Texas Laws Changing on September 1: From Abortion To Property Tax
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On September 1, a slew of new laws will go into effect across Texas after they were passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.
Legislation due to come into effect includes a ban on local government funding for out-of-state abortions, property tax cuts, a ban on cell phones in schools, and a requirement that each classroom display a copy of the Ten Commandments.
Why It Matters
Texas is dominated by the Republican Party, which controls both chambers of the state legislature as well as the governor's office, giving the GOP considerable leeway over the state.
However, Republicans don't have it all their own way, and Texas House Democrats recently left the state en masse to break quorum, blocking a redistributing bill that would likely give the GOP five more House seats in Congress.
Property Taxation
Governor Abbott has signed two pieces of legislation into law, increasing the number of exemptions from property taxation.
Senate Bill 4 raises the homestead exemption for all homeowners from $100,000 to $140,000, while Senate Bill 23 increases it to $200,000 for those who are aged 65 and above or disabled.
Abortion
Texas Senate Bill 33 bans local government in the state from funding out-of-state abortions after the Lone Star State introduced a near-total abortion ban, with limited exemptions to protect the life of the mother, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
In April, Texas Attorney General Paxton launched legal action against the city of San Antonio after its council gave $100,000 to a Reproductive Justice Fund used for out-of-state abortions.
September 1 will also see Senate Bill 31, called the Life of the Mother Act, come into law. This bipartisan bill doesn't modify Texas's current near-total abortion ban, but clarifies when abortion can be permitted to protect the mother's life. Texas Republican Senator Bryan Hughes, who authored the bill, said it "removes any question and hesitation" about medical interventions to safeguard the life of pregnant women.
Lottery
From the start of next month, oversight over the Texas Lottery system will shift from the Texas Lottery Commission, which is being disbanded, to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation via Senate Bill 3070.
It follows a series of Texas Lottery-related controversies, including the revelation that third-party brokers were selling tickets via smartphone app and a recent $83.5 million jackpot win for a ticket purchased from a non-traditional retailer.
Stock photograph showing the Texas flag before the game between the Houston Cougars and the Texas Longhorns at TDECU Stadium on October 21, 2023, in Houston, Texas.
Stock photograph showing the Texas flag before the game between the Houston Cougars and the Texas Longhorns at TDECU Stadium on October 21, 2023, in Houston, Texas.
Tim Warner/GETTY
Christianity in Schools
Senate Bill 10 requires public schools in Texas to display the Ten Commandments in each classroom, though this is facing a lawsuit from campaign groups who argue this discriminates against non-Christian students.
Separately, Senate Bill 11 permits schools to introduce daily voluntary prayer and Bible reading for students, but only if they have a signed permission slip.
Cell Phones in Schools
Cell phones and other communication devices, such as smart watches, will be banned in Texas schools by House Bill 1481. The enforcement of this will be down to individual school districts.
LGBTQ Rights
House Bill 229 introduces strict definitions of "man" and "woman" based on reproductive organs that will be used for state records. Consequently, transgender people may be prevented from having the gender listed on their state identification match their gender identity.
Teachers will be banned from referring to students by a pronoun that doesn't match their assigned sex at birth under Senate Bill 12, which also prohibits programs based around race, gender identity or sexuality in schools. In addition, Senate Bill 12 makes considering race, gender, or sexuality during recruitment illegal unless required by federal law.
School Libraries
A new school library advisory council will be created by Senate Bill 13, which will be able to prevent books it decides are "profane" or "indecent" from being stocked.
What Happens Next?
Texas House Democrats recently left the state to prevent the chamber from having the quorum needed to pass redistricting legislation. However, this has also held up bills that would ban THC products, require more detailed flood evacuation planning, and ban people from using bathrooms that don't correspond with their assigned sex at birth in public schools and government buildings.
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