New Laws Impacting Texans Went Live Monday

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Labor Day that several landmark bills, passed during the 89th Legislative Session, are now in effect as of September 1. These new laws address key priorities for the state, including education, public safety, and economic growth, which Governor Abbott says will make a lasting impact on Texans' lives.

"This session will be remembered as one of the most consequential in Texas history," said Governor Abbott. "We made bold promises to the people of Texas...and we delivered. The laws we passed reflect our values: safer communities, stronger schools, and a future built on freedom, faith, and hard work."

The new legislation covers a wide range of topics that impact families, students, and businesses across the state. Here is a breakdown of some of the most notable changes.

A Historic Texas Legislative Session

K-12 Education & Parental Rights

School Choice: A new Education Savings Account program is now the largest of its kind in the country, with $1 billion in funding for the 2026-2027 school year. It allows parents to use state funds for private school tuition, educational materials, and other services.
Teacher Pay: The state is providing a record $8.5 billion in new public education funding, with $4 billion specifically for teacher and staff pay raises.
Parents’ Bill of Rights: This law strengthens parental rights by giving them more say in their child's education and medical decisions. It also bans gender ideology in K–12 schools, requires sex education to be "opt-in," and enforces biological sex in sports.
Ten Commandments: Starting next school year, all public elementary and secondary school classrooms will be required to display the Ten Commandments.

Public Safety & Security

Cyber Command: The Texas Cyber Command has been established in San Antonio to defend against and respond to cyber threats.
Bail Reform: A new law gives prosecutors the ability to appeal certain dangerous bail decisions, especially for heinous crimes.
Squatters: The law now empowers sheriffs and constables to take quicker action when squatters unlawfully take possession of a property.
Human Trafficking: New laws enhance prosecution and increase penalties for human trafficking, eliminating parole for those who traffic children or disabled individuals.

Other Key Laws Taking Effect

Water Infrastructure: New legislation assigns the Texas Water Development Board to coordinate water supply and expands funding for water supply and infrastructure projects.
Veterans Support: Several new laws are designed to better serve veterans, including making it easier for them and their spouses to get professional licenses and creating a database to help them access resources.
Election Integrity: A new law makes counting invalid votes or refusing to count valid votes an election fraud offense, and it increases penalties for all election fraud to a second-degree felony.

Long-Term Wins for Texas

These new laws are expected to have a significant impact on life in Texas, addressing issues from the classroom to the economy. The reforms are seen as major long-term wins for the state's families, students, and communities.