The Good, Bad, & Ugly: 25 Labor-related bills to watch at the end of the 2025 Texas Legislative Session
We fight for a fair shot for Texas workers, and we expect our lawmakers to as well. Here are the good, bad, and ugly bills still making their way through the Texas Legislature during the 89th session.
✅ THE GOOD ✅
- ✅ Senate Bill 482 (SB 482) — Protecting utility workers
Relating to increasing the criminal penalties for the offenses of assault and harassment committed against certain employees or agents of a utility and committed in a disaster area or evacuated area. - ✅ SB 1737 — ERS retirement
Relating to service retirement benefits payable by the Employees Retirement System of Texas to certain law enforcement officers and custodial officers.
- ✅ SB 2129 — Rail safety
Relating to the operation of vehicles at railroad grade crossings.
- ✅ SB 2323 — Protecting train engineers
Relating to the disclosure of certain information regarding a record of a collision or violation involving a person operating a railroad locomotive or train.
- ✅ House Bill 886 (HB 886) — 13th check for state retirees
Relating to a one-time supplemental payment of benefits under the Employees Retirement System of Texas. - ✅ HB 1368 — Parental notification on school staffing
Relating to a notification requirement if a public school does not have a nurse, school counselor, or librarian assigned to the school during all instructional hours. - ✅ HB 2186 — Elevator safety
Relating to the regulation of elevator mechanics, elevator apprentices, and contractors. - ✅ HB 5196 — Telework for state employees
Relating to telework for state employees.
❌ THE BAD ❌
- ❌ SB 30 — Prioritizes insurance company profits over people
Relating to recovery of damages in civil actions. - ❌ SB 39 — Trucking crashes
Relating to civil liability of a commercial motor vehicle owner or operator. - ❌ SB 388 — Arbitrary energy requirements
Relating to the legislature's goals for electric generation capacity in this state. - ❌ SB 819 — Anti-renewable energy
Relating to renewable energy generation facilities; authorizing fees. While there are legitimate issues that should be addressed in terms of where we place renewable energy and storage facilities, the bill is written in a way that is clearly intended to drastically slow down the renewable industry. - ❌ SB 1950 — Additional work search requirements for unemployment
Relating to the eligibility of certain individuals for unemployment benefits and the validity of certain claims for unemployment benefits submitted to the Texas Workforce Commission. This would disproportionately impact rural communities.
- ❌ SB 2337 — Impacting proxy advisors, including for union members’ pension plans
Relating to the provision of proxy advisory services in connection with certain entities domiciled in this state. - ❌ SB 2864 — Solar regulation
Relating to the applicability of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act to, and the regulation by certain political subdivisions of, the installation of roofing materials containing integrated photovoltaic technology.
- ❌ SB 3016 — More local preemption
Relating to state preemption of certain municipal and county regulation. - ❌ HB 3743 — Adds to understaffing at state agencies
Relating to management-to-staff ratio for state agencies. This would repeal a code that requires manager-to-staff ratios at state agencies. We’re already understaffed!
- ❌ HB 3923 — Low wages for state positions
Relating to state employment opportunities for individuals who do not hold a bachelor's degree.
- ❌ HB 5129 — State agency records
Relating to the security of certain personal identifying information submitted to or retained by a state agency.
‼️ THE UGLY ‼️
- ‼️ SB 8 — ICE cooperation in our communities, SB 8 is HATE!
Relating to agreements between sheriffs and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law. This deputizes local law enforcement as immigration enforcement. - ‼️ SB 37 — State takeover of higher ed
Relating to the governance of public institutions of higher education, including review of curriculum and certain degree and certificate programs, the powers and duties of a faculty council or senate, training for members of the governing board, and the establishment of the Office of Excellence in Higher Education. - ‼️ SB 689 — Scapegoats public programs that make workplaces more supportive
Relating to employment practices regarding diversity and prohibiting the implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by certain governmental entities. It creates unnecessary government overreach and would harm the Texas workforce while undermining business autonomy. - ‼️ SB 925 — Anti-Project Labor Agreements (PLAs)
Relating to certain agreements with collective bargaining organizations related to certain publicly funded public work contracts. - ‼️ SB 2330 — Dues deduction: Hands off our paychecks!
Relating to payroll deductions for certain state and local government employee organizations.
- ‼️ SB 2858 — Death Star 2.0
Relating to state preemption of certain municipal and county regulation.
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