A new bill authored by State Rep. Rafael Anchia in the Texas House seeks to create a rapid DNA testing program to verify family relationships among individuals crossing the Texas-Mexico border, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Environment category, introduced as HB 256 during the 89(2) legislative session on Tuesday, Aug. 19, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to the development of a severe weather adaptation plan by certain entities’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates the Texas Department of Public Safety to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in establishing a program for rapid DNA testing of individuals crossing the Texas-Mexico border. The program targets individuals detained or arrested by Homeland Security, specifically those suspected of misrepresenting family relationships. DNA profiles are obtained via buccal swabs and processed without human intervention. The bill requires the destruction of biological samples post testing and prohibits the maintenance of a DNA database. The agreement must align with these stipulations, and the act is set to take effect Sept. 1, 2025.
Rafael Anchia, the chair of the House Committee on S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband, proposed one other bill during the 89(2) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on Environmental Regulation and a member of the House Committee on State Affairs.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(2) | HB 19 | 08/19/2025 | Relating to real property theft and real property fraud; establishing recording requirements for certain documents concerning real property; creating the criminal offenses of real property theft and real property fraud and establishing a statute of limitations, restitution, and certain procedures with respect to those offenses |
| 89(R) | HB 5683 | 04/22/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Cedar Springs Improvement District; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 89(R) | HB 5604 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the access by a certificated provider to the rights-of-way and poles of an electric cooperative |
| 89(R) | HB 5479 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to energy efficiency goals and programs |
| 89(R) | HB 5451 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the treatment of certain residence homesteads for purposes of the Tax Increment Financing Act |
| 89(R) | HB 5399 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to certain criminal offenses concerning the unlawful transfer or purchase of certain weapons; increasing a criminal penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 5253 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the authority of a municipality to alter speed limits |
| 89(R) | HB 5200 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the evaluation and use of grid enhancing technologies and high-performance conductors |
| 89(R) | HB 5131 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the office of medical examiner in certain counties |
| 89(R) | HB 4841 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to a program administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to connect clean vehicle program applicants with certain vehicle owners to facilitate the issuance of grants or other funding for the replacement of those vehicles |
| 89(R) | HB 4837 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to employer contributions for retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume certain employment with a public school |
| 89(R) | HB 4750 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of property of certain charitable organizations that provide housing on a cooperative basis |
| 89(R) | HB 4719 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the definition of telephone call for purposes of regulating telephone solicitations |
| 89(R) | HB 4560 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to recording requirements for certain instruments concerning real property |
| 89(R) | HB 4558 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the filing or recording of documents or instruments conveying or purporting to convey an interest in real or personal property |
| 89(R) | HB 4557 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the regulation of art therapy, including the establishment of the Texas Art Therapy Board and the duties of the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council; requiring an occupational license; creating a criminal offense; imposing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 4197 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to a requirement that public schools issue student identification cards to high school students |
| 89(R) | HB 4091 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the interconnection of the ERCOT power grid to grids outside the ERCOT power region |
| 89(R) | HB 4017 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the carrying of handguns on the campuses of and certain other locations associated with institutions of higher education |
| 89(R) | HB 4016 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to prohibiting the use of electric resistance as a primary heat source in certain residential buildings |
| 89(R) | HB 3704 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to notaries public; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 3541 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to certain criminal offenses concerning the unlawful transfer or purchase of certain weapons; increasing a criminal penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 3511 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to the participation of electric vehicles in the ERCOT market |
| 89(R) | HB 3509 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to a common characteristic or use project in a public improvement district in certain municipalities |
| 89(R) | HB 3280 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to participation in a deferred retirement option plan by members of the retirement systems for police and fire fighters in certain municipalities |
| 89(R) | HB 3208 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the installation by the Texas Department of Transportation of highway signs for certain cultural attractions |
| 89(R) | HB 3177 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the office of inspector general in certain municipalities and the investigators of those offices |
| 89(R) | HB 3097 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain political subdivisions to change the date of their general elections |
| 89(R) | HB 3065 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the disposition of a firearm surrendered through a firearm buyback program administered by certain local law enforcement agencies |
| 89(R) | HB 2937 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the areas of operation of housing finance corporations |
| 89(R) | HB 2896 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to insurance coverage for the disposition of embryonic and fetal tissue remains |
| 89(R) | HB 2891 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the imposition of administrative, civil, and criminal penalties for violating certain statutes under the jurisdiction of, rules or orders adopted by, or licenses, permits, or certificates issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas; increasing criminal penalties |
| 89(R) | HB 2854 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the required approval of certain hospital visits as a condition of release on parole or to mandatory supervision for certain releasees and to the hospital’s liability for damages resulting from those visits |
| 89(R) | HB 2837 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to state, local, and court involvement in determining whether victims and witnesses to an offense and certain detained, arrested, or incarcerated persons are lawfully present in the United States |
| 89(R) | HB 2836 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the minimum wage |
| 89(R) | HB 2835 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the basic allotment and guaranteed yield under the Foundation School Program, including an adjustment in those amounts to reflect inflation |
| 89(R) | HB 2769 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to prohibiting the transfer of certain semiautomatic rifles to certain recipients; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 2727 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the creation of certain criminal offenses concerning firearm sales at gun shows |
| 89(R) | HB 2722 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the denial of certain applications for a permit or other authorization under the Texas Clean Air Act on the basis of certain adverse impacts |
| 89(R) | HB 2720 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the adoption of the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote |
| 89(R) | HB 2719 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the name and governance of the Railroad Commission of Texas |
| 89(R) | HB 2717 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to equalizing compensation for certain wrongfully imprisoned persons |
| 89(R) | HB 2714 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the issuance and acceptance of a high school student identification card and certain other forms of identification as identification for voting |
| 89(R) | HB 2700 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the definition of holster for purposes of certain criminal offenses |
| 89(R) | HB 2698 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the representation of certain indigent applicants for a writ of habeas corpus |
| 89(R) | HB 2697 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to certain procedures in connection with a bond forfeiture |
| 89(R) | HB 2695 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the use of a social media platform in furtherance of an offense involving the delivery of a controlled substance; increasing criminal penalties |
| 89(R) | HB 2619 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to electronic voter registration |
| 89(R) | HB 2618 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to the development of a severe weather adaptation plan by certain entities |
| 89(R) | HB 2617 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to the procedures for the expunction of arrest records and files for certain persons |
