These new Texas laws will go into effect in 2025
AUSTIN - The start of 2025 is almost here!
When we turn the page on the calendar we are also going to see some new laws, or new sections of old ones, added to the books in Texas.
Some of the changes include the elimination of mandatory vehicle inspections and ore ways to protect Texans’ personal data online.
Others clarify changes to government organizations, add courts and change the wording, but not the meaning, of written laws.
Here are the new changes taking effect on Jan. 1, 2025:
Elimination of vehicle safety inspections
Texas won't require vehicle inspections starting Jan. 1, do you still need emissions testing?
While vehicle safety inspections are going away for some Texans, residents in certain counties will still need emissions tests.
In 2023, the Texas legislature voted to remove mandatory vehicle safety inspections for noncommercial vehicles.
Instead, the $7.50 fee will be assessed as an "inspection program replacement fee" that is added when the vehicle is registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
New vehicles from the two most recent model years that have not been registered before will pay an initial fee of $16.75 that will cover two years.
It does not remove emissions inspections where they are required.
Counties that require emissions tests are: Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson and El Paso counties. Bexar County will require emissions beginning in 2026.
Commercial vehicles are still required to undergo a safety inspection. Those vehicles will not have to pay replacement fees.
Texas Data Privacy and Security Act - Update
Texans can authorize someone else or technology to opt out of having a company process the consumer’s personal information. House Bill 4 went into effect in July.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, Texans will now be able to use internet browser settings and extensions, global device settings or links to websites that allow the user to indicate they want to opt out of giving their personal data.
In order to use an automated process, it must be clear that the user is a resident of Texas and requires the user to make the choice. It cannot be the default setting.
The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act gives Texans the right to know if a company is collecting their personal data, correct the data collected and opt out of that collection for targeted advertising, the sale of personal data or profiling that person.
San Antonio River Authority
The legislature passed HB 1535, which requires more transparency for the San Antonio River Authority as the population in the area that it serves has grown.
While a majority of the act is already in effect, beginning January 1, 2025, the new fiscal year-end for the agency is Sept. 30.
Establishing courts
Passed in 2023, HB 3474 establishes new judicial districts for the state.
The 477th judicial district will be established in Denton County on Jan. 1, 2025.
The 499th judicial district will be established for Edwards, Gillespie and Kimball counties at that time as well.
On Oct. 1, 2025, the 498th judicial district will be established in Kendall County.
Other areas of the bill are already in effect, including several other judicial districts and the creation of new probate courts.
Revision of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure
House Bill 4504 makes changes to the way certain laws are written and compiled and arranged in a "logical fashion."
The bill allows changes to various codes. The changes allow altering with changes to the meaning.
Property tax relief through public school finance system
Beginning January 1, 2025, Senate Bill 2 allows school districts to request more state funding if its budget comes up short after regularly received state funding and local taxes are calculated.
The schools are given the money to make up for the loss of tax revenues because of the limitations on tax increases on elderly and disabled homeowners in the district.
Additionally, beginning in January, the Texas Education Agency is required to post the maximum compressed rate for each school district.
The maximum compressed rate is the tax rate per $100 of taxable property that the school district must implement a maintenance and operations tax in order to receive full funding.
Other changes at the first of the year include the repealing of two tax discounts that expired in 2023 and 2022.