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Obillerate · Watchdog

Texas Bill Book

2026

The Texas bills that matter most, scored 1–10 on who they really help — with the receipts. One bill per page. Free to read, print and share.

47 bills scored · data as of 2026-09-11

How to read this book

The score.Every bill gets a 1–10 on one question: does it help or hurt everyday people? 1 hurts, 10 helps, 5–6 is mixed. The score is our editorial judgement — so every page shows the reasoning behind it, factor by factor. That section is the “receipts”, and it is the part no other bill list gives you.

How bills were chosen. Ranked, not cherry-picked. This edition prints the 10 lowest-scoring and 10 highest-scoring of the 47 bills we have fully analysed for Texas. A bill only qualifies if it passed our verification step, has a recorded official status, and has its reasoning attached. Thin entries are left out rather than padded.

Lowest-scoring is not the same as evil. Only 143 bills in the entire country score 3 or below, so in most states the bottom of the list includes bills that are simply mixed. We label each one for what it is instead of inflating it.

These are proposals, not law — unless the status line says otherwise. Bills move constantly; each page shows the status we recorded on 2026-09-11 and links to the live version.

Bill data from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), Congress.gov and OpenStates. Analysis and scoring are Obillerate's own. Editorial opinion, not legal advice — always read the official text before acting. Spot an error? www.obillerate.com/corrections

10 lowest-scoring

The worst Texas bills

Ranked from the lowest score up. These are the ones most likely to cost you money, rights or recourse.

TX SB1500 · Your Right to Sue

Medicaid drug protocols give doctors immunity from lawsuits

Relating to written protocols for certain nonprescription drugs under Medicaid and civil liability related to those protocols. · Introduced as of 2025-02-20

2/10
Hurts you

Bad for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

Doctors, pharmacists and state medical directors could not be sued for problems caused by Medicaid nonprescription drug protocols, limiting patients' ability to seek compensation.

What it means for you

The bill would protect health providers from lawsuits, which could lower costs for them but also make it harder for Medicaid patients to hold them accountable if a drug harms them.

Who it's for

Health care providers

Why it scores 2/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (hurts) Immunity reduces ability to hold providers accountable. Providers cannot be sued for protocol‑related harms
  • Rights & Protections (hurts) Limits patients' right to sue. Civil liability immunity cuts legal recourse
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) Costs shift to patients. Patients may bear harms without compensation
  • Process Transparency (neutral) No change to transparency. Bill does not require new public reporting
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No funding provisions. Bill contains no new spending or fees

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 2D)

Read it yourself

TX SB1500 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 1 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-sb1500-977631

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX SB2380 · Immunity & Accountability

Texas bill would shield doctors from criminal charges

Relating to immunity from criminal liability for certain health care practitioners. · Introduced as of 2025-03-12

2/10
Hurts you

Bad for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

Doctors and nurses could avoid criminal charges for mistakes unless they act recklessly or intentionally.

What it means for you

Patients would lose a tool to hold providers accountable, making it harder to punish serious wrongdoing, while doctors gain protection from routine errors.

Who it's for

Health care practitioners

Why it scores 2/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (hurts) reduces. removes criminal liability for most errors
  • Rights & Protections (hurts) cuts. limits patients' ability to sue criminally
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) neutral. no direct cost shift
  • Process Transparency (neutral) neutral. no new transparency requirements
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) neutral. no funding changes

Read it yourself

TX SB2380 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 2 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-sb2380-004946

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB5042 · Your Right to Sue

State preempts local safety rules, lets people sue towns

Relating to state preemption of and the effect of certain state health and safety laws on certain municipal and county regulations, including a law providing that an elephant is a dangerous wild animal. · Introduced as of 2025-03-13

3/10
Hurts you

Bad for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

The bill would stop cities from making their own safety rules and let anyone sue them if those rules break state codes.

What it means for you

Citizens could lose local protections like animal control or fire rules, while gaining a way to sue if a town oversteps state law; now is the chance to speak up before it limits local safety.

