New Texas Laws Taking Effect December and January: A Detailed Look

December Laws

• ⚖️ House Bill 7 allows private citizens to sue those who manufacture or distribute abortion-inducing drugs in Texas, excluding the users of the medication.
• 📚 House Bill 8 will replace the STAR test with three shorter exams distributed throughout the school year, beginning next academic year.
• 💊 House Bill 25 permits the purchase of Ivermectin, a livestock drug, without a prescription, despite it not being FDA-approved for human treatment.
• 🚻 Senate Bill 8 (second special session) restricts transgender individuals' access to public facilities based on their sex assigned at birth.

January Laws

• 📈 House Bill 9 significantly increases the exemption for business inventory from local taxes, raising it from $2,500 to $125,000.
• 🤝 Senate Bill 8 (regular session) mandates cooperation between sheriffs in certain counties and ICE for immigration enforcement duties.
• 🏡 Senate Bill 38 expedites the eviction process for individuals occupying properties without legal right (squatters).

Broader Impact

• 🗓️ Over 800 new laws already took effect in September, with this new batch impacting various sectors including education, law enforcement, taxes, and immigration.
• 🧐 The practical implications of these laws for families, schools, and communities will become clearer in the coming months as they are implemented.