Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
5 bills that modify several different Codes
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 have worked my way through to the Transportation Code. The Utilities and Water Code will follow.
Blog Summary
SB 1514 - Modifications mostly toward LLC and Incorporated entities
SB 1518 - Creates a terrorist offender registration program
SB 1527 - Mostly updating human trafficking reporting and the task force
SB 1585 - juveniles with mental illness or intellectual disability
SB 2040 - willed body and anatomical specimens
5 bills that modify several different Codes
Published: 2026-08-07
SB 1514 - 41 pages
Small modifications to definitions in the Business & Commerce Code. Office is simplified greatly to just be the principal office in this state or outside of this state.
A certificate is sufficient to rely on for evidence that the domestic registered series exists. A responsible organization must pay judgement as ordered by the court.
An LLC is subject to winding up if there remains only one member, unless within the year; a member is admitted, a successor of the remaining member agrees to continue or become a part of the company.
Some matters for Incorporated entities are simplified, and there is further qualifications for boards.
SB 1518 - 32 pages
This act created a terrorist offender registration program. There are to be mandatory countywide registration locations. A criminal justice official is a chief of police of a municipality, sheriff, constable, county attorney with criminal jurisdiction, district attorney or criminal district attorney. A reportable conviction or adjudication includes terrorist offenses under Chapter 76 of the Penal Code, those related federal offenses, or an offense against the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
A great deal of how the registration happens, what has to be updated annually to ensure everyone can be aware of what qualifies. This is similar to the Sex Offender Registration. If placed on this list, the school or employer needs to be notified of such; as well as any entities that have issued a license to the individual.
Registration needs to be updated when a person moves, annually. If the individual is held in jail, then they need to be advised what is required for registration when they are being released. A driver's license or personal id must be applied for and renewed in person each year during registration.
The Penal Code is updated for required definitions. A list of offenses that are listed as terrorism seems to include murders, unlawful restraint, kidnapping, trafficking of a person, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault, deadly conduct if a felony, terroristic threat if a felony, tampering with a consumer product, arson, interference with railway property if a felony, aggravated robbery, interference with radio frequency issued to government if a felony, or hoax bombs. It is also terrorist threat if they commit or conspire to commit an offense to intimidate or coerce the public or a substantial group of the public; or influence, intimidate or coerce the policy, conduct or activities of the state or political subdivision. (This last part gets questionable as to influence or coercing an entity - would it be terrorist if a bunch of citizens for a city went to council meetings and spoke about wanting or not wanting a particular thing, and also did protests or community outreach to convince more people to follow their lead. I mean that sounds like what you are suppose to want - citizens hearing about things and uniting to get it or keep it from happening. Would the lawsuit, and related issues, regarding the old Collin County mall site be terroristic? I mean it changed where things went, some say for the better and others not. Is it different because they filed a lawsuit versus doing it outside a lawsuit due to the prohibitive cost of filing?)
SB 1527 - 37 pages
A human trafficking task force was created. It is composed of the governor or their designee; the attorney general or their designee; the commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services or their designee; the public safety director of the Department of Public Safety or their designee; someone appointed by the chief administrative officer of the Texas Workforce Commission; someone appointed by the chief administrative officer of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; someone appointed by the chief administrative officer of the Parks and Wildlife Department; someone appointed by the chief administrative officer of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; someone appointed by the chief administrative officer of the Texas Education Agency (new); someone appointed by the chief administrative officer of the Texas Department of Transportation (new); and one representative of another state agency if the council determines it necessary.
The attorney general must annually evaluate the input of the members appointed, and when necessary appoint new members.
The task force need to collect, organize and publish statistical data on the nature and extent of human trafficking in Texas. They must now include the number of investigations involving arrests and prosecutions for the offense of trafficking a person; the offense of forgery or public indecency if it was part of a criminal episode involving trafficking of person; second degree felony solicitation of prostitution if part of a criminal episode involving trafficking of person. Also included is demographic information on persons convicted and persons who are victims; geographic routs used and geographic patterns. The patterns include country or state of origin and country or state of designation. Also included are means of transportation and methods used; as well as, social and economic factors that create a demand. Some, if not most, of this was previously included in another manner.
Adjustments to the Penal Code for seriousness and penalties involved. Adjustments made to required reporting concerning human trafficking cases, as well as, what is included in the report.
Now a court must also, when ordering the Texas Department of Public Safety, whether the indications for registration include offenses involving human trafficking.
Child grooming is added as an offense to the Penal Code. It is designated a third degree felony.
SB 1585 - 41 pages
This focuses on juvenile court for minors with mental illness and intellectual disabilities. It removes the term mental retardation and replaces it with intellectual disabilities. There are also tweaks to the definitions section, and the addition of the terms interdisciplinary team, least restrictive appropriate setting, restorative classes, and subaverage general intellectual functioning.
Courts can order forensic mental examination if they find probably cause exists to believe mental illness will create issue with juvenile court or if there is lacking to responsible on the part of. There are terms which must be met by the individual that does the forensic mental examination. A juvenile court may order temporary inpatient mental health services if there is clear and convincing evidence of mental illness; and as a result the child is likely to cause serious harm to self; or is likely to cause harm to others; or is suffering several and abnormal mental, emotional or physical distress. There are additional guidelines for the court in these situations.
Similar modifications to the Family Code to incorporate the material around child with mental illness or intellectual disability.
Most of this seemed to follow what I saw already occurring when I was practicing law. So perhaps this was really codifying what the system was already managing.
SB 2040 - 23 pages
Dealing with donation of bodies and anatomical specimens. Additional definitions for what specifically is an anatomical facility, non-transplant anatomical donation center and willed body programs. Not really all that different than you would think.
There was previously a board with some of the duties. A State Anatomical Advisory Committee is established for advice on the regulation and operation of a willed body program, non-transplant anatomical donation organization, and anatomical facilities. It is comprised of 2 members representing higher education that operate willed body programs; 2 members that represent non-transplant anatomical donation organizations; 2 members that represent anatomical facilities; and 1 public member.
They are able to set and collect reasonable fees for receiving and distributing bodies and anatomical specimens; conduction inspections; verification activities; registering will body programs and non-transplant anatomical donations. They are to set rules, procedures, forms necessary to follow the law. They may issue reprimands, assess administrative penalties, impose penalties, or revoke/suspend/probate a registration.
Donors must be presented, in writing, information to ensure they are making informed consent to the donation.
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