The Texas Legislature meets every two years to consider new laws. The most recent regular session ran from January 14th to June 2nd, 2025.

At the end of a regular legislative session, hundreds of bills are passed by the House and Senate. They are then sent to the governor for approval. See our post 89th Regular Legislative Session Kicks Off to learn about the Texas legislative process.

The governor called a special session to consider additional laws on specific topics. See our post Governor Abbott Announces Special Session. The session ran from July 21st to August 15th. It was immediately followed by a second called session. The governor can call additional sessions as needed.

Session Summaries

After a regular session, hundreds of bills become law. Many organizations publish legislative summaries to help the public learn about important changes.

The summaries are sometimes published before the governor's veto period ends. We recommend checking the governor's veto statements to ensure that a bill hasn't been vetoed.

• 2025 Legislative Recap by the Texas Tribune
• 89th Regular Session Overview by the Texas Legislative Reference Library
• LSG’s 89th Regular Legislative Session by the Texas Legislative Study Group
• Vouchers, property taxes and abortion: Here’s what the Texas Legislature did in 2025 by KERA

Laws by Date

The Texas Legislative Reference Library has published a list of laws by date on which they take effect. 

• Effective Immediately
• Effective September 1, 2025
• Effective January 1, 2026

Summaries by Topic

The summaries below were written by news outlets, professional organizations, law firms, and state agencies.

Business | Civil Rights | Criminal Law | Education | Elder Law | Energy & Environment | Government | Healthcare | Property Owners' Associations (HOAs) | Real Estate | Taxes | Technology

Business

• 89th Texas Legislature TDLR-Related Bills by Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation
• A Wave of Amendments to Texas Corporate Law: What Bank Holding Companies and Banks in Texas Need to Know by Hunton Andrews Kurth
• Key Texas Insurance Bills From the 89th Regular Legislative Session by Foley & Lardner
• Passage of Senate Bill 29 Positions Texas as a Leading State for Incorporations by Foley & Lardner
• Texas Legislative Session 2025: Updates for Business by Boyar Miller
• Texas Legislature Strengthens Business Court with Expanded Jurisdiction and Operational Reforms by The National Law Review
• Texas SB 1318: Major Changes to Healthcare Non-Compete Agreements by Winstead

Civil Rights

• A Capitol Recap: Disability Policy in the 89th Texas Legislature by Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
• Here are the new Texas laws that will affect trans and LGBTQ+ people by The Texas Tribune
• Second Amendment Legislation Signed by Governor! by National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action
• Texas again lowers restrictions on certain firearms, passes on regulations by The Texas Tribune
• Texas just defined man and woman. Here’s why that matters by The Texas Tribune
• Texas lawmakers pushed bills aimed at illegal immigration. Here’s what passed and what failed by The Texas Tribune

Criminal Law

• Summaries of Selected Legislation Passed by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session by Texas Department of Criminal Justice
• Texas made sweeping changes to bail and parole, along with increasing penalties for stolen goods by The Texas Tribune

Education

• Bill to give political appointees more oversight over Texas universities wins final passage by The Texas Tribune
• From vouchers to a cellphone ban, this year’s lawmaking session brought transformative changes to Texas schools by The Texas Tribune
• Private school vouchers are now law in Texas. Here’s how they will work by The Texas Tribune
• Texas will require public school classrooms to display Ten Commandments under bill signed by Abbott by KUT News
• With the Legislature wrapped up, here are other ways Texas schools were impacted by KUT News

Elder Law

• The 89th Texas Legislature Produces Some Wins for Seniors by Hammerle Morris Law Firm

Energy & Environment

• 89th Texas Legislative Session Recap: Key Outcomes for Power Generation and Clean Energy Industry by McGuireWoods
• A $20 billion effort to avoid calamity: Here’s what Texas lawmakers did to save the state’s water supply by The Texas Tribune
• Lawmakers passed bills this session to boost the state power grid but failed to limit renewables by The Texas Tribune
• Senate Bill 6 Positions Texas to Better Manage Large Electrical Loads and Strengthen Grid Reliability by Foley & Lardner

Government 

• 2025 Legislative Summary – 89th Regular Session by Texas Secretary of State
• 2025 TRS-Related Legislation Summary by Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Legislative Bills by Office by Texas Association of Counties
• Legislative Update by the Texas Municipal League
• Legislature passes Public Information Act response bill, sends it to governor by The Big Bend Sentinel
• Legislative Activity Related to ERS by Employee Retirement System of Texas
• Texas Lottery Commission to be disbanded as state game gets new restrictions by The Texas Tribune

Healthcare

• 2025 Legislative Session Recap: A Successful Juggling Act by Texas Hospital Association
• Here’s what happened with abortion at the Texas Legislature this year by KUT News
• Needle Little Regulation: What Texas’s New IV Therapy Law Really Says by The National Law Review
• Texas clarified when abortions are OK and aligned with RFK Jr. on health this legislative session by The Texas Tribune
• Texas Legislature Passes New Laws Impacting Health Care Industry by Greenberg Traurig
• The 89th Texas Legislature: 2025 Healthcare legislative update by Norton Rose Fulbright

Property Owners’ Associations (HOAs)

• 2025 Texas Legislative Update: Issues Affecting Texas Homeowners’ Associations and Condominium Owners’ Associations by Winstead
• Post 89th Texas Legislative Session Action Items for POAs by RMWBH
• Texas HOAs & COAs: What You Need to Know About the 2025 Legislative Changes by PMI Cross Timbers

Real Estate

• 2025 Texas Legislative Update: Impact on Developers by Winstead PC
• Texas lawmakers laid the foundation for a housing boom. Here’s how by The Texas Tribune
• Texas on My Mind: New Bills from the 2025 Legislative Session Affecting Contractors in the Lone Star State by Bradley
• Texas Senate Bill 17 Restricts Foreign Ownership of Real Property in the State by Greenberg Traurig

Taxes

• Property Tax Relief Bill in Texas: What to Know for 2025 by Kiplinger
• Texas voters will have final say on 3 property tax exemptions in November by Community Impact
• Texas Tax Update: Key Changes Enacted During the 89th Legislature by Bracewell
• Voters will have final say on billions of tax cuts for Texas homeowners, businesses by The Texas Tribune

Technology

• Technology Legislation by the Texas Department of Information Resources
• Texas Enacts Sweeping AI Law: Disclosure, Consent, and Compliance Requirements Take Effect in 2026 by Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton
• Texas Legislature Amends Data Broker Law by The National Law Review
• Texas Legislature Passes Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act by Hunton Andrews Kurth

Disclaimer: The sites listed above are hosted by third-party organizations and are intended as informational sources for the public. The library does not endorse any political messages these sources may contain. Please see our third-party linking policy for more information.