Who it's for

Big Business

Why it scores 3/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (hurts) negative. preempts local oversight
  • Rights & Protections (hurts) negative. limits local rulemaking
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) negative. shifts lawsuit costs to municipalities
  • Process Transparency (neutral) neutral. no new transparency measures
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) neutral. no funding changes

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

TX HB5042 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 3 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb5042-006408

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB3830 · Money & Damages

Tax credit helps farms move waste out of polluted zones

Relating to a franchise tax credit for certain watershed protection activities. · Introduced as of 2025-03-05

4/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

Farms that move waste out of polluted areas could get a tax break, lowering the money they pay the state.

What it means for you

This could encourage farms to clean up water, but it also reduces tax revenue that could fund schools or roads, so voters should watch it now.

Who it's for

Agricultural businesses

Why it scores 4/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) neutral. No new oversight, just tax credit
  • Rights & Protections (neutral) neutral. Does not affect personal rights
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) taxpayers. Tax credit reduces state revenue
  • Process Transparency (helps) some. Comptroller must adopt rules and report estimates
  • Funding Tilt (hurts) industry. Credit favors agricultural businesses

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

TX HB3830 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 4 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb3830-992386

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB1663 · Money & Damages

A new tax break for commercial trucks and heavy equipment

Relating to a credit or refund for diesel fuel taxes paid on diesel fuel used in this state by auxiliary power units or power take-off equipment. · Introduced as of 2024-12-18

4/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would give a tax refund to companies for the diesel fuel they use to run special equipment on their trucks, like cement mixers or cranes.

What it means for you

This bill would carve out a special tax break for commercial trucks and heavy machinery. When these vehicles use diesel to run attached equipment instead of driving, the owners could get their fuel taxes refunded. While it makes sense that fuel not used for driving on roads should not pay a road tax, this still means less tax money collected by the state. That lost money usually has to be made up by everyday taxpayers somewhere else.

Who it's for

Trucking and construction companies

Why it scores 4/10 — the receipts

  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) Reduces tax revenue from commercial vehicles.. The bill allows businesses to claim refunds on diesel taxes for fuel used by truck equipment, meaning the state collects less tax money overall.
  • Funding Tilt (hurts) Creates a corporate tax carve-out.. Trucking and construction companies would get a special tax break for operating their heavy machinery.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Trucking and construction companies
Bearing the cost: Texas taxpayers

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

TX HB1663 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 5 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb1663-897389

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB4735 · Money & Damages

Tax breaks for insurance companies that invest in rural funds

Relating to rural development funds and insurance tax credits for certain investments in those funds; authorizing fees. · Engrossed as of 2025-05-08

4/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would give state tax breaks to insurance companies that invest their money in special funds meant to help rural small businesses grow.

What it means for you

This bill uses tax breaks to encourage insurance companies to invest in rural small businesses. While the goal is to create jobs, these programs often serve as a lucrative tax shelter for big insurers and fund managers, leaving everyday taxpayers to make up for the lost state revenue.

Who it's for

Insurance companies

Why it scores 4/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) Neutral. The bill does not significantly impact legal accountability or liability.
  • Rights & Protections (neutral) Neutral. The bill does not affect consumer rights or legal protections.
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) Shifts cost to taxpayers. The state loses tax revenue by giving credits to insurance companies, meaning everyday taxpayers subsidize the investments.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Neutral. The bill requires tracking of jobs created, but does not significantly alter public transparency.
  • Funding Tilt (hurts) Subsidizes big business. The primary financial beneficiaries of the tax credits are insurance companies and the managers of the rural development funds.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Insurance companies and rural funds
Bearing the cost: State tax revenue

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (4R / 0D)

How they voted

House · 2025-05-08 passed
Yes 63R/51D · No 21R/10D

Read it yourself

TX HB4735 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 6 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb4735-005752

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB3999 · Consumer Protection

Texas bill lets insurers swap policies, adds new fees

Relating to the transfer and statutory novation of insurance policies from a transferring insurer to an assuming insurer through an insurance business transfer plan; authorizing fees. · Introduced as of 2025-03-06

5/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

Insurers could move your policy to another company and pay a state fee, while the state watches the switch.

What it means for you

Citizens should watch this bill because it could let big insurers change who holds their coverage without much input, and the added fees might be passed to policyholders.

