★ 01
Constitutional Carry (HB 1927, 2021)
Texans 21+ may carry a handgun openly or concealed without a state-issued License to Carry, subject to federal prohibitions and posted property restrictions.
★ Plain EnglishTEXAS LAWS
TEXAS LAWS
EXPLAINED
The Lone Star State's most consequential statutes — what they do, who they protect, and where they stand.
★ 02
Heartbeat Act (SB 8, 2021) & Human Life Protection Act
Abortion is prohibited from fertilization with narrow exceptions for medical emergencies. Civil enforcement provisions remain in effect.
★ 03
Election Integrity Act (SB 1, 2021)
Photo ID required for mail ballots, expanded poll-watcher access, ban on drive-thru and 24-hour voting, ID matching on mail-in ballot applications.
★ 04
Property Tax Relief (SB 2, 2023)
$100,000 homestead exemption for school M&O taxes, ISD compression, and a three-year 20% appraisal cap pilot on non-homestead properties under $5M.
★ 05
Parental Rights in Education (SB 763 & HB 900, 2023)
Schools must give parents access to instructional materials; vendors must rate library books for sexual content; chaplains may serve in public schools.
★ 06
Operation Lone Star / SB 4 (2023)
Creates state crime of illegal entry and authorizes Texas judges to order removal. Currently in federal litigation.
★ 07
Save Women's Sports Act (HB 25, 2021)
K-12 and collegiate athletes must compete on teams matching their biological sex assigned at birth.
★ 08
Texas DREAM Act Repeal Efforts & In-State Tuition
Ongoing legislative debate over whether non-citizens qualify for in-state college tuition rates under the 2001 statute.
★ 09
Death Penalty & Capital Murder
Texas remains an active death-penalty state. Capital cases require unanimous jury and automatic appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeals.
★ 10
Right-to-Work (Texas Labor Code §101.052)
Union membership and dues may not be required as a condition of employment in Texas.