Recent Texas regulations affecting small businesses

Texas Commission on Fire Protection amends technical rescue standards to strengthen rope rescue technician requirements and emergency response training protocols, effective April 20, 2026.

Texas Water Development Board updates state water financing procedures for the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas, effective April 26, 2026.

Texas Water Development Board updates application procedures for state flood financial assistance programs, effective April 26, 2026.

Public Utility Commission of Texas raises the minimum transmission line length exempt from special approval to five miles for utilities connecting to load-serving substations, streamlining certification for smaller projects.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sets vehicle emissions inspection fees ranging from $11.50 to $18.50 by region with one free retest if repairs are completed within 15 days, plus discounted rates for low-income vehicle repair assistance pro…

Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors updates enforcement sanctions table citations for surveyors to reference correct statutory provisions without changing penalties or authority.

Texas Public Utility Commission allows transmission and distribution utilities to contract for up to 100 megawatts of electric energy storage capacity in ERCOT region subject to commission approval.

Texas Education Agency requires public schools to establish emergency response plans and deploy armed security for extracurricular events exceeding 500 attendees under new safety regulations in 19 TAC §103.1217.

Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors reorganizes experience reporting sections of engineering license applications to align with national standards without imposing new requirements.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality defines vehicle emissions inspection requirements and key terms for motorists in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, El Paso, and Bexar County areas.

Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors restructures engineering license application experience reporting from narrative format to a two-part Experience Summary and Professional Competency Profile system.

Texas Commission on Fire Protection updates minimum standards for rope rescue technician training and qualifications; rule effective April 20, 2026.

Texas Water Development Board updates application procedures for state implementation and revenue fund water development projects; rule effective April 26, 2026.

Texas Water Development Board updates introductory provisions in general application procedures under water development regulations; effective April 26, 2026.

DFPS amends foster care rules to allow Treatment Foster Family Care homes to exceed the two-child limit for respite care, sibling groups, and kinship placements, effective upon rule adoption.