NEW TEXAS LAWS EFFECTIVE JAN. 1

Just to give you a rundown of the laws that have gone into effect as of Sunday, Jan. 1 in Texas – here you go.

Remember too, Texas lawmakers are heading into a new legislative session this year. These laws outlined below were laws passed and signed in 2021.

There will be new property tax code revisions.

That’s right. Texas will be creating a bill that will revise the Texas Education Code, Government Code and Tax Code with restrictions on an Independent School Districts ability to levy property taxes on the elderly or disabled.

With the money being restricted, other bills also passed to make up for lost cash.

For example, the bill HB 1525 setting restrictions on how local school districts are allowed to obtain its revenue from property taxes.

Another biggie will be a judicial branch redo.

This comes as an omnibus bill to reshape the state’s judicial branch.  

HB 3774 allows the public the right to access the state’s court document database.

However, take note if the public wants entry to the database, it must be approved by the Texas Supreme Court.

There will also be moving forward 10 district courts, five statutory county courts, one statutory probate court and one criminal law magistrate court.

Another bill that took effect this month involves the stopping of building codes from prohibiting the use of substitute refrigerant.

Remember the Clean Air Act?

Well, SB 1210 is an amendment to that and is about not allowing building codes to restrict builders from using a substitute refrigerant authorized by the federal government’s Clean Air Act.