Lonestar legal update: 774 new laws passed and implemented in Texas

The Texas Legislature recently passed 774 new laws that took effect last week, covering areas such as local city power, public education, transportation, and transgender health care.

In light of the several hot topics it targets that have been trending in the conservative community, the new laws have gained a great deal of attention. The bill prohibits under-age transgender medical care, restrains transsexual competitors, prohibits transvestite public events, and restricts social media sites.

Transvestite events: Any organization hosting events in front of minors that display sexual content will be penalized under SB 12. A section mentioning these events specifically was removed from the bill before it was approved, but there are fees of $10,000, and entertainers can be charged with a misdemeanor.

Transgender competitors: A law known as SB 15 prohibits transgender players from participating in sports that are not assigned to their sex at birth.

Equity, inclusivity, and diversity: SB 17 prohibits public colleges from creating departments dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Prosecutors: SB 20 It will make it easier to replace district attorneys who don't prosecute abortion restrictions or low priority drug offenses.

Social media platforms: HB 18 will require social media companies to obtain parental consent or legal guardian permission before allowing minors to open an account.

Fentanyl casualties: HB 6 allows Prosecutors to press murder charges when someone facilitates deadly fentanyl dosages to anyone else, labeling the overdose "poisoning."

Medicaid for women that just gave birth: HB 12 will extend Medicaid assistance from two to twelve months after birth.

Approximately 50% of Texas women who give birth receive Medicaid, according to a media outlet.

Tampon purchases: SB 379 eliminates the sales taxes on hygienic female products as well as baby items, like tampons, menstrual contractions, motherhood gear, and human milk extraction items.

Medical expenses: SB 490 will require hospitals and other healthcare providers to provide itemized invoices to their patients. A layman's explanation of services rendered is required before payment can be obtained.

COVID-19 masks and vaccinations: SB 29 prohibits local governments from imposing mask restrictions, vaccination requirements, or closing down businesses.

Pet farms: SB 876 will offer to limit the number of canines and felines that farms can raise. Registration is required by January next year for farms with five or more females.

Traffic laws and road takeovers: New penal code HB 1442 aims to reduce road takeovers. Furthermore, this legislation allows law enforcement and prosecutors to add reckless driving to any organized criminal actions.

Walking areas: HB 1277 enables people to walk on streets facing traffic in the opposite direction when sidewalks are blocked or dangerous.

The legislation was enacted in response to the arrest of Rodney "R.J" Reese who was walking on the streets during a storm in 2021 in which icing conditions rendered sidewalks unusable.

Electric cars: SB 505 will address Texas' lost profits from gas taxes, residents will be required to pay $400 to enlist for two years followed by $200 renewal payments every two years.

Speed limit modifications: under HB 1885, TxDOT may adjust speed limits on highways, roads, and bridges based on driving scenarios, without the permission of the state's transportation commissioners.

A speed limit adjustment would have been helpful in reducing fatalities and injuries on Interstate 35 in 2021, where six people lost their lives and many others were injured.

Road fees: HB 2170 requires road fee organizations to mail people a bill with electronic labels if their monthly deductions fail to go through. A concise message should be included on the bill that explains that it is regarding an unpaid expense.

Some laws are currently being challenged in litigation. 

Medical care for transgender minors: under SB14, medical procedures or medications involving gender transition for minors are prohibited. As a result of this change in legislation, the Lonestar State will be the largest state to ban medical care for transgender children. Its outcome is being determined by the state's Supreme Court.

Texas vs cities: HB 2127 eliminates any decrees created by cities within the state, effectively removing shields like Dallas's ordinance in 2015 which mandated breaks on construction sites. The changes have been rejected by several cities, including San Antonio, El Paso, and Houston. Despite some neighboring cities joining the rejection lawsuits like Plano, Arlington, and Denton, Dallas does not appear to plan to reject the state's changes.

Sexual content in book prohibitions: According to HB 900, which was approved in April, material depicting sexual behavior will be prohibited from educational libraries, and book companies will have to label a rating according to the type of sexual content in the book.

Three national bookselling agencies and two additional book stores are joining the lawsuit against the state. A judge is currently determining whether a ruling is necessary. Among the other changes are school safety measures, power grid adjustments, small sheriff's offices, university tenure rules, and housing projects.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been fighting against changes that have been adopted in liberal states such as New Mexico and California.