On the first day of September, Governor Greg Abbott took a moment to highlight the new laws that Texas will begin to see in action. According to a press release from the Governor's office, the implementation of these laws is the fulfillment of key legislative aims from the 89th Regular Legislative Session. Abbott shared, "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." These new measures span various sectors, including education reform, public safety, and election integrity.
The education sector witnessed significant changes, with several bills designed to reshape the K-12 learning landscape. Notably, the School Choice program under Senate Bill 2 introduces an Education Savings Account for eligible students, injecting $1 billion for educational direction. Complementing this, House Bill 2 earmarks a record $8.5 billion in new funding for public education and a substantial $4 billion for teacher and staff pay raises. Career-focused education sees support through HB 120, boosting alignment with workforce needs, and Senate Bill 10, which requires the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, is a law with deep cultural implications. Parents' voices in education grow louder with Senate Bill 12 and the controversial Senate Bill 1333, which gives parents increased oversight of school libraries and school board content approval powers, respectively.
In the realms of public security and cyber defense, Texans will see the establishment of the Texas Cyber Command through House Bill 150. This new San Antonio-based agency commits to countering cyber threats. Other bills, such as Senate Bill 17 and Senate Bill 1333, aim to prevent foreign influences in Texas real estate and create offenses for transnational repression. When it comes to bail reform, Senate Bill 9 gives prosecutors an added tool to appeal potentially dangerous bail decisions in severe criminal cases.
On the sensitive subject of abortion, Senate Bill 33 prohibits state support financially or logistically for abortions, a move in line with the state's stance following the changes to Roe v. Wade. Further still, the state takes a strong position against human trafficking: House Bill 2306 eliminates parole options for certain traffickers, and Senate Bill 1212 toughens the penalties associated with this heinous crime. Veterans also get a nod in this slew of legislative changes, with several measures, including Senate Bills 1814 and 1818, playing a role in improving cross-state license recognition and consolidating veteran-related programs under the purview of the Texas Veterans Commission. And, in a nod to election security, House Bill 5115 looks to solidify the integrity of the ballot box by defining and enhancing penalties for election fraud.
These laws stand as a testament to the legislative priorities of Governor Abbott and his government, marking a period of significant changes across a variety of sectors in Texan society. While each law settles into everyday life, its impacts, positive or otherwise, will be the measure of Abbott's promises to the people of Texas.
