The new rules aiming to prevent local police department defunding will be posted to the Texas Register later this month.
Here are some of the new laws that take effect on New Year's Day, from light property tax reform to elections for police defunding.
A total of 666 bills take effect Wednesday, September 1 after receiving the approval of the state legislature and Governor Greg Abbott.
If validated, Save Austin Now will have two successful petition efforts under its belt in less than a year.
The 87th Legislative Session featured another episode in a long conflict between the conservative state government and its progressive capital city.
The group aims to collect 50,000 signatures in 50 days to land the petition on the November 2021 ballot.
This week — property rights at center of Texas House exchange, 10 Democrats vote for police "defunding" punishment, Abbott warns of border security cost.
Under the bill, cities that are deemed to have "defunded" their police could have their property taxes frozen or revisit their previous annexation.
State legislators are now looking to establish recourse against the City of Austin and other cities that cut police funding for its actions last summer.
Governor Abbott laid out five emergency items for the legislature to tackle this legislative session.
