Happy New Year’s from the Texas GOP!

Thanks to the 2025 passage of bills by the Republican-controlled legislature, the following laws go into effect on January 1:

House Bill 9 raises business inventory tax exemption from $2,500 to $125,000 reducing local tax revenues by an estimated $442 million in FY 2027 if local governments do not increase tax rates to compensate.

Senate Bill 8 requires sheriffs in counties with jails to commit local law enforcement's cooperation with ICE under the federal 287(g) program.

Senate Bill 38 streamlines eviction procedures by requiring justices courts to schedule hearings within 10 to 21 days of a case being filed and limiting issues those courts can consider.

As reported by Austin American-Statesman December 30, 2025.