Texas is set to undergo a seismic shift on September 1, 2025, as more than 800 new laws take effect, reshaping everything from education and property ownership to medical marijuana and water infrastructure. The sweeping changes, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott following the regular legislative session, are poised to touch nearly every corner of life in the Lone Star State, with over 1,155 bills passed and more than 200 laws already in effect before the official date. While some measures await voter approval in November or activation in future years, the bulk will kick in this fall, ushering in an era of both opportunity and controversy.
At the heart of these reforms lies Senate Bill 1, a colossal $338 billion two-year state budget, which earmarks more than 70% of its funds for education and health and human services. According to The Texas Tribune, this budget not only provides for property tax cuts and infrastructure investments in energy, water, and broadband, but also marks a significant expansion in educational funding. Yet, not every proposal made the cut. A $60 million measure for a federal summer lunch program for low-income children was vetoed by Abbott, who cited “significant uncertainty regarding federal matching rates for this and other similar programs.”
Perhaps the most headline-grabbing change is Senate Bill 2, which will establish one of the nation’s largest school voucher programs. Starting September 1, 2025, parents will have the option to use public tax dollars—just over $10,000 per child annually, and up to $30,000 for students with disabilities—to pay for private school tuition or other educational expenses. The program, which can spend up to $1 billion in the upcoming budget cycle, won’t officially launch until the 2026-27 school year. Its passage followed years of fierce debate, with Republican lawmakers and Gov. Abbott championing “school choice,” while Democrats and some rural Republicans warned it could sap resources from public schools. As The Texas Tribune reports, Abbott played a pivotal role in electing more pro-voucher Republicans to push the bill through.
But public schools aren’t being left behind. House Bill 2 injects about $8.5 billion in new funding, including over $4 billion earmarked for educator pay raises. This is a response to years of stagnant funding and mounting challenges faced by Texas school districts. Some provisions of the law took effect immediately, while others roll out this September and in the years ahead. The investments aim to bolster educator preparation, special education, school safety, and early childhood learning.
Other laws strike at the very core of Texas’s cultural and political debates. Senate Bill 10, for example, mandates the visible display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms—a move that supporters say is vital to understanding American history, but critics argue violates the separation of church and state. Legal resistance was swift: U.S. District Judge Fred Biery temporarily blocked the law from taking effect in nearly a dozen school districts, including Austin and Houston. “This issue is likely to get to the United States Supreme Court,” Judge Biery remarked, hinting at a legal saga that could reverberate nationwide.
Senate Bill 12, meanwhile, extends the ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies to K-12 schools. The law prohibits considering race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation in hiring and instruction, and bars schools from supporting student clubs focused on gender or sexuality. Supporters claim it returns more control to parents, but critics, including the ACLU of Texas, argue it targets marginalized groups and suppresses free expression. Legal challenges are already underway.
Parental power is also expanding through Senate Bill 13, which gives parents and school boards greater authority over public school library content. If 50 parents in a district petition, a local advisory council can be established to review materials—a move supporters say will protect students, but critics warn could lead to censorship, especially of books covering race and gender. According to PEN America, Texas has been among the top states for book bans in recent years.
Higher education is not immune to change. Senate Bill 37 increases the power of politically appointed regents over public universities, including greater influence on hiring and the creation of an office to investigate compliance with state laws, especially those targeting DEI initiatives. Proponents argue this addresses liberal bias and aligns universities with workforce needs, while opponents fear it threatens academic freedom and undermines research.
School safety is another priority, with House Bill 33—authored by former Uvalde mayor Don McLaughlin—requiring law enforcement agencies to establish crisis response policies. Schools and local law enforcement must now meet annually to assess emergency plans, and active shooter training will be mandatory. After any shooting, responders must file a detailed report, aiming for faster public access to information. The law is a direct response to the tragic Uvalde school shooting, which exposed gaps in crisis response protocols.
Beyond education, the new laws address pressing infrastructure and social issues. Senate Bill 7 creates a framework for funding water projects via the Texas Water Development Board, with a provision to allocate $1 billion annually to the Texas Water Fund if voters approve a constitutional amendment in November. Senate Bill 15 seeks to address the state’s housing crunch by allowing smaller lot sizes for single-family homes in new subdivisions, a move supporters say will increase housing supply and keep costs down.
National security concerns are reflected in Senate Bill 17, which bans property ownership by residents of China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran, though U.S. citizens and permanent residents are exempt. Critics warn this could lead to racial profiling, but supporters frame it as a safeguard for Texas resources.
On the contentious issue of abortion, Senate Bill 33 prohibits cities and counties from using funds to support abortion-related travel or services outside Texas. This follows high-profile lawsuits and funding disputes in Austin and San Antonio, where local governments sought to support residents seeking abortions elsewhere after the state’s near-total ban.
Healthcare is set for expansion with House Bill 46, which broadens the state’s medical marijuana program to include patients with chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, and Crohn’s disease, and allows for vaporized forms of cannabis. Meanwhile, House Bill 229 defines “man” and “woman” by biological reproductive systems for state records, a move supporters say protects women’s rights, but critics argue erases transgender people from official documents.
Finally, Senate Bill 835—dubbed “Trey’s Law”—bans nondisclosure agreements in sexual assault and human trafficking cases. Named after Trey Carlock, who died by suicide after being abused and silenced by an NDA, the law is a poignant reminder of the human stories behind legislative change.
With this avalanche of new laws, Texas stands at a crossroads, balancing tradition and transformation. The coming months will reveal how these sweeping changes play out in classrooms, courtrooms, and communities across the state.
