Final Week of Texas Legislative Session: Key Texas Bills Blocked, Approved, or Revived

As the Texas Legislature begins its final stretch ahead of adjournment on June 2, the House chamber proceeded in a notably calm and methodical manner on Tuesday, the last day to consider Senate-originated bills. Much of the activity early in the day was ceremonial or procedural, with lawmakers recognizing notable Texans and finalizing previously approved legislation. The Senate, meanwhile, did not face major deadlines.

Governor Abbott Signs Bill Requiring Age Verification

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill that will require mobile phone app stores to verify the ages of users, despite a phone call from the CEO of one of the world’s largest companies urging the governor to veto the legislation.

Having secured the governor’s blessing, Senate Bill 2420 by Republican Sen. Angela Paxton of McKinney will take effect in January. It will require operators of mobile phone app marketplaces, like Apple and Google, to limit access of app downloads to minors without parental consent, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman.

Democrats Block Immigration Bill on Procedural Grounds

Senate Bill 552, which would have barred undocumented immigrants from receiving deferred adjudication for criminal offenses, was halted by House Democrats. Lacking the votes to defeat the measure, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, successfully argued that the bill’s caption failed to adequately describe its content. The House rules require bill descriptions to clearly reflect their scope. Leadership ruled the bill ineligible, effectively killing it.

Bail Reform Measure Fails by Three Votes

Senate Joint Resolution 87, part of a broader Republican initiative to tighten bail policies, fell short of the two-thirds support required to pass. The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Joan Huffman, would have mandated judges to deny bail for individuals accused of nine severe crimes, including murder and human trafficking, if they had previous convictions or were out on bond for similar charges. The resolution received a 97-40 vote, just three short of the threshold, failing in the Texas House. 

Affordable Housing Bill Advances, Shrinking Lot Size Minimums

The House gave preliminary approval to Senate Bill 15, aimed at increasing housing affordability by overriding local ordinances that impose large lot size requirements. The bill sets minimums of 1,400 square feet for lots, with widths no smaller than 20 feet and depths no less than 60 feet, and prohibits cities from enforcing density caps under 31 units per acre.

Authored by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, the measure passed the Senate in March with a 29-2 vote. While Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick labeled the bill a priority, critics like Rep. Ramon Romero, D-Fort Worth, expressed concern over the erosion of local control, citing security issues in high-density areas. The House voted 87-48 in favor, sending it to a final vote Wednesday.

Ken Paxton Escorted from House Floor on Anniversary of His Impeachment

Attorney General Ken Paxton was escorted off the House floor Tuesday due to lack of automatic floor privileges, unlike the governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary of state. The incident took place exactly two years after the House impeached Paxton on 20 charges, including bribery and abuse of office, charges from which he was later acquitted by the Senate.

Mental Health Counselor Loan Forgiveness Bill Saved by Verification Vote

A bill offering student loan forgiveness for future mental health counselors (SB 646) appeared to fail initially with a 68-64 vote, following concerns it could support practitioners recommending gender-affirming care. However, a verification vote reversed the outcome: supporters gained 70 votes, and opponents dropped to 63.

The discrepancy was attributed to common practices like “ghost voting,” where members vote on behalf of absent colleagues. Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, sarcastically suggested bringing in technicians to repair “malfunctioning machines.”

Mandatory Orientation on Sexual Assault Policies Approved

The House approved Senate Bill 500, requiring Texas college freshmen and undergraduate transfer students to attend an orientation on campus policies concerning sexual assault, harassment, dating violence, and stalking.

Amendments addressing suicide prevention, sex crime reporting, and support services were added in the House. The Senate will review the changes before sending the bill to the governor.