New Texas Laws Take Effect in December, From Redistricting to STAAR Test Replacement

In December and January, Texas will enact new education, health access, redistricting, and law enforcement laws, marking the latest wave of 2025 regular and special session legislation. Since September, 800+ laws have gone into effect.

Some major laws will take effect on Dec. 4, including a Republican-backed redistricting measure to boost congressional representation. The statute is the result of a GOP mid-decade map redrawing after former President Donald Trump asked Texas lawmakers to help obtain “five additional GOP seats in the House.” House Democrats tried to break quorum, but Republicans approved the map.

House Bill 7, passed in December, lets private citizens sue abortion drug importers in Texas. Successful lawsuits might net $100,000. The bill expands Texas' civil-enforcement abortion ban.

House Bill 8 substitutes the STAAR examination with three shorter exams in October, January, and spring, changing education policy. The change takes effect Dec. 4, but pupils will take the new tests next year.

House Bill 18 addresses quorum-breaking by allowing the House or Senate to remove a member who leaves the state for more than a week without authority. Only daily fines applied to politicians before. Democratic leave to obstruct redistricting prompted the bill's inclusion.

Health policy will make ivermectin over-the-counter on Dec. 4. Animals utilize the medicine, but people take it for parasitic diseases. Although the FDA has not approved ivermectin for virus treatment, Texas lawmakers called the development “medical freedom.”

Other regulations include Senate Bill 8, which mandates gender-specific toilets in schools and government facilities. Multiple regulation infractions might result in $125,000 fines for institutions. Senate Bill 11 shields compelled trafficking victims from prosecution, but grave offenses are exempt.

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