33 New Laws Began Here on January 1

Thirty-three new Texas laws took effect on Jan. 1. Several of those will have an impact on Fayette County.

More than half of the new laws relate to taxes. Most notably, the constitutional amendment that voters passed in November to raise the homestead exemption for school taxes went into effect. The homestead exemption went from $100,000 to $140,000. A separate amendment which also went into effect Jan. 1 raised the homestead exemption on school taxes to $200,000 for those 65 and older or disabled.

The Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act also went into effect Jan. 1. This law regulates the ways in which artificial intelligence (AI) may be used in the State. For example, it bans the use of AI for generating child pornography or underage “chatbots.” It also prohibits the use of AI in violent crimes or financial crimes. U.S. President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order that threatens to cut off federal funding to states that regulate AI in a way the government deems “onerous or excessive.” The order is part of the President’s push to make America a global leader in AI technology. It remains to be seen how the Trump Administration views Texas’ new law.

Senate Bill 8, which went into effect at the start of the year, requires Texas sheriffs who operate a jail to sign agreements with federal immigration authorities. Lawmakers want local sheriff’s offices to cooperate with federal authorities on the enforcement of immigration law. The law also provides grant funding for counties to pay the costs of implementing the new law. Counties such as Fayette with a population of under 99,999 will be eligible to receive $80,000.

Fayette County has already signed an agreement with the federal immigration authorities back in November.