1. Magnolia could see driver’s license mega center
State Rep. Cecil Bell Jr., R-Magnolia, launched an initiative to construct a new driver’s license mega center in the Magnolia area.
Bell’s office filed House Concurrent Resolution 11 in November in an effort to order the Texas Department of Public Safety to prioritize the center’s construction. Concurrent resolutions must be approved by both houses of the legislature, but are often used to provide direction to state agencies and boards.
“Citizens of the Magnolia area must currently travel to Conroe or Houston for driver’s license services, and the region would greatly benefit from the establishment of a local driver’s license mega center," Bell said in the bill.
2. Houston lawmakers look to regulate cottage food production industry
State Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, is looking to shift regulations for the cottage food production industry in House Bill 2588, while Rep. Janis Holt, R-Silsbee, will target regulations for mobile food units in House Bill 2602.
Hull’s bill, titled the Food Freedom Act, would shift oversight of foods which are produced in an individual home setting to the state Health and Human Services Commission. The bill also prevents local governments and health departments from regulating and requiring licensure or permitting to operate. Under her bill, cottage food operations would have the following limits on what they can produce:
Not allowed:
- Meats
- Seafood
- Ice and ice products
- Raw milk
- Low-acid canned goods
- Baked goods
- Fermented vegetable products
- Fruits (frozen and fresh)
- Dried herbs and seasoning mixes
3. Lawmakers hope to up emergency preparation in senior living facilities
Better emergency preparedness in senior living facilities is being targeted by two bills filed by Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, and Rep. Ana Hernandez, D-Houston.
Alvarado’s proposed bill, Senate Bill 481, would call for nursing and assisted living facilities to create and annually update emergency response plans, according to the filing. The plans must include provisions for keeping facilities at 71-81 degrees Fahrenheit, transporting residents when facility conditions are unsafe and notifying residents’ families during emergencies.
SB 481 would also dictate that facilities install:
- Emergency generator or alternate power sources with 96-hour fuel supplies be installed
- Carbon monoxide alarms
SB 481 was referred to the Health and Human services committee Feb. 3 after being filed Nov. 22, according to the Texas Legislature Online. HB 2218 was filed Jan. 29.
4. Lawmakers push for anti-human trafficking intelligence center
Senate Bill 389, filed by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, aims to create an anti-human trafficking intelligence center under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation aimed at serving as the state’s primary entity for tracking and response efforts regarding human trafficking.
According to the proposed bill text, the center aims to:
- Develop and implement strategies to detect and respond to cases of trafficking
- Serve as a centralized data collection point
- Offer training and educational opportunities for law enforcement
- Provide outreach to the public
5. Additional district courts proposed for Brazoria, Fort Bend counties
Brazoria and Fort Bend counties could each see two additional district courts with Senate Bills 328 and 329 filed by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston. Currently, Brazoria has five district courts, while Fort Bend County has eight.
The proposed changes could come as both counties see continued population growth, Huffman said. Both Fort Bend County and Brazoria counties have seen growth in caseload since their last district courts were approved in 2015 and 2019, respectively.
“As the state’s population grows in some areas while declining in others, the judicial needs of various regions change,” Huffman said. “Ensuring that we have adequate judicial resources in Senate District 17 available to address the workload is critical to ensuring the proper administration of our judiciary.”
If approved, both Fort Bend County courts would be effective Sept. 1, while one in Brazoria would not be created until Sept. 1, 2026, according to proposed bill text.
Special education services in local schools could see some changes, should bills from Greater Houston-area lawmakers pass. Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, Rep. Charles Cunningham, R-Humble and Rep. Ana Hernandez, D-Houston have filed several bills—SB 568, HB 1662 and HB 1996, respectively—for special education services, according to filings.
HB 1996 would make children receiving special education services eligible for free prekindergarten programs in public schools, according to filings. Meanwhile, SB 568—which was referred to a legislative committee on education on Feb. 3—would require local school boards to annually meet about special education student performance.
SB 568 and HB 1996 both seek to create a grant program for innovative school programs for children with autism, according to filings. SB 568 also would create grant programs for recruiting special education professionals, for training teachers in dyslexia as well as other provisions.
