New Year, New Rules: 33 New Texas Laws Now In Effect

A new year means new laws in Texas. 

2026 Ushers in 33 New Laws in Texas 

On January 1,2026, 33 new laws went into effect in Texas. This follows the 800 laws that went into effect in Texas on September 1, 2025. 

Senate Bill 8

Senate Bill 8 requires that Texas counties with jail facilities work with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. The bill requires sheriff’s offices to assist ICE in serving warrants and other immigration duties. These activities will be funded by state grants in an amount based on the county population.  

House Bill 8 

House Bill 8 removes the STARR standardized test and replaces it with three shorter tests that will be administered throughout the school year. The replacement tests will begin in the Fall of 2026.  

House Bill 9

House Bill 9 increases the property tax exemption threshold on business inventory and equipment from $2,500 to $125,000. Texas voters approved this measure. 

Senate Bill 38

Senate Bill 38 targets squatters (those who take up illegal residence in someone else’s home), by speeding up eviction proceedings. Methods of communication include standardized notice delivery by mail, in-person, or electronically. Trial timelines are now condensed to 10 to 21 days. Local courts will not be allowed to add procedural hurdles.  

House Bill 149

The Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act regulates AI in the state of Texas. The law labels “AI systems” as machine learning, generative models, and biometric platforms and allows the Texas Attorney General to enforce civil penalties. The law bans biometric identification without consent.  

Senate Bill 2420

The App Store Accountability Act (Senate Bill 2420), requires Apple, Google, and other platforms to verify the age of users and require parental consent when minors download apps or make purchases within the app. On December 23, a preliminary injunction was issued, and enforcement is paused pending an appeal.