New Texas Laws to Take Effect Jan. 1, 2025

 

AUSTIN, TX - Starting Jan. 1, 2025, Texas will implement a series of new laws, including the elimination of annual vehicle inspections for most non-commercial vehicles and the expansion of consumer data privacy rights.

Under Texas House Bill 3297, annual vehicle inspections will no longer be required for non-commercial vehicles, though drivers in more populated counties must still pass emissions tests. Instead, drivers will pay a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee during vehicle registration.

The emissions test mandate will apply to drivers in Harris, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Montgomery counties in the Houston area, as well as Collin, Dallas, Denton, and other counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Travis and Williamson counties in Austin and El Paso County will also require tests. For Bexar County, the requirement begins in 2026.

The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, introduced under House Bill 4, enhances consumer rights, requiring businesses to honor unified opt-out mechanisms for online data processing. This allows consumers to automatically opt out of targeted advertising, data sales, and profiling without interacting individually with each business.

Senate Bill 2 introduces measures to streamline property tax processes, including adjustments to appraisal limitations and tax assessments. These changes aim to reduce the tax burden on homeowners and create more predictable property tax rates.

House Bill 1535 revises the governance of the San Antonio River Authority, aligning its fiscal year with recommendations from the Sunset Advisory Commission. 

A non-substantive revision of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, detailed in House Bill 4504, reorganizes and clarifies the code to improve accessibility for legal professionals and the public.

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