New Texas Laws Effective in December 2025

By Gloria Way

   Dozens of new Texas laws are set to take effect in December and January impacting education, health, law enforcement and more.

Private citizens can sue abortion pill manufacturers 

House Bill 7 takes effect on Dec. 4 and will let private citizens sue corporations or people who mail abortion medication to women in Texas. The law does not allow suits against the people taking the drugs. Plaintiffs related to the fetus could collect at least $100,000 in damages; unrelated plaintiffs get 10% of damages (the rest must go to charity). Those who successfully sue could be awarded $100,000 in damages.

Replacing the STAAR test

House Bill 8 replaces the STAAR test with three shorter tests given throughout the school year. One in October, a second in January, and then the third in the spring. The bill goes into effect Dec. 4th, and students will take the new tests beginning next school year.

Penalties for lawmakers that break quorum

House Bill 18 is a bill in direct response to the Democrat effort to block congressional redistricting. The law would allow for a House or Senate member’s seat to be vacated if they leave the state for over a week during a legislative session without being excused. Before HB 18, members were merely fined $500 per day for unexcused absences. Quorum breaking is a long-practiced tactic of the minority party to attempt to prevent partisan legislation. Governor Abbott added the bill to the second Special Session upon the return of the Texas Democrats.

Buying ivermectin without a prescription  

Beginning Dec. 4, ivermectin will be available over the counter without a prescription. While ivermectin is most used for livestock and pets, humans are also prescribed the drug for parasites like scabies or head lice under a doctor’s care and prescription. Now, it will be available over the counter in drug stores. The fight over access to the drug stems from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved ivermectin for use against a virus like COVID, only for parasite treatment by prescription from a doctor. But in Texas, state lawmakers are removing that requirement. Medical freedom, as supporters describe it, goes back to the pandemic. People nationwide began searching out ivermectin before there was a vaccine, some even going to vets to get the drug. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved ivermectin for use against a virus like COVID, only for parasite treatment by prescription from a doctor. People nationwide began searching out ivermectin before there was a vaccine, some even going to vets to get the drug.

Limiting bathroom access in public buildings

Senate Bill 8 from the second special session requires individuals in schools and government buildings, like prisons and jails, to use a bathroom that coincides with their biological sex. It also prohibits those assigned male at birth from using women’s domestic violence shelters, unless they are a minor and the child of a woman receiving services there. Institutions that violate the law would face a $25,000 fine for the first violation and a $125,000 fine for each violation after.

Protections against prosecution for trafficking victims

Senate Bill 11 will protect trafficking victims from prosecution for certain crimes if they were forced or coerced by the trafficker. Those who committed serious offenses like murder, trafficking a person or child, sexual assault or burglary, would be ineligible for protection under the law.

What Changes Are About — And Who’s Affected

• Abortion-medication lawsuits: Private citizens can now sue manufacturers/distributors of abortion drugs, even if the drugs were mailed from out-of-state. That ramps up legal liability for those handling such medications.
• K-12 education & testing: The swap from STAAR to shorter, year-round assessments may change how students are tested and how schools monitor progress.
• Government accountability: HB 18 is a response to legislative walkouts — lawmakers who flee to break quorum will now face tougher penalties and political costs.
• Health & drug access: With ivermectin going OTC, more Texans will be able to buy it freely — raising public-health questions, given past controversy over its use during the pandemic.
• Local policing & contracts (Harris County): HB 26 may expand policing beyond traditional county sheriff supervision; could affect homeowner associations, school districts and municipal utilities under contracts.
• Transgender rights & public accommodations: SB 8 imposes sex-assigned-at-birth restrictions on who can use restrooms, changing rooms and shelters — a significant change affecting trans Texans.
• Support for trafficking survivors: SB 11 offers legal protections to trafficking victims who committed crimes under coercion — but does not cover perpetrators or serious offenses.

 Controversies & Criticisms

• The lawsuit mechanism around abortion drugs is criticized by opponents as turning citizens into “bounty hunters” or enabling harassment.
• The transgender-access restrictions (SB 8) are described by critics as discriminatory and dangerous for vulnerable communities.
• Some question whether replacing STAAR with multiple smaller tests will reduce stress — or simply redistribute it over the school year.
• The over-the-counter availability of ivermectin raises concerns about misuse or medical safety, especially given previous warnings from federal health agencies.

*Portions of this article are AI generated.