Who it's for

Insurers

Why it scores 5/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) adds commissioner oversight. Insurers must consent to commissioner oversight of transferred business
  • Rights & Protections (neutral) no new consumer rights. Policyholders get notice but no new protections
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) fees may be passed to policyholders. Authorizes fees for transfers, could increase costs
  • Process Transparency (helps) requires notice to regulators and policyholders. Notice required within 45 days to regulators and policyholders
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) no specific funding changes. Fees are authorized but not earmarked

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

TX HB3999 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 7 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb3999-994069

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB612 · Immunity & Accountability

Texas bill adds school savings credit, shifts lawsuit fees

Relating to the establishment of an education savings account program, an insurance premium tax credit for contributions made for purposes of that program, and the award of attorney's fees in actions challenging certain educational choice laws. · Introduced as of 2024-11-12

5/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

The bill would give parents a tax credit for education savings accounts, but would force anyone who sues to block school choice to pay other side’s attorney fees

What it means for you

The tax credit could help families save for school, but the fee‑shifting rule could scare people from suing over unfair school policies, letting the state avoid paying for legal challenges.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 5/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (hurts) Fee‑shifting reduces accountability. makes challengers pay fees
  • Rights & Protections (hurts) Weakens right to sue. adds cost barrier
  • Who Bears the Cost (helps) Shifts litigation costs to challengers. makes them pay attorney fees
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Neutral effect on transparency. new fee‑shifting rules but no clear process changes
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) Mixed funding impact. tax credit costs state, fee‑shifting may reduce state expenses

Follow the money

Pushing for it: parents
Bearing the cost: potential challengers

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

TX HB612 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 8 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb612-891034

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB1979 · Housing & Property

New rules for changing your property tax refund address

Relating to the payment of certain ad valorem tax refunds. · Introduced as of 2025-01-22

5/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill requires you to use an official state form with a fraud warning if you want your property tax refund sent to a new address.

What it means for you

Right now, you can just send a written note to get your property tax refund mailed somewhere else. This bill changes that. It forces you to use a specific state form that includes a strict warning about lying. While this adds a tiny bit of paperwork, it helps stop scammers from stealing your refund by changing your address without you knowing.

Who it's for

Nobody / Symbolic

Why it scores 5/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) Neutral administrative change.. The bill just updates how a request is processed.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Protects against refund theft.. Adding a required form with a perjury warning makes it harder for scammers to divert someone else's tax refund.
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) No cost shift.. There are no new fees or costs for taxpayers.
  • Process Transparency (helps) Standardizes the request process.. Creates a single official form for address changes instead of accepting any written request.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No funding changes.. The bill does not change how much money is collected or refunded.

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (7R / 0D)

Read it yourself

TX HB1979 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 9 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb1979-934478

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB3366 · Healthcare & Insurance

New rules for how insurers and doctors fight over bills

Relating to mediation and arbitration between health benefit plan issuers or administrators and out-of-network health care providers. · Introduced as of 2025-02-26

5/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill forces health insurance companies and out-of-network doctors to play fair when arguing over who pays a medical bill.

What it means for you

When you get a surprise medical bill, your insurance and the doctor usually have to work it out with a referee, called a mediator. This bill makes sure the insurance company sends someone who actually has the power to pay the bill. If either side acts in bad faith, the referee can force them to use a private judge instead of going to a regular court. It mostly affects big companies fighting each other, not you directly.

Who it's for

Healthcare providers

Why it scores 5/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Forces insurers to send representatives with actual authority to pay.. The bill requires the health benefit plan issuer to send a representative who has the authority to bind the issuer to pay the agreed amount.
  • Rights & Protections (hurts) Removes the right to a civil lawsuit for the parties involved if forced into arbitration.. If the mediator orders arbitration due to bad faith, the parties are barred from bringing a civil action under Section 1467.0575.
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) Costs are split evenly between the two fighting industries.. The parties must evenly split and pay the arbitrator's fees and expenses.
  • Process Transparency (helps) Speeds up the process by requiring prompt contact information.. Insurers must provide complete contact information as soon as practicable after the mediator is appointed.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) Neutral impact on public funding.. The bill regulates private dispute resolution and does not shift costs to taxpayers.

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

TX HB3366 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 10 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb3366-983949

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

10 highest-scoring

The best Texas bills

The other half of the record: bills that would actually help everyday people.

