Several new Texas laws will take effect in the upcoming year and will be effective on Jan. 1, 2026.
The Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA), which creates a regulatory framework for AI and prohibits its use for certain purposes.
Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA) will establish a regulatory framework for artificial intelligence systems, including oversight mechanisms and ethical standards.
The law will prohibits AI systems that are used for behavioral manipulation, discrimination, or creating unlawful deepfakes and prohibits discriminatory AI practices by employers.
Senate Bill 8 will require sheriffs in counties with jails to formally cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on certain immigration enforcement actions. The law basically forces counties that run or contract out operations of a jail to participate in an ICE program called 287(g), named for a section in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.
The program allows them to delegate some immigration duties all the way down to local officers, and according to ICE, the program 'enhances the safety and security of our nation’s communities by allowing ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and remove criminal aliens who are amenable to removal from the U.S.'
Senate Bill 38 speeds up the eviction process for squatters by establishing a sworn complaint process whereby property owners can file a sworn complaint with law enforcement about squatters. The complaint requires the owner to attest to the truthfulness of the claims, and once filed, it gives law enforcement the authority to take action.
The law will also require courts to hold trials for these cases within 21 days of the complaint being filed. This is intended to prevent the long delays property owners previously faced and is designed to close loopholes that made it difficult to remove unauthorized occupants from a property. Additionally it is intended to address concerns that squatters can damage or neglect property, and to provide owners with clearer legal tools to remove them House Bill 2844 addresses certain provisions related to the regulation of child welfare, including licensing and family homes, will become effective.