A new bill authored by State Rep. Maria Luisa Flores in the Texas House seeks to implement comprehensive heat illness prevention measures for employers across Texas, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Health, Labor, and State Agencies, Boards & Commissions category, introduced as HB 91 during the 89(1) legislative session on Monday, July 14, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to workplace heat illness prevention, including the creation of a heat illness prevention advisory board; imposing administrative penalties’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill, known as the Antelmo Ramirez Heat Safety Act, mandates workplace heat illness prevention standards across Texas for all employers. It establishes a heat illness prevention advisory board to assist the Texas Workforce Commission in adopting such standards. The bill requires employers to provide drinking water, access to shade or climate-controlled environments, rest periods, and effective emergency response procedures, in line with standards from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as of Jan. 1, 2025. Employers must train employees on these standards in a language they understand and post notices of these regulations at their worksites. The commission will enforce compliance, imposing penalties of at least $1,000 per violation. The act defines unlawful employment practices to protect employees from retaliation related to heat illness incidents. Key compliance deadlines include the appointment of advisory board members by Jan. 1, 2026, and the adoption of prevention standards and notices by June 1, 2026, after which employers must comply. The effective date is contingent on legislative approval or will default to 91 days after session adjournment if the requisite support is not obtained.
Maria Luisa Flores, the vice chair of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism, proposed another 31 bills during the 89(1) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence.
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(1) | HB 80 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to the provision of the reason for rejecting a voter registration application |
| 89(1) | HB 77 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to civil liability for removing certain individuals or animals from a motor vehicle |
| 89(R) | HB 5650 | 03/19/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 40; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 89(R) | HB 5259 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to a wildlife corridor action plan developed by the Parks and Wildlife Department and certain other duties of the department relating to wildlife corridors |
| 89(R) | HB 5237 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to wrongful death actions arising from the death of an unborn child resulting from an abortion |
| 89(R) | HB 5234 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to an exception from requirements to assist or cooperate with federal immigration officers for matters regarding activities that occur at a domestic violence shelter |
| 89(R) | HB 4894 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the boundaries of, and validating certain acts and proceedings of, the Creedmoor Municipal Utility District |
| 89(R) | HB 4819 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to a refundable adoption fee for the sterilization of dogs and cats; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 4777 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to liability for the loss, injury, or death of a domestic animal |
| 89(R) | HB 4776 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to a central database containing information about persons who have been convicted of or received a grant of deferred adjudication community supervision after pleading guilty for certain offenses involving animal cruelty; creating a criminal offense |
| 89(R) | HB 4775 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to an application for a warrant to seize a cruelly treated animal |
| 89(R) | HB 4563 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to allowing a therapy or facility dog to accompany a child or a person with a disability during testimony in certain criminal cases |
| 89(R) | HB 4089 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the regulation and operation of electric bicycles |
| 89(R) | HB 3886 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain persons who qualify for a residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation during a tax year to receive the exemption in that year |
| 89(R) | HB 3885 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the transfer of public school students who are children of certain public servants |
| 89(R) | HB 3883 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of certain events for funding under the major events reimbursement program |
| 89(R) | HB 3566 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to the frequency of county bail bond board meetings |
| 89(R) | HB 1701 | 12/20/2024 | Relating to the administration and enforcement of a county fire code |
| 89(R) | HB 736 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to certain procedures for civil suits brought by local governments or certain other persons for violations of certain laws under the jurisdiction of, or rules adopted or orders or permits issued by, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality |
| 89(R) | HB 720 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to a ketamine treatment grant program for ketamine clinics serving active duty military personnel, first responders, and veterans |
| 89(R) | HB 680 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to a law enforcement agency policy regarding drug and alcohol testing of peace officers involved in certain injuries or deaths |
| 89(R) | HB 662 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the adoption of cats and dogs previously used for research |
| 89(R) | HB 635 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to authority for certain state employees to work flexible hours and to work from home or other authorized alternative work sites |
| 89(R) | HB 607 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to prohibited discrimination by health care providers based on an individual’s age, race, disability, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression |
| 89(R) | HB 580 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to prohibited disqualification of and peremptory challenges to certain prospective jurors |
| 89(R) | HB 550 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the provision of menstrual products at public schools |
| 89(R) | HB 502 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the confidentiality of identifying information of victims of certain offenses |
| 89(R) | HB 446 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to workplace heat illness prevention, including the creation of a heat illness prevention advisory board; imposing administrative penalties; providing a private cause of action |
| 89(R) | HB 392 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the provision of the reason for rejecting a voter registration application |
| 89(R) | HB 349 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to civil liability for removing certain individuals or animals from a motor vehicle |
| 89(R) | HB 266 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of all or part of the appraised value of the residence homesteads of certain individuals who are employed by the district |
