State
BY BEN THOMPSON & CHLOE YOUNG
5 legislative updates from Central Texas-area lawmakers
Over 100 days into the 2025 legislative session, committees are continuing to advance bills to the full Texas House and Senate. From school seat belt regulations to tax rate changes, many bills authored by Central Texas lawmakers are making their way through the legislative process. A bill must be passed by both chambers and signed by the governor to become law. 1 Senate passes stricter school bus seatbelt rules In April, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 546, which would require school districts to have three-point seat belts on all school buses. The bill would remove a provision exempting the seat belt requirement for buses made in 2017 or earlier. Districts could opt out of the mandate if their budget or warranty did not allow for compliance. Districts would report to the state how many of their buses did not have seat belts along with the estimated cost for buses to have three-point seat belts. Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, said he authored the bill after 44 Tom Green preschool students and 11 adults were involved in a Hays CISD school bus crash that killed an adult and a child in March 2024.
3 Resolution to expand health care workforce progresses Texas House Joint Resolution 203 by Rep. Terry Wilson, R-Georgetown, would create a state fund to address a need for more health care workers in Texas. Lawmakers could establish criteria for universities to become eligible to receive a portion of the fund. The proposed constitutional amendment would appear on voters’ ballots in November if approved by both chambers.
2 Senate passes homeless housing hearing requirement Cities’ use of property for homeless housing could soon require advance public notice under legislation from Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown. Senate Bill 617 was inspired by Austin’s conversion of a Williamson County hotel for people exiting homelessness. The controversial project prompted a county lawsuit, but Austin’s facility ended up opening last year. SB 617 has passed the Senate, and if signed into law would require cities to hold a public hearing about such projects at least three months in advance, with mailed notice to nearby residents and businesses.
4 Changes to tax rate processes considered Bills led by Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, could adjust local taxing notices and elections. House Bill 5446 would require cities to state on the ballot when seeking local tax hikes, while HB 5447 would require more taxing information to be available online. Both bills are pending in committee.
“A localized approach is necessary to address the homeless problem in Central Texas.” SEN. CHARLES SCHWERTNER
State property sales
5 Bills would allow state facility land sales in Austin
“With this report, hopefully we will know what it takes to help all children in Texas ride on a bus with a three- point seat belt and have their lives be protected.” SEN. JOSÉ MENÉNDEZ
Legislation could provide extra revenue for Texas through the sale or lease of outdated state facilities. House Bill 897 from Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, would allow the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s 20-acre state records center and two buildings on 7 acres of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s Central Austin campus to be conveyed.
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