Hundreds of New Laws Took Effect Yesterday

By Sydnie Henry | Texas Scorecard | September 1, 2025

More than 800 new laws take effect in Texas today, impacting public safety, education, and privacy.

While the second special legislative session continues, most laws passed during this year’s regular session are now enforceable.

School choice, bail reform, making Texas healthy again, protecting Texas land from hostile foreign nations, ending DEI in K-12 schools, and stopping taxpayer-funded abortion travel were some of the many issues that lawmakers tackled this year.

School Choice: Parents can now use state-funded education savings accounts to pay for private or alternative school tuition and approved educational expenses, giving families more flexibility and control over their children’s learning options.

Bail Reform: Judges must now use a centralized risk data tool before granting bail in felony cases, and personal bonds are restricted for violent or repeat offenders. Prosecutors can also appeal low bail decisions. Charitable bail organizations face expanded state oversight, and magistrates must issue written findings to support or deny probable cause during bail reviews.

Making Texas Healthy Again: Medical schools and continuing education programs must now include comprehensive nutrition training, ensuring that future doctors are better prepared to address chronic illness and promote preventive care statewide. Another law prohibits the purchase of sweetened drinks and candy under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Protecting Texas Land: Countries deemed a threat to national security by the U.S. director of national intelligence or the governor are banned from owning Texas land.

Ending Indoctrination: Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) materials, as well as gender orientation and sexual identity instruction, are banned from K-12 classrooms. Parents are empowered with access to their children’s medical records and school teaching materials. New library advisory boards will include parents to moderate the content of books accessible to children.

Reinstating Morals in Education: Classrooms in government elementary and secondary schools will display a framed copy or durable poster of the Ten Commandments in a “conspicuous place.” School districts or charter schools can pass a resolution enabling students and employees to participate in prayer during the school day.

Sexual Abuse Victims’ Rights: Trey’s Law bans non-disclosure agreements that previously silenced victims of sexual abuse, and expanded penalties for sexual offenses—especially against vulnerable victims—are now in place. Additionally, sovereign immunity for schools that cover up sexual abuse of students has ended, allowing victims to hold school employees and districts civilly liable when they negligently enable the abuse.

AI Child Exploitation Law: Platforms offering AI-generated sexual material involving minors face strict age verification and privacy requirements, aiming to curb technological child exploitation.

Banning Taxpayer-funded Abortion Travel: Local governments are barred from using taxpayer dollars to support women seeking abortions, including those who travel out of state.

Overhauling Higher Education: “Shared governance” in state colleges and universities has been abolished, while the power of the boards of regents over curricula and hiring decisions has increased.

“This session will be remembered as one of the most consequential in Texas history,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “We made bold promises to the people of Texas—to secure the border and keep Texans safe, to defend freedom, life and property rights, and to ensure every child has access to a great education. And we delivered.”

“The laws we passed reflect our values: safer communities, stronger schools, and a future built on freedom, faith, and hard work,” added Abbott.

The full list of legislation taking effect today can be found here.

Sydnie Henry

A born and bred Texan, Sydnie serves as the Managing Editor for Texas Scorecard. She graduated from Patrick Henry College with a B.A. in Government and is utilizing her research and writing skills to spread truth to Texans.