A package of 10 new state laws took effect in Texas on September 1, introducing major changes to public education, housing regulations, child protective investigations, and electronics repair.
The new legislation alters rules for state residents while establishing fresh obligations for public institutions and private businesses. While the laws vary in scope and impact across the state, they establish new legal rights, administrative standards, and operational responsibilities across multiple sectors.
The measures touch on daily life across Texas, ranging from public school testing models and special education funding to rules governing volunteer firefighter stipends and manufactured home placement.
Public school funding and teacher support
House Bill 2 represents a broad reform of public education and school funding in Texas. Although significant portions of the legislation were implemented prior to September 1, 2026, specific provisions governing teacher incentives, educator preparation, special education, and administrative operations came into force on that date.
The law allocates state resources and updates administrative rules to enhance teacher compensation and retention rates. It modifies requirements for teacher preparation, certification, and performance incentives while updating funding structures and service delivery for special education programs.
Additionally, House Bill 2 reinforces instructional programs in literacy, mathematics, pre-kindergarten, and technical career pathways. It also creates and adjusts support mechanisms and accountability standards for traditional school districts and charter schools.
New student assessment system
House Bill 8 overhauls the assessment and accountability framework for Texas public schools. The primary change under the law is the replacement of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, known as the STAAR test, with a new evaluation framework named the Student Success Tool starting in the 2027-2028 school year.
Although House Bill 8 is now in effect, the transition away from single annual high-stakes testing will occur gradually. The new model is designed to provide ongoing academic feedback throughout the school year to guide classroom instruction and track individual student progress.
The Student Success Tool incorporates three evaluation periods: beginning of year (BOY), middle of year (MOY), and end of year (EOY). Students in grades 3 through 8 will take assessments in reading and language, mathematics, science, and social studies, with Spanish-language versions available for eligible students in grades 3 through 5. For high school students, beginning and middle of year assessments will be optional for courses in Algebra I, Biology, English I, and United States History.
Alongside House Bill 8, Senate Bill 568 reforms special education funding in Texas public schools. Starting September 1, 2026, the state will phase out funding allocations based primarily on classroom placement or setting, moving instead to a model based on the intensity of services and support each student requires. Senate Bill 568 introduces two core components: intensity levels and service groups, aiming to distribute funds in direct alignment with individual student needs.
Child protective investigation oversight
House Bill 140 restructures state oversight of child protection investigations by establishing the Child Protective Investigations Advisory Committee. The 13-member specialized panel is tasked with reviewing and recommending improvements to investigations of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation conducted by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
While House Bill 140 originally took effect on September 1, 2025, the law mandated that the former Texas Family and Protective Services Council be officially abolished on September 1, 2026, completing the planned institutional transition.
The advisory committee is required to meet at least quarterly. It holds authority to issue recommendations on investigative policies and procedures, investigator and supervisor training, due process protections for parents and caregivers, family communication, inter-agency coordination, regulatory compliance, data collection, and evidence-based practices.
Consumer right to repair electronic devices
House Bill 2963 creates a limited right to repair consumer digital electronic devices in Texas. Beginning September 1, 2026, manufacturers of covered products must provide device owners and independent repair shops with the parts, tools, and documentation required to diagnose, maintain, or repair equipment under fair and reasonable terms.
The law aims to expand consumer choice beyond manufacturer-authorized service centers, allowing independent repair shops access to repair resources equivalent to those given to authorized providers. Owners and independent technicians will gain access to tools needed to repair items such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Manufacturers must make these resources available no later than one year after a product's initial sale in Texas. Required items include technical manuals, diagnostic information, replacement parts, software tools, hardware, and access passwords needed for repairs, or equivalent alternatives if original parts or tools are discontinued.
Solar compensation and electrical grid rules
House Bill 912 regulates how electric utilities modify compensation rates paid to owners of distributed renewable generation systems, such as residential solar panels, for excess power delivered back to the electrical grid. The law applies to Texas utility service areas located outside the region managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the independent system operator that manages the main state power grid.
Before the Public Utility Commission of Texas can approve any alternative compensation structure, electric utilities must perform and submit a detailed cost-benefit analysis. The study must justify the proposed compensation rate for surplus energy, any associated fees, and the overall value that distributed solar generation adds to the local grid.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas must evaluate the cost-benefit study prior to approving any changes to compensation rates, modifications to net metering systems, or fees applied exclusively to distributed renewable energy producers.
Gold and silver legal tender regulations
House Bill 1056 grants legal tender status to specific gold and silver specie in Texas, provided the physical metal meets strict state criteria. To qualify, gold and silver pieces must be stamped with their exact weight and purity, display the mark of the producing mint or refinery, and feature no designs or symbols suggesting government issuance outside technical statutory exceptions.
The law applies exclusively to physical gold and silver meeting these standard specifications and does not convert general jewelry, bullion, or collector coins into legal tender.
Acceptance of gold and silver remains entirely voluntary. House Bill 1056 does not require businesses, private citizens, or public agencies to accept precious metals as payment, allowing sellers to insist on United States dollars or other standard payment methods. The law does not replace the U.S. dollar or alter individual tax liabilities.
Uniform Texas-Mexico border definition
House Bill 1240 establishes a single, standardized legal definition of the Texas-Mexico border region across state government. Previously, state agencies and statutory programs utilized differing geographic definitions to define border jurisdictions.
House Bill 1240 amends provisions in the Education Code, Government Code, Health and Safety Code, Transportation Code, and Water Code to align state mapping and eliminate administrative confusion. The unified definition ensures coordinated resource distribution for regional development, healthcare, security, infrastructure, and research initiatives.
Under the law, the Texas-Mexico border region officially comprises 54 designated counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bee, Bexar, Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Loving, Mason, Maverick, McCulloch, McMullen, Medina, Menard, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, San Patricio, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Webb, Willacy, Wilson, Zapata, and Zavala.
Manufactured housing and firefighter rules
Senate Bill 785 regulates the municipal zoning of new manufactured homes that comply with federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development standards. Effective September 1, 2026, municipalities with zoning ordinances must permit HUD-code manufactured homes by right in at least one residential zoning district without requiring discretionary permits.
Cities retain authority to determine which residential zone allows manufactured housing, but they can no longer exclude manufactured homes entirely from municipal boundaries. The law preserves private deed restrictions established before January 2, 2025, as well as protections for local historic districts and landmarks. Limited exceptions apply to small municipalities that lack commercial or industrial zoning.
Additionally, House Bill 5424 updates compensation rules for volunteer and auxiliary firefighters in Texas. The statute allows fire departments to provide stipends, reimbursements, and benefits to volunteer personnel while establishing an annual financial cap to ensure individuals retain their legal status as volunteers. The measure primarily assists rural fire departments that rely on volunteer personnel to maintain community emergency services.
