Now on the Books

In Texas, college students sent to remedial education usually don't make it far. A new state law that revamps how that education is provided hopes to change that. Full Story 

House Bill 1643 makes it a crime to operate a drone over “concentrated animal feeding operations,” as well as telecommunication facilities and certain oil and gas facilities. Full Story 

A new law reduces the first-time fee for a license to carry from $140 to $40 and the renewal fee from $70 to $40. Full Story 

Under a new law that took effect Sept. 1, insurance companies may not cover mental health and substance abuse care differently than they cover medical care. Full Story 

A new state law prohibits anyone under 16 from getting married and requires people under 18 to get a judge's consent before marrying. Full Story 

A new law prevents most registered sex offenders from residing in dormitories on private or public campuses. The law codifies a policy already in place at many of Texas' biggest schools. Full Story 

High schoolers, new drivers and police will all need to receive training on police interactions under a new law — but not until next fall. Full Story 

A new law requires Texas' freestanding emergency rooms to more clearly communicate what health insurance networks they're in, if any. Full Story 

This year, Texas legislators continued efforts to prevent wrongful convictions by passing a law focused on fixing unreliable jailhouse informants, unfair police station lineups and coerced confessions. Full Story 

A new Texas law gives financial institutions greater authority to stop transactions that they suspect are aimed at defrauding elderly or disabled clients. Full Story 

Driver's license applications will soon ask Texans whether they'd like to donate $1 or more for sexual assault kit testing. It's the state's latest effort to reduce a backlog that has swelled for years. Full Story 

School districts are now allowed to create food pantries on campus to store and distribute leftover food from the cafeteria, as long as they follow state and local health codes. Full Story 

Lawmakers and advocates say "David's Law," which Gov. Greg Abbott signed in June, will allow school districts and prosecutors to fight cyberbullying on multiple fronts. Full Story 

House Bill 3287 requires craft brewers that produce more than 225,000 barrels a year to pay a distributor to deliver their beer — even if the destination is inside their own facility. Full Story 

A new state law eliminates the category of "illegal knives," effectively expanding knife owners' freedom to carry blades almost anywhere in the state. Full Story 

Newly purchased school buses in Texas must have three-point seat belts for all riders under a new state law. Full Story