New Texas Laws Effective September 1, 2024

By Jaime Galvan/KHOU11

  A series of new laws went into effect on Sept. 1, including one that limited children’s access to social media. Part of House Bill 18 is now in effect. That bill is also known as the Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment Act, or SCOPE Act, which limits a minor’s access to social media platforms and protects them from seeing harmful content if they do gain access. A federal judge temporarily blocked the second half of the bill. For now, social media sites need a parent or guardian’s consent before a minor can create an account, and companies must give parents the ability to supervise a child’s use of the website.

  Other bills that are now in effect:

• Senate Bill 1841 gives survivors of dating violence access to family violence centers. It also clearly defines dating violence as someone in a dating relationship who causes physical harm, makes someone fear for their safety, or suffers emotional abuse.
• House Bill 1710 requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to notify a judge if a defendant has served 75 days.
• Senate Bill 241 cracks down on companies that make insulin, forcing transparency over generic versions of the product. Name-brand insulin manufacturers must give written notice if no generic option is available.
• House Bill 4510 changes how agencies and public colleges report financial information to the government.