2025 will bring major adjustments to Texas laws. Beginning January 1, residents will experience modifications to key issues such as the vehicle inspection process, personal data protection, the creation of judicial courts, and new fiscal measures to support the state’s schools.
Farewell to Vehicle Safety Inspections
Texas motorists will no longer need to submit their private vehicles to safety inspections. Instead, they will pay a $7.50 fee when registering their vehicles to replace the previous program.
New cars of the two most recent models will have to pay an initial fee of $16.75, which will cover the first two years of registration. However, emissions controls will continue in counties such as Harris, Travis and Dallas, while Bexar will adopt these requirements in 2026. Commercial vehicles will continue with safety inspections, but will not be required to cover the new fee.
Increased Protection of Personal Data
With the expansion of the Data Privacy Act, Texans will be able to have greater control over their online information. They will now be able to adjust browser or device settings to limit how companies handle their personal data.
In addition, they will have the right to demand transparency in the use of their information, request corrections to inaccurate data and opt out of practices such as targeted advertising, data selling or profiling. This development promotes conscious decisions based on user consent.
Creating Courts for an Efficient Judicial and Laws System
To decongest the Texas court system, new judicial districts will be created. Beginning January 1, 2025, Edwards, Gillespie and Kimble counties will form the 499th Judicial District. Later, the 498th Judicial District will begin operations on October 1, 2025 in Kendall County.
This move seeks to improve the speed of legal proceedings and ensure more efficient access to justice in regions with high demand for court services.
Fiscal Support to Protect Schools
The new tax scheme approved by the Senate will protect school revenues from potential property tax cuts. If local funding is affected, educational institutions will be able to receive additional state funding.
The program prioritizes senior taxpayers and persons with disabilities. In addition, the Texas Education Agency will annually publish the Maximum Compressed Rate (MCR), which will determine the tax rate necessary to ensure that each district has sufficient resources.
Criminal Code Simplification
Finally, the Code of Criminal Procedure will undergo a structural reorganization that will make it easier to understand and apply. Although the changes do not alter the content of the laws, they will make them easier to use for the public, lawyers and judges alike.
These new laws respond to the current challenges facing Texas and seek to offer practical solutions in the areas of transportation, justice, technology and education.
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