Restrictions on abortion assist
SB 33 prohibits state or native governmental entities from financially or logistically supporting abortion, together with contract-based help to abortion suppliers or facilitators
Lobbying transparency
HB 119 regulates the registration of lobbyists representing overseas adversaries and imposes civil penalties on these receiving associated compensation
5. Infrastructure, setting and transportation
Water infrastructure oversight
SB 9 improves the oversight and financing of water infrastructure by the Texas Water Improvement Board. Most provisions took impact on September 1, 2025, although some sections are deferred pending voter approval of HJR 7 in November
Plugging inactive oil and gasoline wells
SB 1150 enhances the regulation of inactive wells beneath the authority of the Railroad Fee, permitting for administrative penalties to make sure well timed plugging and reporting
Memorial designations for roads
A number of payments designate stretches of highways and bridges (e.g., HB 1960, HB 2061) as memorials honoring veterans and regulation enforcement
6. Youngsters, households and social companies
HB 107 establishes a sickle cell illness registry to facilitate higher therapy monitoring
HB 114 transfers authority for sure veteran psychological well being packages to the Texas Veterans Fee to centralize companies
Safeguarding youngsters
HB 908 requires regulation enforcement to report lacking youngsters to the Nationwide Middle for Lacking and Exploited Youngsters, enhancing nationwide monitoring
