Texas Legislature Wraps Up Summer Session with New Laws
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday signed 13 bills recently passed by the Texas Legislature into law, officially bringing the state’s summer of legislative overtime to a close.
The governor also issued one veto Wednesday for Senate Bill 18, which supporters said would have sped up repairs on small dams used for flood control. While Abbott told lawmakers he wanted them to focus on flood-related measures after July’s devastating Central Texas floods, he wrote in his veto statement that SB 18 was not what he had in mind. He did, however, sign two bills that fit his criteria into law: House Bill 20 and Senate Bill 14. The former aims to stop fraud during disasters by certifying trusted nonprofits and volunteers, while also making charity scams a crime with tougher penalties. Meanwhile, SB 14 encourages developers to invest in water conservation projects.
Texas gets rid of STAAR test for public schools
With the final swipe of Abbott’s pen, Texas has put an end to its State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR test. The standardized exams have been used to evaluate the performance of Texas’ public schools and their students since 2012. After a bill to scrap the test died during the Texas Legislature’s regular session earlier this year, state lawmakers tried again this summer, and managed to get a bill to Abbott’s desk.
Soon, instead of one sweeping test at the end of the year, public school students will take three shorter tests at the beginning, middle and end of the school year.
Texas House Rep. Brad Buckley, a Salado Republican, sponsored the legislation, which he said ends the “high stakes and high stress nature of one test, one day.”
The transition is ongoing, with the new standardized tests first beginning to be administered during the 2027-28 school year.
New change allows ivermectin to be sold over-the-counter
Pharmacies in Texas will soon be able to sell ivermectin over the counter under House Bill 25, which Abbott also signed on Wednesday.
For decades, the anti-parasite medication had been used on livestock like cows and horses, and was largely unknown outside of the world of agriculture.
During the pandemic, though, ivermectin was controversially touted as an alternative treatment for COVID-19. That caused concern among medical researchers and health organizations around the world, who have said ivermectin isn’t an effective treatment for COVID and can even be dangerous for humans.
But the drug has fierce supporters, including the governor, who added making ivermectin more easily available to his special session call last month.
The Texas Legislature delivered on Abbott’s request through HB 25, which was sponsored by Rep. Joanne Shofner, a Nacogdoches Republican.
“Unfortunately it was very very politicized … as a horse drug, et cetera, which is so demeaning to the people around the world who are dependent on this drug for survival in developing countries,” said Shofner while promoting the bill during the special session.
State tightens abortion restrictions
House Bill 7 cracks down on the availability of abortion pills in Texas by allowing private citizens to sue out-of-state providers of the medication for $100,000 or more.
Abortion is already banned in Texas unless a pregnant woman’s life or a major bodily function is at risk. But some Texans have still accessed the abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol through the mail with a telemedicine prescription from an out-of-state doctor.
Sponsors of the measure believe it will put a stop to the practice by making the risk too high, deterring doctors outside of Texas from working with women living here.
Additional bills that were signed into law
Abbott also gave his final nod on Wednesday to a variety of other bills the Legislature recently sent to his desk. Those include House Bill 18, which takes specific aim at the Democrats who broke quorum over the summer. The bill prevents lawmakers from accepting campaign donations while absent from an ongoing legislative session.
Senate Bill 11 offers new legal protections to victims of human trafficking who were forced to commit crimes, including being able to use their situation as part of their legal defense in court.
The state also created property tax exemptions for nonprofits through House Bill 23, allowing them to use their land for new agricultural, youth and educational purposes.
Other measures signed by Abbott will do everything from updating the state’s court system to making certain types of real estate theft and fraud more difficult.
Texas Legislature Wraps Up Summer Session with New Laws
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday signed 13 bills recently passed by the Texas Legislature into law, officially bringing the state’s summer of legislative overtime to a close.
The governor also issued one veto Wednesday for Senate Bill 18, which supporters said would have sped up repairs on small dams used for flood control. While Abbott told lawmakers he wanted them to focus on flood-related measures after July’s devastating Central Texas floods, he wrote in his veto statement that SB 18 was not what he had in mind. He did, however, sign two bills that fit his criteria into law: House Bill 20 and Senate Bill 14. The former aims to stop fraud during disasters by certifying trusted nonprofits and volunteers, while also making charity scams a crime with tougher penalties. Meanwhile, SB 14 encourages developers to invest in water conservation projects.
Texas gets rid of STAAR test for public schools
With the final swipe of Abbott’s pen, Texas has put an end to its State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR test. The standardized exams have been used to evaluate the performance of Texas’ public schools and their students since 2012. After a bill to scrap the test died during the Texas Legislature’s regular session earlier this year, state lawmakers tried again this summer, and managed to get a bill to Abbott’s desk.
Soon, instead of one sweeping test at the end of the year, public school students will take three shorter tests at the beginning, middle and end of the school year.
Texas House Rep. Brad Buckley, a Salado Republican, sponsored the legislation, which he said ends the “high stakes and high stress nature of one test, one day.”
The transition is ongoing, with the new standardized tests first beginning to be administered during the 2027-28 school year.
