Recent Texas regulations affecting small businesses

Texas Department of Public Safety updates controlled substance evidence handling rules to classify vape pens as excess quantities due to fire hazards, permit electronic court records for destruction authorization, and streamline inventory procedures.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department permits qualified landowners to contract helicopter removal of invasive aoudad sheep under department permits while prohibiting sport hunting from aircraft.

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation establishes updated standards for driver education programs under Senate Bill 1366, affecting education providers and content delivery requirements.

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles requires motor carriers to submit electronic registration applications with USDOT numbers, owner/operator data, vehicle details, insurance proof, and drug-testing certifications; effective May 1, 2026.

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs aligns contractor protest procedures with Texas Comptroller rules to standardize processes across state agencies.

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles establishes criminal history evaluation procedures for motor vehicle, salvage vehicle, and trailer industry license applicants and existing licensees.

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles amends salvage vehicle dealer licensing to expedite processing for military service members, veterans, and military spouses through provisional licenses and streamlined applications.

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles proposes repealing three rules governing motor vehicle dealer licensing procedures and violation findings under 43 TAC.

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles repeals outdated scope provisions for dealer license plates and temporary tags under 43 TAC §215.81 as part of routine rule consolidation.

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles updates criminal history standards for motor vehicle dealer and salvage dealer licensing under 43 TAC §211.1 and §211.2.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board establishes a Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program enabling junior college students to transfer seamlessly to universities for mental health careers, addressing professional shortages with no fiscal imp…

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department repeals the rule governing refusal of permit issuance and renewal for wildlife rehabilitation permits, eliminating the associated review process.

Texas Department of Agriculture corrects its financial assistance rules by restoring Section 28.2 definitions for Texas Agricultural Finance Authority loan programs serving eligible agricultural businesses.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission licensing rule defines factors for determining when a person or facility poses an immediate threat to child safety, including offense severity, injury seriousness, compliance history, and role in operations.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission repeals background check definitions from child care licensing rules to eliminate regulatory duplication.