The upcoming 89th legislative session begins Jan. 14, and Nov. 12 marked the first day state legislators could file new bills.
What readers need to know
Dozens of bills had been filed as of mid-December, from state Rep. Sam Harless, R-Spring, filing one bill regarding a health care participation program to state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, filing 24, according to Texas Legislature Online.
Most of Kolkhorst’s bills address real estate and property tax laws. Senate Bill 307, if passed, could restrict foreign entities or individuals from purchasing land or property in Texas if it poses a risk to public health, safety or welfare.
Kolkhorst also filed SB 321, which is designed to limit property tax increases for Texas homeowners by reducing the allowable increase from 10% to 5%, making it easier for homeowners to predict and manage their property tax liabilities and reduce tax burdens.
Other bills filed by Kolkhorst include:
- Ensuring property tax relief to elderly and disabled individuals, especially if they live in areas outside of a school districts
- Requiring the Texas Education Agency to submit an annual school district profile report, allowing the public and policymakers to quickly analyze and compare school districts
- Requiring parental consent for psychological or psychiatric examination, testing or treatment conducted by school district employees
- Allowing pharmacists to be transparent with consumers about potential cost savings when a prescription drug can be obtained for a lower price without going through insurance
- Ensuring that only U.S. citizens are eligible for certain public office positions and advisory roles in Texas
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, has introduced 11 bills so far, with seven targeting election integrity and four addressing public education.
Six of Bettencourt’s seven proposed election bills passed the Senate in the previous 88th legislative session, according to a news release. These bills focus on election transparency and voter roll integrity, and provide penalties for nonperformance in Texas.
The senator also filed bills addressing special education, truancy and safety in educational settings.
What else?
State Sen. Molly Cook, D-Houston, filed three bills related to electricity, while state Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, has filed 13 bills regarding tax reform, health policy and public safety, among other issues.
State Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, and state Rep. Penny Morales Shaw, D-Houston, filed 14 and eight bills, respectively. Hull’s bills tackle child welfare, public education and public safety, emphasizing the protection of vulnerable populations, strengthening legal protections and improving public services.
House Bill 1145, filed by Shaw, seeks to expand access to low-THC cannabis for patients with conditions like chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. It establishes a regulatory framework for physicians to prescribe it and allows the Department of State Health Services to add more qualifying conditions in the future.
Other bills filed by Shaw include:
- Restricting Texas school districts from starting school before Aug. 1 unless the district follows a year-round schedule model
- Prohibiting the transfer of certain semiautomatic rifles to specific recipients, creating a criminal offense and increasing a criminal penalty
- Exceptions to and the repeal of certain laws prohibiting abortion
- Raising the legal marriage age in Texas to 18
- Protecting workers from discrimination based on their reproductive decisions
- Limiting the amount that landlords in Texas can charge tenants for having pets on the property
- Permanently implementing daylight saving time in Texas
- Requiring voters to affiliate with a political party to participate in that party’s primary election
- Requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration
These bills have yet to be voted on or signed into law, and are subject to change or be dismissed entirely before approval.