TX HB438 · Housing & Property

Texas bill stops rent hikes for low-income housing tenants

Relating to prohibiting an increase in the rent of a tenant residing in a development supported with a low income housing tax credit allocation. · Introduced as of 2024-11-12

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would stop landlords from raising rent on people living in special low-income housing until their lease ends.

What it means for you

This bill would give people living in certain low-income housing a clear promise: their rent would not go up until their lease is over. This means families could plan their money better without worrying about sudden rent hikes. Landlords might say they need to raise rents sometimes to cover costs, but this bill would make sure that once a lease is signed, the rent stays the same for that time. It is important to pay attention now because if this bill passes, it would help many people keep their homes affordable.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Landlords would be held to lease terms.. The bill would hold landlords to the rent amount agreed upon in a lease for the full term of that lease.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Tenants gain protection from rent increases.. It would protect tenants from unexpected rent increases during their lease agreement in low-income housing.
  • Who Bears the Cost (helps) Tenants save money, landlords lose flexibility.. Tenants would save money by avoiding rent increases, while landlords would lose the ability to raise rent mid-lease.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) No direct impact.. The bill does not directly affect process transparency.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No direct impact.. The bill does not directly allocate or shift funding.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Tenants in low-income housing
Bearing the cost: Owners of low-income housing developments

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

TX HB438 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 11 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb438-891603

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB1206 · Housing & Property

Texas landlords must show all fees before you sign

Relating to the disclosure of certain fees by a landlord. · Introduced as of 2024-11-12

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would make landlords tell you all extra fees before you sign a lease, so you know the full cost.

What it means for you

Right now, some landlords can add extra fees after you think you know your rent. This bill would stop that by making landlords list all regular fees, like for pets or amenities, before you sign your lease. This helps you know the true cost of your home upfront and avoid surprises. Landlords might say it adds paperwork, but it helps people budget better. If you want to avoid hidden costs when renting, this bill is important to support while it is still moving through the legislature.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Landlords would be more accountable for all costs.. The bill requires landlords to disclose all fixed, recurring fees other than rent before a lease is signed, increasing their accountability for all charges.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Tenants would have a clearer right to know all costs.. Tenants would gain the protection of not being obligated to pay fees that were not disclosed as required by the bill, strengthening their rights.
  • Who Bears the Cost (helps) Tenants would avoid hidden costs, landlords bear disclosure burden.. The cost of disclosure would fall on landlords, but tenants would benefit by avoiding unexpected fees, potentially saving them money.
  • Process Transparency (helps) Rental agreements would be more transparent.. The bill directly aims to improve transparency in rental agreements by requiring upfront disclosure of all fixed, recurring fees.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No specific funding changes mentioned.. The bill does not mention any specific funding or financial appropriations.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Tenants
Bearing the cost: Landlords

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

TX HB1206 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 12 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb1206-890424

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB949 · Privacy & Data

Texas bill protects workers' health privacy from bosses

Relating to an employee's right to privacy of personal health information; providing a civil penalty. · Introduced as of 2024-11-12

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would let workers keep their health information private from their boss, and bosses could get a big fine if they ask for it.

What it means for you

This bill would give workers a clear right to keep their personal health information private from their employers. If a boss tried to punish a worker for not sharing this private health information, the boss could face a large fine. This is important because it protects people's personal medical details from being used against them at work. Some might argue that employers need certain health information for workplace safety, but this bill only makes exceptions when other laws already require sharing. It is still early in the process, so now is the time for people to speak up if they want to protect their health privacy at work.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Holds employers accountable for privacy violations.. Employers would face a $50,000 civil penalty for each time they violate an employee's right to health privacy.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Strengthens employee privacy rights.. Employees would gain a clear right to keep their personal health information private from their employer, unless state or federal law requires disclosure.
  • Who Bears the Cost (helps) Costs are borne by violating employers.. Employers who violate the privacy right would pay a $50,000 penalty to the state's general revenue fund.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Not directly addressed by the bill text.. The bill does not directly address transparency of the legislative process or public access to information.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) Fines go to the state, not directly to the employee.. Civil penalties collected from employers would go into the state's general revenue fund, not directly to the harmed employee.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Employees (privacy protection)
Bearing the cost: Employers ($50,000 for each violation)

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

TX HB949 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 13 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb949-891499

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB1860 · Housing & Property

Landlords must show how much of your rent is property tax

Relating to disclosure by the landlord of a residential multiunit complex to a tenant of the percentage of the tenant's monthly rent payment attributable to the property taxes due for the complex. · Introduced as of 2025-01-15

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would make landlords tell you how much of your rent goes to property taxes, so you know where your money goes.

