By Emily Kirchner, Vice President of Economic Development, and Jesse Ozuna, FVP of Public Affairs 

Several key measures from the 89th Texas Legislature have already become law, carrying immediate implications for consumer protection, financial literacy, and corporate governance. The TRB Economic Development & Public Funds team is sharing the following highlights to keep our customers, communities, and partners informed of changes now shaping the business and policy landscape across Texas.

SB 2371 by Nichols: Skimmers on Electronic Terminals

• HIGHLIGHTS: The purpose of this legislation is to address the issue of payment card skimmers on electronic terminals. It mandates reporting and investigation procedures for skimmer discoveries, assigns enforcement responsibilities to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, and creates civil and criminal penalties for violations. The bill aims to enhance consumer protection by requiring merchants and service technicians to report skimmers, enabling coordinated investigations, and safeguarding confidential information related to skimmer reports.
• IMPACT: Merchants and service technicians will need to adjust their procedures to comply with reporting and cooperation requirements, potentially causing operational disruptions. Expected to reduce payment card fraud related to skimmers, enhance consumer confidence in electronic transactions, and foster stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the financial and retail sectors.
• EFFECTIVE: May 27, 2025

HB 27 by King: Personal Financial Literacy Courses in Public Schools

• HIGHLIGHTS: This bill mandates the inclusion of a personal financial literacy course as part of the foundation high school program curriculum requirements in Texas public schools starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It requires the State Board of Education to develop and provide free, open-source programs for this course and allows students to fulfill the requirement through designated advanced placement courses.
• IMPACT: High School students will now be introduced to basic and advanced financial practices to get them better prepared to handle money. This will guarantee students learn about banking, money management, investments, budgeting, and so much more.
• EFFECTIVE: June 20, 2025

SB 29 by Hughes: Texas to Become a Corporate Governance Hub

• HIGHLIGHTS: Texas leads the country in jobs, innovation, and economic growth. While we might celebrate that many corporations are headquartered in Texas, more corporations are incorporated in Delaware, thanks to their clear, pro-business legal framework. SB 29 puts Texas state one step closer to becoming the corporate law capital of the United States by clarifying and strengthening Texas’ legal framework through the Texas Business Organizations Code. Reforms in this legislation affect domestic entities including corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and limited partnerships traded on national securities exchanges.
• IMPACT: SB 29 modernizes the Texas Business Organizations Code, codifies the business judgement rule to shield directors from frivolous suits, sets fair thresholds for shareholder actions, and streamlines disputes through Texas Business Courts. This should lead to a more stable and predictable corporate governance environment with reduced litigation risks for directors and officers.
• EFFECTIVE: May 14, 2025

89th Session at a Glance

The 89th regular session of the Texas Legislature adjourned sine die on June 2, 2025, after 140 days marked by new leadership in the Texas House, procedural changes, and a record-setting workload.

Looking Ahead

The first-called special session convened July 21, 2025 and ended August 15, 2025. The legislature was tasked with addressing 18 items, including flood warning systems, disaster recovery funding, property tax relief, education reform, public safety, congressional redistricting, and other statewide priorities. Due to a lack of quorum towards the end of the session, no bills were passed. Immediately after the first special session concluded, Governor Abbott issued a proclamation calling the legislature back for a second special session to run for 30 days starting August 15, 2025 in an attempt to address the same measures set forth during the first special session.

TRB’s Economic Development & Public Funds team remains engaged in these discussions to ensure the voices of our customers, communities, and public sector partners are represented at the state level.

About TRB Economic Development & Public Funds

TRB Economic Development & Public Funds, a division of TRB, serves as a bridge between the public and private sectors, working with local governments and other entities to align community goals with business priorities. During the 89th session, the team:

• Tracked more than 250 bills tied to banking, economic development, and public policy.
• Provided expert testimony on measures affecting local governments and businesses.
• Met with lawmakers to help ensure legislative outcomes support economic vitality and quality of life across Texas.

This ongoing work reflects TRB’s commitment to supporting the long-term success of Texas communities and the people we serve.