Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
11 more bills that modify the Government Code
A Blog about 88th Legislature Laws
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically 88th Legislature Laws as it relates to that topic.
Brief Summary of Texas
Texas is truly a Republic. There are a multitude of items that to modify the state constitution must be modified. So there are times when Constitutional amendments are on the voting ballots. While I sometimes abhor the wording, the concept that all of those legally able to vote in Texas must vote on the change is a good one. And bills in Texas are generally short, making it easier for everyone to understand.
Summary of 88th Legislature Laws
The blogs here will discuss the laws passed by Congress and signed into law, as well as those, passed by Congress and approved by the voters to become law. There are a multitude of laws and each time I post blogs I will notate here the current effective date if it is different from prior blogs. I am currently posting bills that took effect immediately - those bills total 336. I am currently posting regarding larger bills, so each blog covers a single bill.
Blog Summary
Multiple small modifications to the Government code initiated in the House. One of which provides automatic inflation increases for low income housing credits.
11 more bills that modify the Government Code
Published: 2025-08-27
Multiple short modifications
HB 4082 - Public work includes improvements to street, road, highway, bridge, sidewalk, or parking structure; landfill; airport; utility system; wharf or dock; flood control and drainage project; public safety facility including police station, fire station, emergency shelter, jail or juvenile detention facility; judicial facility; administrative offices; animal shelter; library; or park or recreation facility.
It does not include a facility where more than 50% of the usage is intended for professional or semi-professional sports; new stadium, arena, civic center, convention center, or coliseum for lease to a single for-profit tenant for more than 50% of the year; or a hotel.
HB 4421 - A Texas Legislative Medal of Honor may only be awarded during regular session and to only 1 service member during the period after January 1, 2956 but before September 11, 2001. This was added.
HB 4539 - Modified the qualifications for a grant under the moving image industry to be at least 55% (previously 70%) of the crew must be Texas residents.
HB 4550 - Includes an automatic inflation increase for allocation of low income housing tax credits, using 2021 as base year.
HB 4553 - Technology development center eligible entities is now specifically defined.
HB 4615 - A service member's Department of Defense identification mumber is not included as a confidential information.
HB 4628 - Sets limits on responses to DNA matches. If a DNA match is made by an accredited crime lab, then the requesting law enforcement agency must provide any additional information the lab requests within 5 business days. A match must be disclosed to law enforcement within 60 days of the lab finding the match. If it involves a sexual assault or other sex offense, then law enforcement must notify the victim within 5 business days.
HB 4714 - San Antonio may use electronic recording devices rather than court reporters. The recording must be kept for 20 days after the trial, or denial of motion for new trial. If it is appealed than it shall be transcribed.
HB 4879 - This bill forces the establishment of uniform incident based reporting from law enforcement to the state level, so that the state may, in turn, report this information to the FBI. This information shall be stored in electronic form and access shall be limited to authorized personnel of criminal justice agencies. This information is to remain confidential, but may be used to create reports for publication for the public.
HB 5010 - Modifies the grievance classifications for claims against attorneys. It is a complaint if it alleges something that if true is professional misconduct; and the person submitting it is a family member of a ward in guardianship, family member of a decedent in probate matter, trustee of a trust or executor of an estate, judge or prosecutor, defense attorney, court staff, or juror in the legal matter. (These seem to mostly fall in matters that would be before the probate court when one exists.) Otherwise they are falling into an inquiry.
HB 5260 - Repeals the section regarding vehicle fleet management for state's vehicle fleet.
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