6.2.23 – By Texas Tribune Staff
A look at which bills passed and which failed during the 2023 legislative session.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of the bill tracker included SB 9, which would have given one-time bonuses to teachers according to their school district’s enrollment size. However, we removed it from the tracker after a House committee removed teacher bonuses from the bill.
The 2023 Texas legislative session came to a stunning end when tense negotiations on property taxes and border issues between lawmakers broke down at the last minute, leading Gov. Greg Abbott to call for an immediate special session.
The governor also announced that “many critical items remain” to be passed by the Legislature and would require multiple special sessions. A school voucher plan, one of Abbott’s main priorities this session, also fizzled out before the session’s end.
The last days of the sessions were also overshadowed by the Texas House’s historic vote to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Lawmakers did pass bills banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender children, allowing prosecutors to pursue murder charges against people who sell fentanyl and eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion offices on public university campuses. In addition, the legislators passed a $321.3 billion state budget, allocating money toward tax cuts, mental health access and infrastructure for broadband and water. To help pay for the budget, they allocated half of the record $32.7 billion surplus they had at their disposal.
Most new laws take effect Sept. 1. Here are the steps of the legislative process we tracked:
In the works
Bills could originate in the House or Senate but had to be approved by both chambers to pass. A conference committee was tasked with reconciling any differences.
Sent to Abbott
Next, bills went to the governor, who can decide whether to sign or veto them.
Signed into law
Bills signed by Abbott become law. If Abbott leaves a bill unsigned but doesn’t veto it, it also automatically becomes law.
Vetoed or failed
Some legislative measures fail by missing a key deadline. Abbott can also veto any bill sent to him.
Major bills at a glance
Sent To Abbott
- HB 1: Allocating the budgetBill sent to Abbott
- HB 12: Expanding postpartum MedicaidBill sent to Abbott
- HB 6: Allowing murder charges for fentanyl poisoningBill sent to Abbott
- HB 3: Addressing school safetyBill sent to Abbott
- HB 1500: Shoring up the power gridBill sent to Abbott
- SB 15: Restricting trans athletes in college sportsBill sent to Abbott
- SB 17: Banning DEI offices in collegesBill sent to Abbott
- SB 18: Solidifying tenure in state lawBill sent to Abbott
- HB 9/HJR 125: Expanding broadbandBill sent to Abbott
- SB 12 : Regulating sexually explicit showsBill sent to Abbott
- HB 2127: Preempting local regulationsBill sent to Abbott
- HB 1595: Creating university endowmentsBill sent to Abbott
- SB 28/SJR 75: Funding water infrastructure
Signed Into Law
Vetoed or Failed
- SB 8: Creating education savings accountsBill failed to pass or was vetoed
- HB 100: Increasing school funding and education savings accountsBill failed to pass or was vetoed
- SB 3: Cutting property taxesBill failed to pass or was vetoed
- HB 7: Expanding border security funding and creating a border safety unitBill failed to pass or was vetoed
- HB 2744: Raising the ageBill failed to pass or was vetoed
- SB 7: Shoring up the power gridBill failed to pass or was vetoed
- HJR 102: Legalizing online sports bettingBill failed to pass or was vetoed
- HJR 155: Authorizing casinosBill failed to pass or was vetoed
- HB 1422: Adopting permanent daylight saving timeBill failed to pass or was vetoed
- SB 23: Raising minimum sentence for gun crimesBill failed to pass or was vetoed
- HB 4843: Raising minimum sentence for gun crimesBill failed to pass or was vetoed
- SB 147: Restricting foreign land ownership
Bills that are still in the works
Bills could originate in the House or Senate but had to be approved by both chambers to pass. A conference committee was tasked with reconciling any differences.
The first session ended May 29, so time has run out for proposed bills.
Bills that have been sent to Gov. Abbott
Next, bills went to the governor, who can decide whether to sign or veto them.
Allocating the budget
HB 1: Sent to Abbott on May 27
The state’s $300 billion-plus spending plan, which will determine how Texas allocates a $32.7 billion surplus. This is the one bill the Legislature is constitutionally required to pass. Lawmakers ended up passing a bill that allocates money toward tax cuts and spending on mental health access and state parks, among other things. Read more
Expanding postpartum Medicaid
HB 12: Sent to Abbott on May 28
This bill would extend Medicaid coverage for low-income Texans for a full year after childbirth. The version passed by the Senate includes an amendment that would exclude people who have abortions. Read more
Allowing murder charges for fentanyl poisoning
HB 6: Sent to Abbott on May 19
This measure would allow prosecutors to pursue murder charges against those accused of providing someone with a fatal dose of fentanyl. Read more
Addressing school safety
HB 3: Sent to Abbott on May 28
A wide-ranging proposal to increase school safety funding and strengthen school safety standards. The provision to require an armed person at every school campus was added back into the bill during the negotiation process after the Senate took it out earlier in the session. Read more
Shoring up the power grid
HB 1500: Sent to Abbott on May 28
A measure designed to shore up the Texas electrical grid by setting guidelines for a financial mechanism to give gas-fueled power plants more money, among other things. Lawmakers revived this proposal after SB 7, which contained the same language, failed after missing a key deadline. Read more
Restricting trans athletes in college sports
SB 15: Sent to Abbott on May 26
A bill designed to restrict transgender women from playing women’s collegiate sports. Read more
Banning DEI offices in colleges
SB 17: Sent to Abbott on May 28
A bill that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion offices on public university campuses. Read more
Solidifying tenure in state law
SB 18: Sent to Abbott on May 27
A Senate attempt to ban tenure for university professors. The House proposed significant changes that would keep tenure while codifying guidelines and requiring regular performance reviews for those who earn it. In a surprise move, senators backed off their position and accepted the House’s counterproposal. Read more
