A new bill authored by State Rep. Garcia Hernandez seeks to enhance cooperation among states on border security through shared resources and law enforcement collaboration, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Health, State Finances, and Utilities category, introduced as HB 176 during the 89(1) legislative session on Tuesday, July 22, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to a grant program to assist nonprofit organizations in the provision of emergency communications services in this state’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends Chapter 794 of the Texas Government Code to specify provisions required in an interstate compact on border security. It introduces a definition for the term “illegal alien” and mandates that the compact facilitate joint actions among member states. These actions include sharing law enforcement intelligence and state resources to build physical or technological barriers on state land bordering Mexico, enhancing law enforcement collaboration to protect personnel and property, and striving for operational control of the Texas-Mexico border. It also emphasizes enforcing federal immigration laws and supporting essential resources to fulfill these objectives. The bill’s changes apply to compacts entered into on or after its effective date, which is immediate upon securing necessary legislative approvals or Sept. 1, 2025, if not.
Cassandra Garcia Hernandez, the vice chair of the House Committee on S/C on State-Federal Relations, proposed one other bill during the 89(1) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations – S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII, and a member of the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(1) | HB 167 | 07/22/2025 | Relating to the use of artificial intelligence to score constructed responses on assessment instruments administered to public school students |
| 89(R) | HB 5134 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to eligibility to request a deposition before bringing a civil action |
| 89(R) | HB 4659 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to use certain tax revenue for hotel and convention center projects |
| 89(R) | HB 4636 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the collection and disclosure of a consumer’s driving and precise geolocation data |
| 89(R) | HB 4635 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to disclosure of the use of artificial intelligence in the denial of insurance claims |
| 89(R) | HB 4398 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to municipal permitting requirements for certain development projects supported with low income housing tax credit allocations |
| 89(R) | HB 3358 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to the definition of an emergency service provider for purposes of critical incident stress management and crisis response services |
| 89(R) | HB 3195 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to resident safety from criminal activity in senior retirement communities |
| 89(R) | HB 3194 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the grounds for denial of a license or disciplinary action by the Texas Board of Nursing |
| 89(R) | HB 2753 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to unlawful employment practices based on sexual harassment, including complaints and civil actions arising from those practices |
| 89(R) | HB 2627 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to the development and implementation of the Live Well Texas program and the expansion of Medicaid eligibility to provide health benefit coverage to certain individuals; imposing penalties |
| 89(R) | HB 2413 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to the authority of a county to dispose of sensitive media devices |
| 89(R) | HB 2150 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to telephone access for certain health benefit plan verifications and preauthorization requests and for utilization review requests |
| 89(R) | HB 2119 | 01/27/2025 | Relating to preauthorization of certain benefits by certain health benefit plan issuers |
| 89(R) | HB 981 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to access to certain litigation, law enforcement, corrections, and prosecutorial records under the public information law |
| 89(R) | HB 969 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the applicability of the open meetings law and the public information law to the Texas Energy Reliability Council and to independent organizations established to manage power regions |
| 89(R) | HB 965 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to exceptions to and the repeal of certain laws prohibiting abortion |
| 89(R) | HB 956 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the reporting of certain orders and convictions to the Department of Public Safety and Federal Bureau of Investigation for use with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for the transfer of firearms |
| 89(R) | HB 946 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to prohibiting oral releases for automobile insurance claims |
| 89(R) | HB 923 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel |
| 89(R) | HB 884 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the municipal sales and use tax for street maintenance |
| 89(R) | HB 854 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to payment of the replacement cost of lost or damaged property under a homeowner’s, renter’s, or condominium owner’s insurance policy |
