This Weeks Texas Legislature Bills
This week, several bills aligned with the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) Legislative Priorities are scheduled for hearings, including some tied to Texas Constitutional Enforcement and water issues, which are critical to my Central Texas community.
The Texas Legislature is now in the final sprint toward the session’s end. The bills highlighted below primarily involve Senate-passed legislation awaiting House committee hearings or House-passed bills under Senate review. Given the Senate’s ability to move quickly in the closing weeks, I’ve included one Senate bill in a Senate committee hearing.
Monday, May 12, marks the deadline for House committees to report House bills. Bills reported on that day are unlikely to complete the legislative process. Even bills reported by Friday, May 9, face long odds.
I’ll provide a separate update on the numerous bills that advanced last week.
If you can’t attend the Capitol in person, please submit online comments using the provided links for House hearings.
Monday, May 5
House State Affairs – Begins at 8:00 AM in JHR 120
Online comments: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c450
Hearing notice: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/schedules/html/C4502025042808001.HTM
SB 75 (Bob Hall) – Establishes a system to identify and address all risks to the electric grid, creating a comprehensive action plan. Key RPT priority: Protect the Electric Grid.
SB 18 (Bryan Hughes) – Relocates inappropriate books from children’s sections in municipal libraries. Previously SB 2101. RPT priority: Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids.
House Public Health – Begins at 8:00 AM in E2.030
Online comments: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c410
Hearing notice: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/schedules/html/C4102025050508001.HTM
SB 269 (Charles Perry) – Mandates reporting of vaccine injuries to a federal database.
Senate State Affairs – Begins at 9:00 AM in Senate Chamber
Hearing notice: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/schedules/html/C5702025050509001.HTM
SB 82 (Bob Hall) – Holds business owners liable for damages from criminal acts on their premises if they prohibit concealed handguns with a 30.06 sign.
Senate Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Hearing notice: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/schedules/html/C7002025050508001.HTM
HB 1633 (Stan Gerdes) – Requires groundwater conservation districts to consider impacts on existing exempt ranch/farm wells when issuing commercial well permits.
HB 1689 (Stan Gerdes) – Permits groundwater conservation districts to compensate well owners affected by wells outside their district, after establishing an interlocal agreement with the impacting district.
Wednesday, May 7
House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans’ Affairs
Online comments: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c308
Hearing notice: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/schedules/html/C3082025050710301.HTM
SB 964 (Bryan Hughes) – Modifies non-citizen ID cards to include “NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.” RPT priority: Secure Texas Elections.
Thursday, May 8
House Criminal Jurisprudence
Online comments: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c220
Hearing notice: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/schedules/html/C2202025050808001.HTM
SB 1362 (Bryan Hughes) – Prohibits enforcement of extreme risk protective (red flag) orders in Texas. RPT priority: End Federal Overreach.
House Elections
Online comments: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c240
Hearing notice: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/schedules/html/C2402025050808001.HTM
SB 1862 (Bryan Hughes) – Strengthens voter registration controls for individuals moving from other states. RPT priority: Secure Texas Elections.
Committee Chairs to Urge for Action
House Bills Already Heard, Awaiting Committee Votes:
Tom Craddick (House Transportation) – HB 2323 (Matt Shaheen) – Ends tolls once a toll road is paid off. RPT priority: End Federal Overreach (Freedom to Travel). Needs urgent committee vote and swift clerk reporting.
Cole Hefner (House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans’ Affairs) – HB 930 (Briscoe Cain) – Protects the Texas National Guard. RPT priority: End Federal Overreach. Needs urgent committee vote and swift clerk reporting.
Dade Phelan (House Licensing & Admin Procedures) – HB 1382 (Wes Virdell) – Halts “geothermal” spraying over Texas. Heard April 22. Needs urgent committee vote and swift clerk reporting.
Senate-Passed Bills Needing House Committee Hearings:
Stan Lambert (House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services) – SB 512 (Lois Kolkhorst) – Prevents money service providers (e.g., PayPal) from penalizing customers for free speech. Needs urgent hearing.
details on SB 75
Texas energy policies
more concise