835 New Texas Laws Take Effect Sept. 1, From Vape Bans to Film Incentives

Texas will have 835 new laws on the books starting Monday, Sept. 1, as hundreds of bills passed earlier this year by the 89th Legislature take effect. The measures reach into education, health care, public safety, property rules and support for first responders.

One of the most closely watched, Senate Bill 17, bars individuals, companies and government-affiliated entities with ties to China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from buying most Texas real estate, including homes, commercial property and farmland. Visa holders from those countries may buy one residence to live in, but no more. Violations carry criminal penalties for individuals and heavy civil fines for companies. A lawsuit challenging the law is pending at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Senate Bill 2024 makes it illegal to sell or advertise certain e-cigarettes, including those containing THC, kratom, kava, alcohol or mushrooms. It also prohibits e-cigarettes made in China and other designated foreign countries, widens the legal definition to cover non-nicotine vapes, and restricts products that appeal to minors, such as those resembling food, school supplies or cartoons. Smoke shop owners are already adjusting their inventories. The law is separate from the broader debate over THC regulation in Texas.

In schools and health care, Senate Bill 25, the "Make Texas Healthy Again" law, requires medical schools to teach nutrition, adds continuing education requirements for physicians and bars schools from taking recess away from younger students as punishment. From 2027, many processed foods containing certain additives must carry a warning label. Supporters say it will give consumers clearer information, while critics warn it could confuse shoppers or face legal challenges. Separately, Senate Bill 922 allows the electronic release of certain medical test results to be delayed by up to three days so doctors can explain them first.

Senate Bill 12 prohibits K-12 student organizations based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It also expands parental oversight, giving parents access to curriculum and to mental and physical health records, and requires schools to notify them when a student asks for a nickname or different pronouns. Teachers who do not comply may face discipline. Critics say it strips support from LGBTQ+ youth; supporters say it protects parental rights. Senate Bill 412 removes the "affirmative defense" for educators and other non-officials who provide material deemed harmful to minors, leaving it only for judges and law enforcement. Critics fear self-censorship, while supporters say it closes a decades-old loophole.

Senate Bill 22 puts $1.5 billion into the Texas Moving Image Industry Program, guaranteeing $300 million every two years through 2035. Projects starting after Sept. 1 can apply for rebates of up to 31% of qualified in-state spending. Filmmakers and actors, including Matthew McConaughey and Taylor Sheridan, helped secure the funding by testifying at the Capitol.

Several laws focus on emergency and utility workers. House Bill 35 creates a statewide peer support network for firefighters and EMS personnel, modeled on a law enforcement program credited with reducing police suicides. Its official launch is not expected until March 2026, so the state has opened its law enforcement network to first responders in the meantime, especially those involved in July's flood rescue and recovery. Senate Bill 482, sponsored by Houston Sen. Carol Alvarado, makes assaulting an on-duty utility worker a third-degree felony and raises harassment to a Class A misdemeanor. It was prompted by threats against crews restoring power after Hurricane Beryl.

Senate Bill 34, prompted by the 2024 Panhandle fires that burned over a million acres, creates a statewide database of firefighting equipment and increases funding for volunteer firefighters in high-risk areas. Its author, Sen. Kevin Sparks, a Midland Republican, cited poor communication and incompatible equipment among the problems that hindered response times.

Other new laws include House Bill 1592, which centralizes alerts about plant and wildlife pests and diseases under the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agency and lets residents sign up for notifications. Senate Bill 33 bars local governments from using public funds to help people seek abortions, including through funds that assist with out-of-state care or with child care, travel and lodging. Austin and San Antonio had earlier set aside such money and were sued by Attorney General Ken Paxton.