Capitol Hall Report – Session Update: Key Bills Advancing in the Texas Legislature

Second Called Special Session Update
Priority Bills Moving Forward

The Texas Legislature is nearing adjournment of its second special session, wrapping up weeks of debate and decision-making. Several key bills addressing emergency preparedness, property tax reform, water policy, public safety, and youth protections are on their way—or soon headed—to the Governor’s desk.  Here’s where things stand today.

✅ Medical Freedom

  • HB 25 – Freedom to Dispense Ivermectin – Relating to a pharmacist’s authority to dispense ivermectin without a prescription. (In Senate Committee)

✅ Emergency Preparedness & Youth Safety

  • SB 1 – Campground & Camp Safety: Requires licensed camp listings, updated safety standards, communication tools, and evacuation plans. (Still in House Committee)
  • SB 2 – Disaster Management Overhaul: Expands emergency manager licensing, volunteer management, drone neutralization, flood planning, and fatality response. (House amended; awaiting Senate concurrence)
  • SB 3 – Flash Flood Warning Sirens: Requires outdoor warning sirens in flood-prone areas. (House amended; awaiting Senate concurrence)
  • SB 5 – Disaster Relief Appropriations: Provides $294M for FEMA match, flood recovery, forecasting, and first responder training. (In Conference Committee)
  • HB 1 – Youth CAMPER Act: Improves youth camp safety—bans cabins in floodplains, mandates emergency plans, and creates a reporting system. (In Senate Committee)
  • HB 3 – Emergency Communications Interoperability: Establishes the Texas Interoperability Council and funds radio system upgrades. (In Senate Committee)
  • HB 20 – Disaster Charity Fraud Prevention: Creates voluntary accreditation and penalties for disaster relief fraud. (In Senate Committee)
  • HB 22 – Emergency Communication Funding: Expands use of broadband funds for early warning and alert systems. (In Senate Committee)

✅ Congressional Redistricting

  • HB 4 – Adopts PLANC2331; keeps Navarro County whole. (Passed by both chambers; headed to Governor)

✅ Property Tax Reform

  • HB 17 – Property Tax Transparency: Requires detailed tax notices including inflation and population data. (On Senate Floor)
  • HB 23 – Nonprofit Property Tax Exemption: Provides exemptions for nonprofit-owned property used for agriculture, youth, and education. (In Senate Committee)
  • SB 10 – Property Tax Cap Calculation: Adjusts how voter-approval tax rates are calculated. (House amended; awaiting Senate concurrence or conference)

✅ Water Reforms

  • HB 27 – Groundwater Transfer Moratorium: Halts new transfers in the Neches & Trinity Valleys GCD until 2027 pending a TWDB study. (In Senate Committee)
  • SB 14 – Water Conservation Credits: Grants developers credits for conservation/reuse projects. (Passed; headed to Governor)
  • SB 18 – Reservoir Permitting Exemptions: Exempts small erosion/floodwater reservoirs from TCEQ permitting. (Passed; headed to Governor)

✅ Judicial & Criminal Justice Reforms

  • HB 16 – Judicial Updates: Modernizes court procedures, security, records, and juvenile diversion. (Passed; headed to Governor)
  • SB 11 – Human Trafficking Victim Defense: Provides affirmative defense for victims forced into criminal acts. (Passed; headed to Governor)
  • SB 12 – Election Law Prosecution: Grants the Attorney General authority to prosecute election law violations. (Passed; headed to Governor)
  • SB 34 – Legislative Testimony Immunity: Grants immunity to compelled witnesses, though they may still face indictment. (In House Committee)

✅ Other Priority Reforms

  • SB 6 – Hemp Product Regulations: Requires licenses, bans unsafe products, and establishes penalties. (In House Committee)
  • SB 8 – Protecting Women’s Spaces: Requires facility use based on biological sex; establishes civil penalties. (Headed to House Calendars)
  • SB 13 – Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying: Prohibits use of public funds for lobbying by local governments. (In House Committee)
  • SB 16 – Deed Fraud Crimes – Criminalizes real property theft/fraud; adds recording, restitution, and statute of limitations. (House amended, Senate will review for concurrence)
  • SB 54 – Addressing Same Day Voter Registration – Prohibits of same day voter registrations within 30 days of an election. (Passed the Senate, heading to the House)

📣 Stay Engaged: Your voice matters. If you have thoughts on any of these bills, please contact my office.   Promises Made are Promises Kept.

For Texas and Liberty,

Senator Bob Hall
Texas Senate District 2