Texas' 89th Legislative Session: Initial Snapshot

The official end of the regular legislative session, sine die, occurred on June 2. We know that through the legislative process great strides can be made to improve the lives of Texans. We also know that it can lead to some setbacks and disappointments.

In partnership with a number of coalitions, advocacy partners, legislators and staff members, we have bright moments to share about Texas’ 89th legislative session. Below are bills related to our work that passed both chambers. And, as of the writing of this blog post, one bill has already been signed into law by Governor Abbott.

At Texas Appleseed, we are focused on bringing about policies that are fair, just, and equitable for all Texans. We know that many Texans — whether an elderly person, a child, a victim of fraud, or someone starting over again — need an advocate in their corner. We are proud to be that advocate. We thank everyone who helped support our work this session, and to the Texans who shared their stories and advocated alongside us.

Below is our preliminary legislative update. Please sign up for our print newsletter to receive additional legislative news, which we will share later this summer.

Bills We Championed that Passed Both Chambers

[*] SB 1238: Prohibits insurance companies from refusing to continue home or auto insurance due to the death of a spouse or charging a higher rate to a widow or widower based solely on a change in marital status (loss of a spouse). We have referred to this bill as closing the “widow penalty” insurance loophole. FFS

HB 4238: Strengthens debt collection protections for victims of identity theft, further helping victims of financial abuse and coerced debt. FFS

SB 1036: Addresses harmful practices in the residential solar panel retail sales and installation industry by creating new regulatory requirements. Under this bill, solar panel salespeople and retailers must register with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and follow strict standards to prevent fraudulent and deceptive practices. FFS

SB 1343: Requires data brokers to include information in a state directory and on their website to make it easier for Texans to access their data privacy rights. Data brokers collect and sell personal information often without an individual’s approval or knowledge. This change will create a new tool for survivors of domestic violence and others who are vulnerable to financial abuse to protect their private information. FFS

SB 840: Allows for the building of apartments in areas where Texas cities currently only allow office buildings or retail shops, thus creating more affordable housing opportunities and more housing in general. FH

SB 1567: Prevents municipalities from restricting the number of unrelated adults who can live together in cities of less than 250,000 with nearby universities, thus allowing roommates and friends to offset rental costs. FH

HB 24: Reforms the valid petition process in Texas regarding zoning changes, so that a small number of people cannot block much-needed housing. Known as the “tyrant’s veto,” a single landowner could have blocked new housing or redevelopment, but this bill sets a higher threshold for protesting and makes it easier for elected city councils to overcome the protest and allow more housing. FH

SB 15: Allows smaller lot homes to develop in new subdivisions. Many cities require large lots to build even a single house, requiring buyers to buy large yards even if that’s not their desire. This bill will make starter-homes more available for first-time homebuyers, and allow affordable housing builders like Habitat for Humanity to build more houses on the same amount of land. FH

Sunset: Bright Highlights

Through Sunset, the Texas Legislature “looks closely at the need for and performance of state agencies.” This bill below, which we advocated for and passed both chambers, was part of the Sunset process for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Special thanks to our partners, Texas 2036 and Ed Trust, who helped us secure this legislative win.

SB 2405: Allows post-secondary education responsibilities in prison to be transferred to Windham School District, allowing Windham to enter into data agreements with state agencies to measure the impact of their educational programs. This supports our higher education in prisons work to ensure successful reentry of Texans back into their communities via educational/career and technical training during incarceration. The bill also codifies the creation of an advisory council that will approve education prison programs. This allows programming to be more closely monitored, evaluated, and updated, and this uplifts our work to ensure programs in prison are meaningful and nimble to best meet the needs of students. CJ

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This relates to the issue area of our work that a bill falls under:

CJ = Criminal Justice
FH = Fair Housing
FFS = Fair Financial Services
[*] = Signed by the Governor