Expanding broadband
HB 9/HJR 125: Sent to Abbott on May 28
This bill would allocate $1.5 billion to an infrastructure fund that is meant to expand internet availability in a state where seven million people lack access to the service. Read more
Regulating sexually explicit shows
SB 12 : Sent to Abbott on May 28
This bill would criminalize performers that put on sexually explicit shows in front of children as well as any businesses that host them. Originally designed as legislation to restrict minors from attending certain drag shows, lawmakers agreed on bill language that removed direct reference to drag performers just before an end-of-day deadline. Read more
Preempting local regulations
HB 2127: Sent to Abbott on May 19
Sweeping legislation that would bar cities and counties from issuing local ordinances that go further than what’s already allowed under areas of state law, including labor, agriculture, natural resources and finance. Read more
Creating university endowments
HB 1595: Sent to Abbott on May 28
This bill would create an endowment fund of about $3 billion accessible to Texas State University, Texas Tech University, the University of Houston, and the University of North Texas, contingent on voter approval in November. Read more
Funding water infrastructure
SB 28/SJR 75: Sent to Abbott on May 28
The bills would earmark $1 billion to upgrade Texas’ failing water infrastructure and jumpstart massive water supply projects, from marine desalination to treating “produced water” — water that comes up from the ground during the oil fracking process. Read more
Bills that have been signed into law
Bills signed by Abbott become law. If Abbott leaves a bill unsigned but doesn’t veto it, it also automatically becomes law.
Banning care for trans kids
SB 14: Signed on May 17
A bill to block the use of puberty blockers or hormone treatments for transgender children. The bill has spurred protests that have led to altercations with state police. Read more
Bills that failed or were vetoed by the governor
Some legislative measures fail by missing a key deadline. Abbott can also veto any bill sent to him.
Creating education savings accounts
SB 8: Missed key deadline on May 20
A measure to allow parents to use state money to fund education savings accounts, which can help pay for private school tuition or home-schooling expenses. After this bill failed when it did not meet a key procedural deadline, senators added the idea to another bill, HB 100, which also ended up failing after not meeting a deadline. Read more
Increasing school funding and education savings accounts
HB 100: Missed key deadline on May 27
A measure originally written to add $4.5 billion in state funding for schools, including for modest teacher raises. Late in the session, senators updated it to include a provision allowing parents to use state money to pay for private school tuition or home-schooling expenses which was originally in the failed SB 8 bill. However, the bill failed after lawmakers could not reach a deal before deadline. Read more
Cutting property taxes
SB 3: Missed key deadline on May 27
A measure to reduce property taxes for Texans. The Senate wanted to do so by increasing homestead exemptions. A House proposal increased homestead exemptions and put a cap on the growth of property appraisals. Both chambers separately agreed to invest more state money to buy down school district taxes. The bill failed after lawmakers could not reach a deal before the end of session. Read more
Expanding border security funding and creating a border safety unit
HB 7: Missed key deadline on May 27
This bill sends nearly $100 million to border communities to help handle the influx of migrants and creates a new state border patrolling unit. A Senate committee expanded the bill by creating a mandatory 10-year minimum sentence for human smugglers and making it a crime for migrants to enter the state anywhere but a port of entry. However, the bill failed after lawmakers could not reach a deal in conference committee before deadline. Read more
Raising the age
HB 2744: Missed key deadline on May 10
This bill would raise the age to purchase a semi-automatic rifle in Texas from 18 to 21. Read more
Shoring up the power grid
SB 7: Missed key deadline on May 27
A measure designed to shore up the Texas electrical grid by setting guidelines for a financial mechanism to give gas-fueled power plants more money, among other things. The bill failed after lawmakers could not reach a deal in conference committee before deadline. However, the idea was revived in HB 1500 late in the session, which ended up passing. Read more
Legalizing online sports betting
HJR 102: Missed key deadline on May 24
A bill that proposes a constitutional amendment election that would allow online gambling on sports in the state. Read more
Authorizing casinos
HJR 155: Missed key deadline on May 12
This measure proposes a constitutional amendment election to allow a select number of casinos to operate in the state. Read more
Adopting permanent daylight saving time
HB 1422: Missed key deadline on May 24
A proposal that would adopt permanent daylight saving time in Texas, if Congress allows it. Read more
Raising minimum sentence for gun crimes
SB 23: Missed key deadline on May 20
This bill would raise the minimum sentence for many felony crimes involving a firearm to 10 years. This was one of many Senate bills that failed after it did not meet a key procedural deadline, but senators added the idea to another bill, HB 4843, which also ended up failing after not meeting a deadline. Read more
Raising minimum sentence for gun crimes
HB 4843: Missed key deadline on May 27
This bill would raise the minimum sentence for many felony crimes involving a firearm to 10 years. The Senate revived this proposal after SB 23, which contained the same language, failed in the House after missing a key deadline. However, the bill failed after lawmakers could not reach a deal in conference committee before deadline. Read more
Restricting foreign land ownership
SB 147: Missed key deadline on May 20
Originally written to ban people from China, Iran, North Korea or Russia from owning land in Texas. It has since been updated to only restrict purchases of agricultural land, timberland and oil and gas rights by entities associated with any country that “poses a risk to the national security of the United States.” Read more