What it means for you

This bill is good for renters because it would make landlords share important information. You would see exactly how much of your monthly rent helps pay for the building's property taxes. This helps you understand your rent better. Landlords might say it is extra work for them to share this information. But knowing this detail could help you decide if your rent is fair. It also lets you see how property taxes affect your housing costs. This bill is still new, so now is the time to tell your lawmakers if you want this information.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Increases landlord accountability for rent breakdown.. Landlords would be required to show tenants how much of their rent goes to property taxes, making them more open about costs.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Enhances tenant's right to information.. Tenants would gain a new right to know specific details about how their rent money is used, improving transparency.
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) No direct cost shift, but disclosure might lead to questions.. The bill does not directly shift costs, but it requires landlords to disclose information that could influence tenant decisions about rent.
  • Process Transparency (helps) Directly improves transparency for tenants.. The core purpose of the bill is to provide tenants with clear, accessible information about a component of their rent.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) Not applicable, no funding mentioned.. The bill does not involve government funding or financial allocations.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Tenants (through increased knowledge)
Bearing the cost: Landlords (through compliance costs for disclosure)

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

TX HB1860 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 14 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb1860-920535

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB4305 · Housing & Property

Texas bill makes landlords show all fees upfront

Relating to disclosure of rent and certain fees and charges by a landlord. · Introduced as of 2025-03-11

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would make landlords tell you all rental fees upfront, so you know the full cost before you sign a lease.

What it means for you

This bill is important because it would stop landlords from surprising renters with hidden fees after they've decided on a place. Right now, people often find out about extra costs like trash or internet fees only when they're about to sign the lease, making it hard to compare prices or back out. This bill would make sure all costs are clear from the start. Some landlords might say this makes renting more complicated for them, but for everyday Texans, it means no more guessing what their rent will truly be.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Increases landlord accountability for transparent pricing.. Landlords would be liable for $100 plus three times the undisclosed fee and attorney's fees if they don't disclose fees as required.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Strengthens tenant rights to clear and upfront pricing.. Tenants would have the right to receive full disclosure of all fees and charges before signing a lease or even applying, and recourse if not provided.
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) Landlords bear the cost of compliance and penalties.. Landlords would need to update their advertising, application, and lease forms to comply with new disclosure requirements, and face financial penalties for violations.
  • Process Transparency (helps) Significantly improves transparency for renters.. The bill requires landlords to disclose all fixed, recurring, one-time, and variable fees in advertisements, applications, and on the first page of the lease.
  • Funding Tilt (helps) Favors consumer protection over landlord flexibility.. The bill prioritizes a tenant's right to clear pricing over a landlord's ability to structure fees without upfront disclosure.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Tenants/Prospective Tenants ($100 + 3x fee + attorney's fees)
Bearing the cost: Landlords ($100 + 3x fee + attorney's fees)

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

TX HB4305 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 15 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb4305-999590

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX SB1155 · Housing & Property

Rent hikes banned for some low-income housing tenants

Relating to prohibiting an increase in the rent of a tenant residing in a development supported with a low income housing tax credit allocation. · Introduced as of 2025-02-07

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would stop landlords from raising rent on low-income housing tenants while their lease is active, helping people keep their homes.

