The setup
State reps Jolanda Jones and Ann Johnson have filed 38 bills that pertain to topics such as child support, high school studies and gun control.
State Sen. Molly Cook co-authored an additional 40 bills regarding the expansion of Medicaid, student mental health and abortion rules.
Proposed legislation
Jones, District 147, filed 21 bills, including:
- House Bill 605: This bill would allow the Harris County Hospital District to employ and commission peace officers.
- House Bill 786: This bill would require the commissioners court of a county with a population of 3.3 million or more to provide each justice court in the county with a metal detector, a constable, deputy constable or a deputy sheriff for each door of the court open to the public.
- House Bill 824: A bill that would add civic instruction to the high school social studies curriculum to teach the role of government officials, the voting process, election laws and what elected officials represent the student at each level of government.
- House Bill 936: This bill would prohibit a college or university from revoking a student's athletic scholarship due to an injury, illness or disability that was not a result of a violation of the institutes student code of conduct.
- House Bill 313: A bill that would prohibit a person from selling, renting or giving a semiautomatic rifle to a child younger than 18 years of age that has a detachable magazine or a caliber higher than .22.
- House Bill 1493: This bill would require a medical provider to exercise reasonable medical judgment in providing services to a pregnant women that has any complication diagnosed by a physician that could cause serious bodily injury.
- Senate Bill 52: A bill that would allow a school district to excuse a student from attending school for five days out of the year to seek or receive mental or behavioral health treatment, support or diagnosis.
- Senate Bill 257: A bill that aims to allow victims of sexual assault to be able to legally have an abortion in Texas.
- Senate Bill 270: This bill would allow the Public Utility Commission of Texas to study the possibility of using underground distribution power lines in four major metros across the state, including Houston.
- Senate Bill 283: This bill looks to create the Texas African American Heritage Commission whose purpose would be to identify, preserve, interpret and promote sites reflecting the state's African American heritage.
The 2025 Texas legislative session begins Jan. 14 in Austin, however state senators and representatives can file additional bills until March 14.
Any new bills that are filed after the date must be approved before being submitted to the Legislature. To check out what bills have been filed, visit www.capitol.texas.gov/Search/BillSearch.apx.
