Every August, Texans search for the new laws taking effect September 1. Last year that search returned more than 830 of them.
This year it returns fourteen, because the Texas Legislature meets in regular session only in odd-numbered years.
The 89th Legislature finished its work in 2025, and the 90th does not convene until January 12, 2027, though the Governor may call a special session before then and set its agenda. Everything taking effect September 1, 2026 is a law passed last year with a delayed start date. For businesses navigating these changes, an Arlington, TX business lawyer can help explain how new Texas laws may affect their operations and legal responsibilities.
The fourteen come first below, then the January changes that reached far more Texans.
What takes effect in Texas on September 1, 2026
You get a better shot at fixing your own electronics. Under House Bill 2963, manufacturers of most digital electronic equipment sold in Texas must make repair documentation, replacement parts, and tools available to independent repair shops and to owners, on terms comparable to what their authorized shops receive, within one year after the equipment is first sold in the state. Documentation has to be free. Thirteen categories are excluded, among them cars, medical devices, farm and heavy equipment, large home appliances, and game consoles.
Anyone selling you rooftop solar has to be registered. Under Senate Bill 1036, residential solar salespeople and the companies that employ them must register with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The same day, the agency gains authority to impose administrative penalties, order a company to stop, and cancel your agreement with a refund, and a prohibited practices list takes effect covering things like falsely claiming an affiliation with your utility or a government agency. Civil penalties rise where a court finds a buyer over 65 was harmed. The five business day right to cancel a residential solar contract has been in place since last September.
Cities have to make room for manufactured homes. Under Senate Bill 785, a city with zoning must allow new HUD-code manufactured homes by right in at least one residential district and cannot require a special use permit where it does not require one for other homes in that same class. If the city does not deny an application in writing with a stated reason within 45 days, it is approved.
Gold and silver become legal tender. Under House Bill 1056, specie with proper weight and purity markings is legal tender in Texas. No one can be required to offer or accept it, and it changes nothing about Federal Reserve notes. The state’s payment system for it does not exist until May 2027.
Seven new district courts open: the 490th in Brazoria County, the 492nd serving Colorado and Lavaca Counties, the 511th in Comal County, the 513th, 514th and 515th in Harris County, and the 523rd in Montgomery County.
The rest of the fourteen are narrower. They cover public school finance and accountability, special education funding, compensation for distributed renewable generation owners outside ERCOT, a single unified 53-county statutory definition of the Texas-Mexico border region, continuing education for Comptroller binding-arbitration arbitrators, a cap on volunteer firefighter compensation, veterinary facility registration, and the abolition of the Family and Protective Services Council.
What changed in January 2026 that affects more people
Evictions now move much faster. Senate Bill 38 rewrote Texas eviction procedure for petitions filed on or after January 1, 2026. Trial is now set not earlier than the tenth day and not later than the twenty-first day after the petition is filed, and no earlier than the fourth day after the tenant is served. There is a new summary disposition procedure in justice court where the occupant has until the fourth day after service to respond, and a response raising genuinely disputed facts sends the case to trial. And if you lose a residential eviction and want to appeal, you now have to pay rent into the justice court registry: one rental pay period’s rent, set by the court at the greater of $250 or fair market rent, not later than the fifth day after you file the appeal, then each period as it comes due. Tenants miss that one. It is not limited to nonpayment cases. If you appeal without depositing, the landlord can pursue a writ of possession even though your appeal is pending.
Insurance companies have to tell you why. House Bill 2067 took effect January 1, 2026 and applies to applications made and policies delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after that date. If an insurer declines your application, cancels your policy, or refuses to renew it, it must give you a written statement of reasons without you having to ask. Insurers also report those reasons to the Texas Department of Insurance at least quarterly, organized by the ZIP code of the applicant or policyholder, and the department publishes an aggregated summary. Workers’ compensation reports are statewide rather than ZIP-based.
