Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
12 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
HB 2741 - Duties and composition of the Specialty Courts Advisory Council
HB 2802 - Medicaid application form and communication with Medicaid recipients
HB 2951 - Establishment of service dog pilot program for veterans
HB 2965 - Construction liability claims concerning public buildings and public works
HB 3013 - Exempting certain contracts from procurement notice
HB 3033 - Public information law
HB 3096 - Date for report on reliability and stability of electric grid
HB 3130 - Protection of occupational licensing information for clients in domestic/family, sexual violence situations
HB 3144 - October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness month
HB 3222 - Loan under disaster recovery loan program
HB 3223 - Management of declared state of disaster
HB 3265 - Reports from Health and Human Services Commission
12 bills that modify the Government Code
Published: 2025-07-23
HB 2741
Duties and composition of the Specialty Courts Advisory Council
A juvenile family drug court program is established.
ho The council is 9 members: 4 of which have experience as the judge of at least one specialty court and 5 members from the public. Previously the judges had to be from specific courts.
HB 2802
Medicaid application form and communication with Medicaid recipients
The commission sets out guidelines for communications, which now include telephone. The managed care may communicate with recipients via electronic means, including telephone, text message, and e-mail regarding eligibility, enrollment, and other health care matters. Their preference may be required to be provided to the commission.
HB 2951
Establishment of service dog pilot program for veterans
Veterans are individuals who have served in active or reserve component of the army, navy, air force, coast guard, space force , or marine corps of the United States; or the Texas National Guard.
The pilot program is to assist in mitigating the symptoms of military service-related post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual trauma through provisions of a service dog.
The commission will approve one or more nonprofit to provide services through the pilot program. The nonprofit must have demonstrated experience working with veterans who have experienced PTSD, traumatic brain injury or military sexual trauma. They must be authorized to do business in Texas and able to provide follow-up services to veterans in the pilot program and the service dog. They must adhere to the standards of Assistance Dogs International.
The nonprofit must provide a fully trained service dog, employee professional staff, instruct the veterans on maintaining the dog's health and training, ensure the veteran's mental health and depression assessments are conducted, and be able to provide a new service dog if the dog is incompatible or passes away.
The commission may accept gifts, grants and donations to fund the pilot program. On or before October 1, 2026, the commission shall prepare a report evaluating the pilot program. It needs to include recommendations for legislative or other actions, the effectiveness and whether it should be continued, expanded or terminated.
The program concludes September 1, 2027.
HB 2965
Construction liability claims concerning public buildings and public works
Chapter 2272 of the Government Code is waiver prohibited. The chapter deals with construction claims.
HB 3013
Exempting certain contracts from procurement notice
Procurement notice is not required when services are responding to a natural disaster. Certain contracts entered into by the comptroller also do not require procurement notice.
HB 3033
Public information law
Business day is a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, national holiday, or state holiday. Holidays are listed in the code. The Friday before or the Monday after a holiday is not a business day if the holiday occurs on a Saturday or Sunday. The designation of a nonbusiness day for an independent school district must be made by the board of trustees. For any other governmental body, the designation of a nonbusiness day must be made by the executive director or other chief administrative officer. There may not be more than 10 nonbusiness days designated.
An attorney general settlement is privileged and not subject to disclosure until the earlier of:
- 90th day after settlement discussions terminate; or
-
earliest date of:
- case is reported closed;
- final judgment, assurance of voluntary compliance, or other settlement entered by the court and the period for filing appeal has passed;
- settlement documents are all executed by all parties, if not filed with the court;
- order of dismissal or nonsuit disposing of all parties is entered by the court; or
- all appeals are finalized
A government body may request photo id from a requestor to establish the requestor has not exceeded a limit and concealed the requestor's identity. A request for identification may be declined, and the requestor may pay the charge assessed in a statement instead.
The office of the AG shall have on the office's Internet website a searchable database with information identifying each request for an AG decision and their opinion issued.
HB 3096
Date for report on reliability and stability of electric grid
By December 1 of every even-numbered year, the Texas Energy Reliability Council must submit a report on the reliability and stability of the electrical supply chain in Texas.
HB 3096
Protection of occupational licensing information for clients in domestic/family, sexual violence situations
If someone who holds a public license was a victim of family violence, trafficking, or sexual assault, then they may choose to restrict public access to their name, address, place of employment, telephone number, date of birth, e-mail address, driver's license number, passport number, emergency contact information, or numeric identifier. The government may not release that information if the person requests restrictions and may withhold it from a list or directory of license holders.
The issue I see here is a person shows they were and requests restrictions, then someone requests this information to verify they hold the license but are not able to do so. Then the person who was going to use them doesn't do so because they cannot lack verification. Or the person hires them, and has some issue with the service, files a lawsuit and, in the lawsuit, they claim that while the person claimed to be licensed they are not.
HB 3144
October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness month
HB 3222
Loan under disaster recovery loan program
A political subdivision may apply for a loan if it is wholly or partly in a declared disaster area. They must submit, within 30 days, the operating budget for the most recent fiscal year and an application for a loan from FEMA.
HB 3223
Management of declared state of disaster
The chair of the emergency management council has appoint a chair of each disaster district committee. Each disaster district chair shall inform the chair of the emergency management council on all matters.
HB 3265
Reports from Health and Human Services Commission
Medicaid reports must now be done semiannually for a 6 month period.
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