What it means for you

This bill would protect people living in low-income housing from sudden rent increases during their lease. If passed, landlords who get special tax credits to offer affordable housing would not be able to raise your rent until your lease is up. This means you would not have to worry about your rent going up unexpectedly in the middle of your agreement. It would help families plan their money better and keep their homes. Landlords might say this limits their business choices, but the bill only applies to housing that gets special tax help to be affordable.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Landlords would be held to rent stability terms.. The bill would make landlords who receive housing tax credits unable to raise rent during a tenant's lease, holding them accountable to the spirit of providing affordable housing.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Protects tenants from unexpected rent increases.. This bill would protect the right of low-income tenants to stable housing costs by preventing rent increases during their lease term.
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) Prevents cost increase for tenants, no new cost shift.. This bill would prevent a cost increase for tenants by stopping rent hikes. It does not create a new cost shift onto consumers, but rather limits potential profit for landlords who benefit from tax credits.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) No direct impact on transparency.. The bill's text does not address changes to process transparency.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No new funding, just rules for existing programs.. The bill does not introduce new funding but sets rules for developments already supported by low-income housing tax credits.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Low-income housing tenants
Bearing the cost: Landlords of low-income housing tax credit developments

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

TX SB1155 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 16 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-sb1155-961531

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX SB759 · Housing & Property

Landlords must show all fees before you sign a lease

Relating to the disclosure of certain fees by a landlord. · Introduced as of 2025-01-10

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would make landlords tell you about all extra fees before you sign a lease, so you know the full cost upfront.

What it means for you

This bill would help renters avoid surprise costs. Right now, landlords can sometimes add fees that you only find out about after you've decided to rent a place. This bill would make sure landlords tell you about all regular extra fees, like for pets or amenities, before you sign any papers. If they don't tell you, you wouldn't have to pay those fees. This means you can see the true cost of renting a place from the start. Some landlords might say it adds extra steps, but it helps people budget better and makes renting more fair. It's important to support this bill so everyone knows what they are paying for.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Landlords must be upfront. Landlords would be held accountable for disclosing all fixed, recurring fees before a lease is signed, preventing hidden costs for tenants.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Tenants protected from hidden fees. Tenants would gain the right to know all recurring fees upfront and would not be obligated to pay undisclosed fees, protecting their financial interests.
  • Who Bears the Cost (helps) Landlords bear transparency cost, tenants save. Landlords would bear the administrative cost of clear disclosure, while tenants would save money by avoiding unexpected or hidden fees.
  • Process Transparency (helps) Increases fee transparency. The bill directly increases transparency by requiring landlords to disclose all fixed, recurring fees before a lease is signed.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No direct funding impact. The bill does not involve government funding or financial allocations.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Tenants
Bearing the cost: Landlords

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

TX SB759 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 17 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-sb759-910423

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX SB731 · Housing & Property

Better water pressure for older people in tall buildings

Relating to required water pressure boosters for certain housing developments that receive an allocation of low income housing tax credits. · Introduced as of 2025-01-07

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would make sure tall apartment buildings for older people have strong water pressure for safety, helping residents get water during emergencies.

What it means for you

This bill would help older people living in tall apartment buildings by making sure they have good water pressure, especially during emergencies like a fire. This means developers building these types of homes would have to add special pumps. While this could make building costs a bit higher, possibly leading to slightly higher rents, it is meant to keep residents safer. People should decide if the added safety is worth the potential extra cost.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Developers would be accountable for a safety feature.. The bill would require certain housing developments to install water pressure boosters, holding developers accountable for a specific safety standard.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Protects residents' safety and access to water.. This bill would protect the safety of older residents in tall buildings by ensuring they have access to water pressure during emergencies.
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) Developers would bear the cost, potentially passed to residents.. The cost of installing water pressure boosters would fall on housing developers, which could potentially increase housing costs for residents.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) No specific transparency impacts mentioned.. The bill does not directly address process transparency, maintaining the current level.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No direct funding, but a new requirement.. The bill does not provide direct funding but imposes a new requirement on developments that receive low income housing tax credits.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Older residents, emergency services
Bearing the cost: Housing developers, potentially residents

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

TX SB731 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 18 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-sb731-904687

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX HB3976 · Work & Wages

Texas could waive fees for teachers in important jobs

Relating to the waiver of license renewal fees for certain instructors in high-demand fields at public institutions of higher education. · Engrossed as of 2025-05-15

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would stop certain teachers in Texas from paying fees to renew their licenses, helping them teach important subjects like nursing and engineering.

What it means for you

This bill would make it easier for people with valuable skills, like nurses, engineers, and plumbers, to teach at public colleges by removing a fee they currently pay. This could help more people become teachers in these important areas, making sure students have good instructors and helping to fill jobs that are needed. It is a good step to support educators and the future workforce.

