A new bill authored by State Rep. Bucy in the Texas House seeks to prohibit political subdivisions from using public funds to pay nonprofits that accept donations for defendants’ bail bonds, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Minors category, introduced as HB 76 during the 89(1) legislative session on Monday, July 14, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to implementing an express lane option under Medicaid and the child health plan program’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill prohibits political subdivisions from using public funds to pay nonprofit organizations that accept donations to cover defendants’ bail bonds. If a political subdivision violates this restriction, taxpayers or residents can seek injunctive relief to halt the illegal activities and stop any further disbursement of public funds for this purpose. Additionally, individuals who successfully challenge such actions in court are entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. The bill is set to take effect Sept. 1, 2025.
John Bucy III, the vice chair of the House Committee on Elections and the vice chair of the House Committee on S/C on Disease Prevention & Women’s & Children’s Health, proposed another 97 bills during the 89(1) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on Local & Consent Calendars and a member of the House Committee on Public Health.
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 82 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to the use of average enrollment for purposes of the public school finance system |
| 89(1) | HB 81 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to the use of state money for high-speed rail operated by a private entity and to the construction of certain high-speed rail |
| 89(1) | HB 79 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to the notice period for certain evictions |
| 89(1) | HB 78 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the housing Texas fund to be administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs |
| 89(1) | HB 75 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to providing a cost-of-living adjustment applicable to certain benefits paid by the Employees Retirement System of Texas |
| 89(1) | HB 74 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to a pay raise for certain state employees |
| 89(1) | HB 73 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to electronic voter registration |
| 89(1) | HB 72 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to certain individuals under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act |
| 89(R) | HB 5382 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the establishment and use of a written electronic communications system accessible to the public by certain municipal entities |
| 89(R) | HB 5352 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the State Blockchain Technology Pilot Program by the Department of Information Resources |
| 89(R) | HB 5258 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to racial discrimination in voting |
| 89(R) | HB 4898 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to early voting ballots voted by mail |
| 89(R) | HB 4599 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the Health and Human Services Commission’s authority to establish and implement certain public health initiatives |
| 89(R) | HB 4594 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to qualifications and registration of certain voters convicted of a felony |
| 89(R) | HB 4309 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the filing fee for nomination by convention |
| 89(R) | HB 4165 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to protesting changes to municipal zoning regulations and boundaries |
| 89(R) | HB 4015 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to a prohibition on the required recording of certain tenant admission preferences in a land use restriction agreement for developments that receive financial assistance administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs |
| 89(R) | HB 4014 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to a study on the use of psychedelic therapies in the treatment of certain conditions |
| 89(R) | HB 38 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to improvements to the Texas Information and Referral Network |
| 89(R) | HB 3857 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to cost-of-living adjustments applicable to certain benefits paid by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and a biennial study on providing additional cost-of-living adjustments based on the effects of increased inflation |
| 89(R) | HB 3786 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to the declaration of a candidate’s ineligibility on the basis of filing an application for a place on the general primary election ballot or for nomination by convention with more than one political party |
| 89(R) | HB 3201 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the licensing and regulation of lottery couriers by the Texas Lottery Commission; requiring an occupational license; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 3116 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to authorizing an optional county fee on vehicle registration in certain counties to be used for transportation projects |
| 89(R) | HB 2975 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the regulation of the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, use, and taxation of cannabis and cannabis products and local regulation of cannabis establishments; authorizing the imposition of fees; requiring an occupational license or registration; creating a criminal offense; imposing a tax |
| 89(R) | HB 2802 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to the administration of, contributions to, and benefits under retirement systems for firefighters in certain municipalities |
| 89(R) | HB 2528 | 02/06/2025 | Relating to health benefit plan coverage of prescription drugs for opioid and substance use disorders |
| 89(R) | HB 2490 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to student access to certain academic records held by a public institution of higher education or career school or college; authorizing fees |
| 89(R) | HB 2442 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to an application for an early voting ballot by mail |
| 89(R) | HB 2441 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the delivery and direct shipment of malt beverages to ultimate consumers; creating a criminal offense |
| 89(R) | HB 2412 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain obesity medications |
| 89(R) | HB 2398 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to the governance of property owners’ associations |
| 89(R) | HB 2261 | 01/30/2025 | Relating to the hours for the sale or delivery of certain alcoholic beverages |
| 89(R) | HB 2083 | 01/24/2025 | Relating to the use of automatic license plate reader systems |
| 89(R) | HB 2082 | 01/24/2025 | Relating to ensuring access to the right to vote by all eligible voters |
| 89(R) | HB 2081 | 01/24/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the Building Better Futures Program to support educational and occupational skills training opportunities and support services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at public and private institutions of higher education |
| 89(R) | HB 2016 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the housing Texas fund to be administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs |
| 89(R) | HB 1999 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of certain persons for the supplemental nutrition assistance program and financial assistance benefits |
| 89(R) | HB 1917 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to early voting by mail by any qualified voter, the electronic transmission of a ballot to a voter voting early by mail, and the repeal of certain criminal offenses concerning the solicitation and distribution of an application to vote by mail |
| 89(R) | HB 1813 | 01/10/2025 | Relating to a parental right to information concerning a public school special education program and certain requirements for persons serving as special education representatives and hearing officers at impartial due process hearings; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 1797 | 01/09/2025 | Relating to drug testing and prescription drug policies for employees and independent contractors of state agencies and political subdivisions regarding the medical use of low-THC cannabis and hemp |
| 89(R) | HB 1796 | 01/09/2025 | Relating to the expedited credentialing of providers under the Medicaid managed care program |
| 89(R) | HB 1791 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to the duties of a prescriber issuing an opioid prescription to treat acute pain |
| 89(R) | HB 1790 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to criminal penalties and defenses to prosecution for certain drug possession and drug paraphernalia offenses |
| 89(R) | HB 1785 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of a person who is homeless to take the high school equivalency examination |
| 89(R) | HB 1784 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to measures to assist students enrolled at public institutions of higher education who are homeless or who are or were in foster care |
| 89(R) | HB 1780 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to postage for early voting ballots voted by mail |
| 89(R) | HB 1779 | 01/08/2025 | Relating to regulation of accessory dwelling units by political subdivisions |
| 89(R) | HB 1660 | 12/18/2024 | Relating to the licensing of certain education professionals as licensed specialists in school psychology |
| 89(R) | HB 1604 | 12/12/2024 | Relating to public access to criminal proceedings |
| 89(R) | HB 1569 | 12/10/2024 | Relating to the eligibility of certain children of classroom teachers for enrollment in a free prekindergarten program |
