New texas laws

Here are some of the new laws in Texas that went into effect on September 1, 2021:

Criminal Justice

  1. Bail Reform: House Bill 20 eliminates cash bail for most misdemeanor and low-level felony charges, allowing judges to consider a defendant's risk to public safety and flight risk when setting bail.
  2. Juvenile Justice: Senate Bill 6 raises the age of juvenile jurisdiction from 17 to 18, allowing 17-year-olds to be tried as adults in certain circumstances.
  3. Mental Health: House Bill 8 creates a mental health crisis intervention program, allowing law enforcement to transport individuals with mental health crises to treatment facilities instead of jail.

Education

  1. School Safety: Senate Bill 11 requires schools to have a safety plan in place, including protocols for responding to active shooter situations.
  2. Teacher Pay: House Bill 3 increases teacher pay by $4,000 per year, with additional funding for teachers in high-poverty schools.
  3. Voucher Program: Senate Bill 28 creates a voucher program for students with special needs, allowing them to attend private schools with state-funded scholarships.

Healthcare

  1. Abortion: Senate Bill 8 bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions for medical emergencies.
  2. Mental Health Parity: House Bill 12 requires health insurance plans to cover mental health services on par with physical health services.
  3. Telemedicine: Senate Bill 14 expands telemedicine services, allowing patients to receive medical care remotely.

Elections

  1. Voter ID: Senate Bill 1 strengthens voter ID requirements, requiring voters to show a government-issued ID at the polls.
  2. Voter Roll Maintenance: House Bill 25 requires counties to maintain accurate voter rolls by removing inactive voters and updating registration information.
  3. Election Security: Senate Bill 9 requires election officials to conduct regular security audits and implement additional security measures to protect election systems.

Other

  1. Gun Laws: House Bill 1927 allows licensed handgun owners to carry their weapons in public without a permit.
  2. Ride-Sharing: Senate Bill 1264 regulates ride-sharing services, requiring them to provide certain information to passengers and to maintain a minimum level of insurance coverage.
  3. Tobacco: House Bill 3885 increases the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.

These are just a few of the many new laws in Texas that went into effect on September 1, 2021. If you're interested in learning more, I recommend checking out the Texas Legislature's website or consulting with a legal professional.