Texas lawmakers narrowed a law that allowed cities and counties to temporarily raise property tax rates to pay for debris removal after disasters, as the Trump administration seeks to shift more responsibility for disaster cleanup to state and local governments.
As 2026 begins, Texans will experience a raft of new laws shaping everything from local business taxes to immigration enforcement and unemployment benefits. Federal changes will also bring tax and health-care shifts for individuals and families. These new rules — the result of the 89th Texas Legislature and the 119th U.S. Congress — took effect a week ago and will directly impact residents, employers, schools, and local governments across the state.
A wave of new Texas laws enacted during the 2025 legislative session and subsequent special sessions is dramatically reshaping public education, altering how schools are funded, how students are grouped, what can be displayed in classrooms, how achievement is measured, and how districts navigate issues of gender, religion and parental authority.
213 E. Main St.
PO Box 577
Olney, Texas 76374
Phone: (940) 564-5558
Fax: (940) 564-3992
