The Texas Legislature has been busy this year, passing a total of 774 new laws that are set to take effect on September 1, 2023. Covering a wide spectrum of issues, these laws have significant implications for the state’s residents. Below, we highlight 30 of the most noteworthy laws from this legislative session.
LGBTQ Issues:
Sexually Explicit Performances: Senate Bill 12, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on August 18, makes sexually oriented performances in front of minors a criminal offense. This includes real or simulated actions and the display of sex toys if done in a “prurient” manner on public property.
Transgender Athletes: The “Save Women’s Sports Act” (SB 15) will require college athletes to participate in sports corresponding to their “biological sex” stated on their birth certificate. This law follows a similar one passed in 2021, HB 25.
Gender-Affirming Care: SB 14 bans gender-affirming care for transgender minors, including medication and surgery. Legal challenges are underway, with the law currently under appeal.
Education Issues:
Chaplains in Schools: Senate Bill 763 allows school districts to replace licensed counselors with unlicensed chaplains, provided the change is approved through a district-wide vote.
School Security Guards: In response to the tragic Uvalde school massacre in 2022, House Bill 3 requires armed personnel at every school campus. However, some districts, like Dallas ISD, are struggling to find the funding and workforce to meet this mandate.
Book Bans: House Bill 900 requires booksellers and vendors to assign ratings to books with sexual content before selling them to school districts. It also mandates that schools obtain parental consent before allowing access to “sexually relevant material” in the library.
Anti-Drug Curriculum: House Bill 3908 reinforces the “One Pill Kills” campaign about the unlawful use of fentanyl. It mandates that public Texas schools provide drug abuse prevention education to students in grades six through 12.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ban: Senate Bill 17, set to take effect in January 2024, dismantles diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices at public Texas universities. Many colleges have already started making changes in anticipation of this law.
Healthcare Issues:
Life Support: House Bill 3126 extends the notice period for removing life support from 10 to 25 days. It also allows families a voice when an ethics review committee evaluates a doctor’s decision to end life support.
Lower-Priced Medications: House Bill 25 creates the “Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program,” aiming to bring safe and eligible prescription drugs to Texas for less than what U.S. wholesalers offer.
Rural Healthcare: House Bill 617 boosts emergency healthcare in West Texas ambulances by incorporating secure video calls and wireless patient monitoring.
Medicaid for New Mothers: House Bill 12 extends Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers from two months to one year.
Tampon Tax: Senate Bill 379 eliminates taxes on feminine hygiene and baby products, including tampons, menstrual cups, diapers, baby wipes, maternity clothes, and breast-milk pumping products.
Hospital Bills: Senate Bill 490 requires Texas hospitals and healthcare providers to provide patients with itemized bills that use plain language for every service before attempting to collect debt.
Driving and Roads:
Street Racing Crackdown: Governor Greg Abbott has taken a strong stance against street racing with House Bill 1442, which aims to reduce street takeovers and adds reckless driving to an organized criminal activity statute.
Sidewalk Rules: In response to a tragic incident where Rodney “R.J.” Reese was walking on a road during the 2021 snowstorms, House Bill 1277 permits pedestrians to walk on roadways facing oncoming traffic when sidewalks are obstructed or unsafe.
Speed Limits Changes: Following a deadly 133-vehicle pile-up in Fort Worth in 2021, House Bill 1885 allows the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to temporarily change speed limits on roads and highways due to construction or weather for driver safety.
Electric Vehicle Tax: Senate Bill 505 introduces a registration fee of $400 and a yearly $200 renewal fee for owners of electric vehicles, aiming to compensate for the lack of gas tax revenue.
Toll Road Bills: House Bill 2170 mandates that toll agencies mail invoices to users when automatic payments are rejected with electronic tags. The envelopes must have clear messaging indicating they contain an unpaid bill.
Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice:
Rural Sheriffs: Senate Bill 22 establishes a grant system to bolster rural law enforcement efforts with $330 million in funding. The money will be distributed based on county population size and can be used for salaries, equipment, and prosecutor offices.
Fentanyl Deaths: House Bill 6 allows prosecuto
rs to pursue murder charges against those who illegally manufacture or distribute fentanyl resulting in someone’s death. Such cases will be classified as poisonings.
Progressive Prosecutors: Senate Bill 20 makes it easier to remove prosecutors who refuse to pursue violations of laws related to abortion, elections, and gender-affirming care for minors.
Voting Laws:
Poll Worker Shortage: House Bill 1217 mandates that all counties extend early voting hours. This could pose challenges for rural counties struggling to find enough poll workers over the extended hours.
Houston Elections: Senate Bill 1750 abolishes the Harris County election administrator’s office, a decision that faced opposition from Democrats.
Other Notable Laws:
Mobile Food Units: House Bill 2978 requires mobile food units to obtain permits from the county in which they operate.
Social Media of Minors: House Bill 18 introduces a requirement for social media platforms to obtain consent from a parent or guardian before allowing minors to create accounts. This measure aims to protect minors from harmful, deceptive, or unfair trade practices on social media sites.
HOA Payment Discrimination: House Bill 1193 prohibits Home Owners Associations from discriminating against tenants based on their method of payment. This law was prompted by an incident in Denton County where an HOA attempted to discriminate against a resident using a Section 8 housing voucher.
Hair Discrimination: The CROWN Act, also known as House Bill 567, makes discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle associated with race illegal in the state. This law was inspired by the experiences of two Black high school students who were forced to cut their dreadlocks to avoid consequences.
As these laws take effect on September 1, 2023, they will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the lives of Texans across the state. Some of these laws are already facing legal challenges, and their outcomes will be closely watched in the coming months.