Legislative Blog

J.B. Williams, J.D.

9 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 3286 - Prescription drugs under Medicaid and child health program

HB 3440 - Governmental bodies post meeting agendas on Internet

HB 3485 - Contractor's right to elect not to proceed with additional work

HB 3698 - Expanding access to protective order registry

HB 3730 - Directory of users of centralized phone service

HB 3858 - Peace officer wellness programs

HB 3989 - Excluding private design professionals from contracting with Tx DOT

HB 4051 - Media production development zone

HB 4073 - Renewal of expired certificates by Texas Commission on Fire Protection

9 bills that modify the Government Code

Published: 2025-08-20

HB 3286

Prescription drugs under Medicaid and child health program

Vendor drug programs must include all federal Medicaid drugs and national drug codes, and made available under the federal Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. New drugs can be added upon a request, and if appropriate for dispensing through outpatient pharmacy, made available for 90 days or the date upon which the commission determines for inclusion. If an approved drug is later shown to not be effective or have diminished effect, then it shall be reviewed for removal.

HB 3440

Governmental bodies post meeting agendas on Internet

Now government bodies must post meeting agendas in the same location and at the same time they post notice of a meeting.

HB 3485

Contractor's right to elect not to proceed with additional work

If a vendor doesn't receive written, fully executed change order for additional work and the anticipated value exceeds 10%, then they may choose to not do the additional work. A vendor that chooses to not to proceed is not responsible for any damages associated with not proceeding.

HB 3698

Expanding access to protective order registry

A registry of publicly available information must be created and maintained such that the public can electronically search for and receive the accessible information contained for each protective order issued. It must be searchable by the county that issued it; the name of the person subject to the protective order; any known common misspellings of the person subject to; any known aliases or a person subject to; and the birth year of the person subject to them.

HB 3730

Directory of users of centralized phone service

For required entities, they need to update the information no later than October 1 for e-mail addresses for each person using the centralized telephone service. The department must update their overall list by December 31.

HB 3858

Peace officer wellness programs

Law enforcement agencies must have a wellness program for officers who routinely respond to violent incidents. The program must provide an initial contact for officers to be monitored for mental and physical well-being; and have information regarding mental health resources for those struggling to cope with violent incidents.

The peace officer wellness fund is an account in the general revenue fund. It has money from the legislature appropriations, gifts and grants, and it's own earnings. It can be used to issue grants to assist law enforcement agencies with wellness programs.

HB 3989

The Texas Department of Transportation must make formal policy in order to exclude private design professionals from contracting with them

Any exclusion policy needs to be provided and have an appeals process.

HB 4051

Media production development zone

The population size of more than 250,000 has been removed from the list necessary to be a media production development zone.

HB 4073

Renewal of expired certificates by Texas Commission on Fire Protection

Certificates expired for more than 5 years may not be renewed. If expired for more than 1 year but less than 5, then it may be renewed.

 

J.B. Williams, J.D.

4,312 federal laws were passed from 1995 through December 2016.
Along with 88,819 federal rules and regulations.