Who it's for

Higher education instructors

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) Neutral impact on accountability.. The bill does not directly address accountability for state agencies or individuals, focusing instead on fee waivers.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Helps instructors by removing a fee burden.. The bill would waive license renewal fees for faculty and adjunct professors teaching in specific high-demand fields at public institutions of higher education.
  • Who Bears the Cost (helps) Instructors would save money on renewal fees.. State agencies would waive license renewal fees for eligible instructors, meaning these instructors would no longer pay these fees.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) No impact on transparency.. The bill does not change how decisions are made or how information is shared with the public.
  • Funding Tilt (helps) Benefits instructors directly.. Instructors in high-demand fields would save money by not having to pay license renewal fees.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Certain instructors at public colleges
Bearing the cost: State agencies that collect license renewal fees

Who's behind it

Bipartisan sponsorship (3R / 2D)

How they voted

House · 2025-05-15 passed
Yes 45R/60D · No 36R/0D

Read it yourself

TX HB3976 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 19 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-hb3976-993823

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

TX SB1969 · Work & Wages

Texas may drop license fees for some college teachers

Relating to the waiver of license renewal fees for certain instructors in high-demand fields at public institutions of higher education. · Introduced as of 2025-03-06

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would stop some college teachers from paying fees to keep their licenses, making it easier for them to teach important jobs.

What it means for you

This bill would help teachers in important fields like nursing and engineering by letting them keep their licenses without paying renewal fees. This could make it easier for colleges to find and keep good teachers for these jobs. When more skilled teachers are available, students can learn these high-demand skills, which helps everyone. Citizens should care because it could mean better education and more skilled workers in Texas.

Who it's for

Workers

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) Neutral impact. The bill does not change how instructors are held accountable for their work.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Helps instructors. The bill would remove a financial barrier for certain instructors to maintain their professional licenses, protecting their ability to teach.
  • Who Bears the Cost (helps) Cost shifted from instructors. The cost of license renewal fees would shift from individual instructors to the state agencies that would no longer collect those fees.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Standard process. The bill follows a standard legislative process and does not affect public transparency.
  • Funding Tilt (helps) Benefits instructors. The bill would reduce revenue for state agencies by waiving license renewal fees for eligible instructors, benefiting those instructors financially.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Certain instructors at public institutions of higher education
Bearing the cost: State agencies that issue licenses

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

TX SB1969 · Texas Bill Book 2026 · page 20 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/tx-sb1969-993309

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

Index by bill number

  • HB1206 9/10 · Texas landlords must show all fees before you sign
  • HB1663 4/10 · A new tax break for commercial trucks and heavy equipment
  • HB1860 9/10 · Landlords must show how much of your rent is property tax
  • HB1979 5/10 · New rules for changing your property tax refund address
  • HB3366 5/10 · New rules for how insurers and doctors fight over bills
  • HB3830 4/10 · Tax credit helps farms move waste out of polluted zones
  • HB3976 9/10 · Texas could waive fees for teachers in important jobs
  • HB3999 5/10 · Texas bill lets insurers swap policies, adds new fees
  • HB4305 9/10 · Texas bill makes landlords show all fees upfront
  • HB438 9/10 · Texas bill stops rent hikes for low-income housing tenants
  • HB4735 4/10 · Tax breaks for insurance companies that invest in rural funds
  • HB5042 3/10 · State preempts local safety rules, lets people sue towns
  • HB612 5/10 · Texas bill adds school savings credit, shifts lawsuit fees
  • HB949 9/10 · Texas bill protects workers' health privacy from bosses
  • SB1155 9/10 · Rent hikes banned for some low-income housing tenants
  • SB1500 2/10 · Medicaid drug protocols give doctors immunity from lawsuits
  • SB1969 9/10 · Texas may drop license fees for some college teachers
  • SB2380 2/10 · Texas bill would shield doctors from criminal charges
  • SB731 9/10 · Better water pressure for older people in tall buildings
  • SB759 9/10 · Landlords must show all fees before you sign a lease

Texas Bill Book 2026 · data as of 2026-09-11 · www.obillerate.com/library/2026/tx