FORNEY - As soon as the clock strikes midnight, Texas has several laws that will take effect. Here’s what you need to know ahead of 2025.
FORNEY - As soon as the clock strikes midnight, Texas has several laws that will take effect. Here’s what you need to know ahead of 2025.
During the 88th Texas legislative session in 2023, over 1,000 laws went into effect immediately, more than 50 went into effect during 2024, and now, several will take effect on January 1, 2025.
inForney.com previously reported on the vehicle inspection law that goes into effect, with 17 Texas counties, Kaufman included, that will still require vehicle inspections before getting your registration.
Senate Bill 2, passed in the 88th session, pertains to property tax relief. Part of the bill reduced a public school district’s maximum compressed tax rate for the 2023-2024 school year. The second part, which goes into effect January 1, 2025, addresses additional state aid for adjusting the limit on tax increases for homesteads of the elderly or people with disabilities, allowing appraisers and assessors to make related tax calculations, and repealing some sections of the Tax Code.
House Bill 4504 builds on the legislature's revision of statutes. “The sole purpose of the provisions of this bill is to compile the relevant law, arrange it in a logical fashion, and rewrite it without altering its meaning or legal effect,” stated the Senate Research Center bill analysis.
House Bill 4, the Texas Data Privacy & Security Act, added Chapter 541 to the Texas Business and Commerce Code. The Senate Research Center bill analysis states that the new chapter seeks to establish “comprehensive regulations for the collection, use, processing, and treatment of consumers' personal data by certain business entities.” In summary, the new chapter expands data privacy rights for Texans by restricting the sale and processing of personal consumer data by businesses operating in Texas and allowing for civil penalties to those found guilty of violating the law.
Beginning in July 2025, House Bill 718 amends the Tax Code and Transportation Code to prohibit using temporary paper license tags from dealers. It requires the use of metal plates, with the additional requirement that law enforcement be able to obtain information about the drivers to which the metal plates are issued.