A new bill authored by State Rep. Charlie Geren in the Texas House seeks to establish a program for rapid DNA testing of individuals crossing the Texas-Mexico border to verify family relationships, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Crimes and Minors category, introduced as HB 256 during the 89(1) legislative session on Monday, Aug. 4, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to prohibiting the sale, delivery, or purchase of a consumable hemp product to or by a person younger than 21 years of age, the entry onto the premises of a retailer of consumable hemp products by a person younger than 21 years of age, and the employment by a retailer of consumable hemp products of a person younger than 21 years of age; creating criminal offenses’.
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.
Charlie Geren, the chair of the House Committee on House Administration, proposed no other bills during the 89(1) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on General Investigating, a member of the House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures, 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.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB 5679 | 04/15/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Hills of Walnut Creek Municipal Utility District of Parker County; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| HB 5403 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the repeal of a provision governing the operation of jail commissaries in certain counties |
| HB 5402 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to fiscal impact statements for legislation imposing mandates on health benefit plan issuers |
| HB 5263 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the accessibility of results from the state assessment |
| HB 5247 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to an alternative capital recovery process for certain utilities |
| HB 44 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician’s reasonable medical judgment |
| HB 5089 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to creation of a school district by detachment of territory from an existing school district |
| HB 5015 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to participation by certain municipal retirement systems in the proportionate retirement program |
| HB 4744 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the role of the members of the board of an appraisal district |
| HB 4742 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the ability of a school district to request an appraisal of property by the appraisal district |
| HB 4740 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the study of school district property values conducted by the comptroller of public accounts |
| HB 4739 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the elimination of the requirement that a portion of certain retail charge agreement delinquency fees be remitted to the comptroller |
| HB 4738 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the elimination of the remittance of a portion of certain loan administration fees to the comptroller |
| HB 4537 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to service retirement benefits payable by the Employees Retirement System of Texas to certain law enforcement officers and custodial officers |
| HB 4393 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to a franchise tax credit for, and the application of sales and use taxes to, certain research and development expenses |
| HB 146 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the required approval by the State Preservation Board of certain traffic changes near the State Capitol |
| HB 4284 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to an excessive discount on certain alcoholic beverages |
| HB 3969 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to disclosures by liability insurers and policyholders to third-party claimants; providing an administrative penalty |
| HB 3962 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington for funding under the major events reimbursement program |
| HB 3756 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to the powers of certain nonresident seller’s permit holders who also hold a winery permit |
| HB 3538 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to the Managed Care Consumer Choice Program |
| HB 3308 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to charitable raffles conducted by the professional sports team charitable foundations of rodeo organizations sanctioned by certain professional associations or hosting a Professional Rodeo Event at rodeo venues |
| HB 3272 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to the operation of an unmanned aircraft over a spaceport; creating a criminal offense |
| HB 3114 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the view of the State Capitol |
| HB 3077 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to reports by certain persons involved in the manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages for purposes of sales and use taxes |
| HB 3071 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality |
| HB 2766 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to the plugging of certain inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas |
| HB 2762 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the ownership of the pore space underlying the surface of land |
| HB 2512 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the release of certain areas from a municipality’s extraterritorial jurisdiction by petition or election |
| HB 2497 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the automatic expunction of arrest records and files for certain public safety employees who successfully complete a public safety employees treatment court program |
| HB 2479 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to entities that provide cable services or video services |
| HB 1287 | 11/13/2024 | Relating to the use by certain municipalities of certain tax revenue to fund convention center facilities, multipurpose arenas, venues, and related infrastructure |
| HB 1286 | 11/13/2024 | Relating to the award of attorney’s fees to a prevailing property owner in a judicial appeal of certain ad valorem tax determinations |
| HB 1285 | 11/13/2024 | Relating to inspections and examinations by the Railroad Commission of Texas of certain sites and facilities conducted using unmanned aircraft |
| HB 1284 | 11/13/2024 | Relating to the duty of an appraisal review board to determine a motion or protest filed by a property owner and the right of the owner to appeal the board’s determination |
| HB 1283 | 11/13/2024 | Relating to the punishment for the criminal offense of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence |
