Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
8 additional 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 Senate. One of which provides automatic inflation increases for low income housing credits.
8 additional bills that modify the Government Code
Published: 2025-10-01
Multiple short modifications
SB 2106 - Supreme Court of Texas can now adopt rules for renewals of certifications, registration, or licensing. This also includes failure to comply with orders or timely pay fees or penalties.
The commission determines the severity of administrative sanctions, including length of time for revocation, suspension, refusal to renew certification, registration or licensing. This must be based upon the following:
- seriousness of the violation - nature, circumstances, extent and gravity;
- threat to health or safety cause by the violation;
- prior violations;
- necessary administrative sanctions to deter future violations;
- did violator demonstrate good faith, including good faith to correct violation;
- any other matter required
SB 2119 - The Public Utility Commission of Texas must create, and annually update, a map that shows areas receiving reliable broadband services of download speeds not less than 100 megabits and upload speeds not less than 20 megabits; served by an eligible telecommunications provider that receives support for that purpose.
SB 2120 - There is now a legislative law for provide an attorney ad litem (that is an attorney to represent and advocate) for an indigent parent or child in a case filed by the department against a parent. These attorney ad litems are eligible to be paid by the state out of public funds. My county already provided for this for limited cases for indigent parties. Hopefully creating it as a law and requiring the counties to provide the form and manner of rules, requirements for serving, as well as the fee schedule will mean a more uniform implementation. There was a time when my county did this on a rotational basis of attorneys on a wheel but then judges seem to start choosing who they would use without regard to the wheel at all. Some judges stuck with the wheel but they seemed the least likely to have those matters in their court. The judges with larger numbers starting only use a few attorneys all the time, which, in my opinion, led to most attorneys dropping off the list. I know I use to get a few appointments each year, and then went to maybe 1 every 3 years. However to remain on the list, I still had to take the required continuing legal education. Since I no longer actively practice I won't know if this corrects that behavior or not.
SB 2214 - If a state employee works on a Saturday or Sunday that is a national or state holiday then they are entitled to compensatory time off at the rate of 1 hour for each hour worked. This applies to employees of the Department of Family and Protective Services in the intake division who receives a report of abuse or neglect; an employee of the Department of Public Safety that performs communications or dispatch services or is a public security officer; or an employee of the Parks and Wildlife Department that does communications or dispatch service to law enforcement.
SB 2310 - A DA or criminal DA or a state prosecuting attorney or a state prosecutor is to be paid a monthly amount of longevity pay based upon their years of service as if they were a judge or justice under Section 659.445(a).
SB 2325 - Certain events are eligible for funding under the Major Events Reimbursement Program. (I cannot believe we have this fund, as if they wouldn't hold them here if they were not otherwise funded?) Anyway Bassmater Classic, CMT (County Music Television) Music Awards, Federation Equestre Internationale World Cup Final, Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) World Supercross Championship race, Professional Bull Riders World Finals, series of cricket matches or competitions within the T20 World Cup, and Formula One United States Grand Prix (previously Formula Once autombile race) have all been added to the list. Site selection organizations has been expanded to now include Bass Anglers Sportsman Society LLC, CMT Productions Inc, Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), International Cricket Council, SX Global, and Professional Bull Riders LLC.
SB 2333 - This rule prohibits signage, banners and such from being attached to the Capitol. It prohibits visitors from placing furniture on or in the Capitol for a time exceeding 24 hours. It prohibits camping equipment, shelter or such on the Capitol grounds or in the Capitol. It prohibits blocking ingress or egress from the Capitol building or rooms/hallways within the building. It prohibits acts that pose a safety risk. (I'd imagine this is covered by a multitude of existing laws already.) It requires the public to leave when the building is closed to the public. Prohibits dogs, other than service dogs, being in the Capitol. To be fair most of these already existing, except the service dog exception. But the pose a safety risk is something that exists in laws already. I always say if you start being specific, then eventually anything not mentioned gets excluded.
SB 2376 - Creates a Support Adoption license plate. Money placed in the account of Support Adoption may only be used for material needs of pregnant women who are placing their child up for adoption, to provide needs for children waiting placement with adoptive parents, to provide training and advertising for adoption, provide pregnancy testing and pre-adoption or post-adoption counseling. It may not be used for administrative, legal, or capital expenses.
Eligible organizations include non-profits that provide counseling and material assistance to pregnant women considering adoption or prospective adoptive parents, that do not charge fees for the services, does not provide abortion or make abortion referrals, does not contract with those providing abortions. An adoption agency as already defined in the Family Code qualifies. An authorized agent as already defined in the Family Code qualifies.
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