App stores now verify ages. Senate Bill 2420 requires app stores to verify age, place users in age categories, link a minor’s account to a parent or guardian account, and obtain parental consent for each download and in-app purchase. A federal judge blocked enforcement in December 2025. The Fifth Circuit entered a temporary administrative stay on May 28, 2026 and stayed the injunction pending appeal on June 4, 2026, and the United States Supreme Court declined to vacate that stay on July 6, 2026. As of August 27, 2026 the law is in effect and enforceable, but the constitutional challenge is still pending in the Fifth Circuit, so this one may change again.
Texas regulates artificial intelligence. House Bill 149 took effect January 1, 2026. It prohibits AI systems developed or deployed with the intent to incite or encourage a person to commit physical self-harm, to harm another person, or to engage in criminal activity. It bars developing or distributing an AI system with the sole intent of producing unlawful sexual deepfakes or child sexual abuse material. And it bars governmental entities from AI social scoring. The Attorney General enforces it exclusively. There is no private lawsuit under it, and there is a 60-day cure period.
One thing to watch for online
You will find pages this month listing new Texas laws for September 1, 2026 that are recycling 2025 laws, or in a few cases 2021 laws, under a 2026 headline. If a page tells you that a major tort reform or trucking litigation bill passed in 2025, it is wrong. Those bills died in the Legislature.
The Legislature returns January 12, 2027. The fourteen bills above are the whole of it until then.
If any of this touches a matter you are dealing with right now, we are glad to talk it through. Call (817) 841-9906 or request a consultation at brandyaustinlaw.com/contact/.
Frequently asked questions
How many new Texas laws take effect September 1, 2026?
Fourteen. That compares with more than 830 on September 1, 2025. The Texas Legislature meets in regular session only in odd-numbered years, so every law taking effect September 1, 2026 was passed in 2025 with a delayed start date.
Why are there so few new Texas laws in 2026?
Because there was no regular legislative session. Under Government Code section 301.001, the Legislature convenes in regular session at noon on the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year. The Governor may call a special session at any time, but no regular session occurred in 2026.
When does the Texas Legislature meet next?
The 90th Texas Legislature convenes January 12, 2027.
Do I have to pay rent to appeal an eviction in Texas?
In a residential eviction, yes. Since January 1, 2026, a tenant appealing a residential eviction judgment must pay one rental pay period’s rent into the justice court registry, set by the court at the greater of $250 or fair market rent, not later than the fifth day after filing the appeal, and each period thereafter. It is not limited to nonpayment cases, and missing it lets the landlord pursue a writ of possession while the appeal is pending.
Does a Texas insurer have to tell me why it denied my policy?
Yes, and you no longer have to ask. Since January 1, 2026, House Bill 2067 requires an insurer to provide a written statement of reasons for a declination, cancellation, or nonrenewal without a request, and to report those reasons to the Texas Department of Insurance at least quarterly by ZIP code.
Is the Texas app store age verification law in effect?
Yes, as of August 27, 2026. Senate Bill 2420 was blocked in December 2025, but the Fifth Circuit stayed that injunction pending appeal on June 4, 2026, and the United States Supreme Court declined to vacate the stay on July 6, 2026. The constitutional challenge remains pending on the merits.
Does Texas have an artificial intelligence law?
Yes. House Bill 149 took effect January 1, 2026 and added Chapter 552 to the Business and Commerce Code. It is enforced exclusively by the Attorney General, provides no private right of action, and includes a 60-day cure period.
If a recent change in Texas law affects you, your family, your property, or another important legal matter, understanding how the law applies to your circumstances can help you make informed decisions about what to do next. Brandy Austin Law Firm can review your situation, explain the legal issues that may be relevant to your matter, and help you understand the options available to you. Whether you are dealing with an eviction, an insurance dispute, a business or consumer issue, or another legal concern, obtaining guidance early can help you better understand your rights and responsibilities. Contact the firm to discuss your circumstances and determine what steps may be appropriate for your situation.