New change allows ivermectin to be sold over-the-counter
Pharmacies in Texas will soon be able to sell ivermectin over the counter under House Bill 25, which Abbott also signed on Wednesday.
For decades, the anti-parasite medication had been used on livestock like cows and horses, and was largely unknown outside of the world of agriculture.
During the pandemic, though, ivermectin was controversially touted as an alternative treatment for COVID-19. That caused concern among medical researchers and health organizations around the world, who have said ivermectin isn’t an effective treatment for COVID and can even be dangerous for humans.
But the drug has fierce supporters, including the governor, who added making ivermectin more easily available to his special session call last month.
The Texas Legislature delivered on Abbott’s request through HB 25, which was sponsored by Rep. Joanne Shofner, a Nacogdoches Republican.
“Unfortunately it was very very politicized … as a horse drug, et cetera, which is so demeaning to the people around the world who are dependent on this drug for survival in developing countries,” said Shofner while promoting the bill during the special session.
State tightens abortion restrictions
House Bill 7 cracks down on the availability of abortion pills in Texas by allowing private citizens to sue out-of-state providers of the medication for $100,000 or more.
Abortion is already banned in Texas unless a pregnant woman’s life or a major bodily function is at risk. But some Texans have still accessed the abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol through the mail with a telemedicine prescription from an out-of-state doctor.
Sponsors of the measure believe it will put a stop to the practice by making the risk too high, deterring doctors outside of Texas from working with women living here.
Additional bills that were signed into law
Abbott also gave his final nod on Wednesday to a variety of other bills the Legislature recently sent to his desk. Those include House Bill 18, which takes specific aim at the Democrats who broke quorum over the summer. The bill prevents lawmakers from accepting campaign donations while absent from an ongoing legislative session.
Senate Bill 11 offers new legal protections to victims of human trafficking who were forced to commit crimes, including being able to use their situation as part of their legal defense in court.
The state also created property tax exemptions for nonprofits through House Bill 23, allowing them to use their land for new agricultural, youth and educational purposes.
Other measures signed by Abbott will do everything from updating the state’s court system to making certain types of real estate theft and fraud more difficult.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Signs 13 Bills into Law, Vetoes One Amid Legislative Wrap-Up
Austin, TX – In a decisive move to conclude the Texas Legislature’s summer session, Governor Greg Abbott signed 13 bills into law on Wednesday, marking the end of a busy legislative period. However, he also issued a notable veto for Senate Bill 18, which aimed to expedite repairs on small dams crucial for flood control.
While Abbott expressed a desire for lawmakers to prioritize flood-related measures following the devastating Central Texas floods in July, he clarified that SB 18 did not align with his vision. Instead, he endorsed two bills that fit his criteria: House Bill 20, which aims to combat disaster-related fraud by certifying trusted nonprofits and imposing stricter penalties on charity scams, and Senate Bill 14, which incentivizes developers to invest in water conservation projects.
Texas Bids Farewell to STAAR Testing
In a significant shift in educational policy, Abbott’s signature also marked the end of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test, a standardized evaluation that has been in place since 2012. After an initial attempt to abolish the test failed during the regular session, lawmakers successfully pushed a new bill through this summer.
The new legislation will replace the high-stakes, single-year exam with three shorter assessments administered at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year. Texas House Rep. Brad Buckley, a Republican from Salado, championed the bill, emphasizing the need to alleviate the stress associated with one-day testing. The transition to the new testing format is set to begin in the 2027-28 school year.
Ivermectin to be Sold Over-the-Counter
In a controversial move, pharmacies in Texas will soon be permitted to sell ivermectin over the counter under House Bill 25, also signed by Abbott. Historically used as an anti-parasitic treatment for livestock, ivermectin gained notoriety during the COVID-19 pandemic as a purported alternative treatment, despite widespread criticism from health experts.
Rep. Joanne Shofner, a Republican from Nacogdoches and sponsor of the bill, defended the legislation, arguing that the drug is essential for many in developing countries. Abbott’s endorsement of the bill reflects his commitment to making ivermectin more accessible.
Stricter Abortion Regulations
In a move that further tightens abortion access in Texas, House Bill 7 allows private citizens to sue out-of-state providers of abortion pills for damages starting at $100,000. This legislation comes on the heels of existing restrictions that already limit abortion in Texas to cases where a pregnant woman’s life is at risk.
Additional Legislative Measures
Abbott also approved a range of other bills, including House Bill 18, which targets Democrats who broke quorum during the summer session by prohibiting lawmakers from accepting campaign donations while absent from legislative proceedings. Senate Bill 11 introduces new legal protections for victims of human trafficking, allowing them to use their circumstances as part of their legal defense.
Moreover, House Bill 23 creates property tax exemptions for nonprofits, enabling them to utilize their land for agricultural, youth, and educational initiatives. Other measures signed into law aim to modernize the state’s court system and combat real estate theft and fraud.
As Texas navigates these new laws, the implications for education, healthcare, and social issues will be closely monitored by residents and lawmakers alike.
