Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
7 Senate Bills
A Blog about 89th Legislative Session
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically 89th Legislative Session 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 89th Legislative Session
This subtopic contains a list of some of the "new" laws reviews. Total laws signed/voted into effect = 1,192. This will begin with an appropriations bill, and then go through a few that went into effect immediately. The following dates were when different laws took, or will take, effect: 7/1/25; 9/1/25; 9/5/25; 9/17/25; 10/1/25; 12/5/25; 1/1/26; 6/1/26; 8/1/26; 9/1/26; 1/1/27; 4/1/27; 9/1/27; 1/1/28
Blog Summary
SB 75 - Grid reliability
SB 670 - Investigational sun protection products
SB 1504
SB 1879 - property from Texas Dept of Criminal Justice to Walker County
SB 2139
SB 2476
SB 3044 - deals with the board of directors for Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District
7 Senate Bills
Published: 2026-07-30
SB 75 - 16 pages
This act deals with the electric grid and acknowledging that grid outages cost lives. They acknowledged the issues that the February 2021 outage caused. They also acknowledge the February 2011 outage that affected 4.4 million customers. Also noted that Texas is a net exporter of energy.
There must be at least 1 load shedding during the summer months and at least 1 load shedding during the winter months. The commission and providers need to mitigate and prepare for a threat of attack or an actual attack on critical facility.
The Texas Grid Security Commission is composed of a representative of the Texas Division of Emergency Management; a representative of the commission; a representative of the Railroad Commission of Texas; a representative of the independent organization; a representative of the power generation companies; a representative of transmission and distribution utilities, electric coops, municipally owned utilities and river authorities; any 1 other that the commission deems necessary. The security commission shall evaluate all hazards to the critical infrastructure of the ERCOT grid. They need to identify and address each hazard. They also need to evaluate the nuclear generation sites and their resilience.
A report must be created by December 1, 2026. They need to evaluate weatherization necessary to prevent outages from extreme cold, whether they could induce cyber vulnerabilities and analyze the associated costs.
SB 670 - 5 pages
This act addresses investigational sun protection products that are not yet FDA approved, and permitting patients to make the decision whether to use the product with full awareness of potential risks, benefits and consequences.
Patients must first use approved sun protection products but find that an investigational one would provide better coverage for their needs, and that the approved ones are not doing so.
SB 1504 - 3 pages
Modifies the Gulf Coast Authorities meetings from at least once per month to as reasonably necessary. The meetings must be open but this does not require in person meetings.
SB 1879 - 5 pages
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is transferring a tract of property to Walker County to be used for a justice center. Walker County has 10 years to do so or the property reverts back to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
SB 2139 - 5 pages
The Texas Military Department is to determine the fair market value of a piece of property, along with the buildings thereon, and negotiate a closing on it to Palo Pinto County.
SB 2476 - 3 pages
Deals with transfer of property from Woodlawn Water Supply Corporation to Angelina and Neches River Authority.
SB 3044 - 4 pages
Modifies the composition of the board of directors for the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District.
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