Page 12 - SOH_7_25

ECompiled By Lou Dugganvery two years, state lawmakersmeet for the Texas legislativesession. The regular session for the 89th Texas Legislature began on January 14 and has been ongoing for months. After 140 days, the Legislative Session ended June 2nd with state lawmakers passing over 1,000 bills. Senators and representatives filed 8,719 bills and 2,765 resolutions by the session’s end; 1,189 bills went to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott.Bill defines GenderHouse Bill 229 defines “man” and “woman” based on biological reproductive systems. It requires state agencies to identify Texans as either “male” or “female” across all government records. The bill is expected to go into effect on September 1.Private school vouchersSenate Bill 2 allows Texas families to use tax dollars to fund their children’s private school tuition. As part of the $1 billion bill, most students who attend an accredited private school will receive $10,000 per year to fund tuition at a private school and other expenses like textbooks, transportation, and therapy. Students with disabilities will receive up to $30,000 per year, and home- schooled students will get $2,000 a year. The law will go into effect on September 1, with the program expected to launch in late2026.Ten Commandments in public schoolsSenate Bill 10 requires every public- school classroom in Texas to display the Ten Commandments. It would require every classroom to visibly display a poster sized at least 16 by 20 inches and would have to include text in a size legible to a person with average vision. This act will take effect September 1, 2025, starting in the 2025-26 school year.Property tax cutsSenate Bills 4 and 23 will reduce the property tax bill of Texas homeowners by hundreds of dollars each year. SB 4 and SB 23 would raise the homestead exemption, allowing homeowners to write off $140,000 of their property value before assessment. It is even more for homeowners with disabilities or those who are older than 65, who will see their homestead exemption raised to $200,000. Houston Senator Paul Bettencourt, author of the bills, said the average Texas homeowner will see a reduction in their property tax bill this year of roughly $500. For senior and disabled homeowners, that number will be close to $1,000. The law would go into effect on September 1.Texas Cyber CommandGov. Greg Abbott visited San Antonioto sign legislation establishing the Texas Cyber Command. The passing of House Bill 150 created the Texas Cyber Command to protect against cyber threats from foreign countries. “Our state is under constant attack by cyber criminals, attacks that occur thousands of times every single second of every single day,” Abbott said. The Texas Cyber Command is a $135 million investment by the state, and it will be headquartered in San Antonio. Its main goal is to protect and defend against cyber breaches.AI GovernanceThe Texas House has given final approval to one of the most closely watched artificial intelligence bills of the year, potentially providing a roadmap for other red states.The Texas effort, known as the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act, is to facilitate the responsible use of AI, protect individuals from AI’s risks, ensure transparency, and require that government agencies disclose to consumers when they are interacting with an AI system. The bill also prohibits government agencies from using AI without consent to identify individuals using biometric data or from images gathered from the internet. On the private sector side, the Bill bars the development or deployment of an AIsystem that “intentionally aims to incite or encourage” someone to engage in self- harm, hurt someone else or commit a crime.12www.stoneoakhighlights.comJuly 202589th Texas Legislature EndsCost:Business ConnectionsHave an opportunity to make a 30 second introduction.When: Wed. July 23, 2025 Where: The Landing AtStone OakTime: 7:45 am - 9:30 amAddress: 19110 Huebner Rd.San Antonio, TX 78258Sponsored ByThe Landing At Stone OakASSOCIATIONRSVP to stoneoakladiesba.com/eventsOr Call (210) 548-6448