All Roll Calls
Yes: 352 • No: 65
TexasSB 77789th Legislature Regular SessionSenate
Relating to compensation and employment condition standards by municipal charter or collective bargaining agreement and to impasse resolution in collective bargaining with certain political subdivisions.
Sponsored By: Benjamin Bumgarner, Bryan Hughes (Republican), John Lujan, Christian Manuel, Claudia Ordaz
Became Law
City Government--Employees/OfficersCounty Government--Employees/OfficersFire Fighters & Police--GeneralPolitical SubdivisionsLABOR UNIONSMEDIATION, DISPUTE RESOLUTION, & ARBITRATION
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Existing labor agreements gain legal certainty
Beginning September 1, 2025, the law validates existing dispute-resolution provisions in municipal charters, bargaining agreements, and arbitration awards. It covers negotiations already underway on that date and those started later. Its changes cannot be used to challenge agreements or awards made before September 1, 2025. Public employers meet the statutory employment-condition standards for terms set by arbitration or another dispute resolution under Subchapter E or E-1. That protection lasts for the bargaining period covered by the award or resolution.
Binding decisions for some firefighter contracts
Beginning September 1, 2025, cities with more than 950,000 but fewer than 1,050,000 people must use binding arbitration for firefighter bargaining deadlocks. Either side can request arbitration in writing; all disputed issues must be submitted within 45 days after the other side receives the request. A three-person board sets binding employment terms, considering bargaining history, comparable public-sector pay, and job hazards, qualifications, training, and morale. It also weighs local CPI-W inflation, adjusted for housing and tax costs, city revenues, existing contract obligations, and taxpayer impact. The law sets no specific pay increase or benefit amount.
Local rules guide firefighter contract disputes
Beginning September 1, 2025, cities and firefighter bargaining groups must use any dispute process provided in their charter or bargaining agreement. This applies when talks reach a deadlock or remain unsettled after the 61st day following the city lawmaking body's failure to approve a negotiated contract. Cities and firefighter groups covered by the special mandatory arbitration track are excluded. The local process overrides conflicting rules in the law's general dispute-resolution framework, Subchapter E. That framework's arbitration rules apply only if the charter or agreement says so.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Benjamin Bumgarner
House
Bryan Hughes
Republican • Senate
John Lujan
House
Christian Manuel
House
Claudia Ordaz
House
Cosponsors
Adam Hinojosa
Republican • Senate
Judith Zaffirini
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/28/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 5/24/2025
Record vote
Yes: 96 • No: 37
House vote • 5/23/2025
Record vote
Yes: 115 • No: 20
House vote • 5/23/2025
Record vote
Yes: 127 • No: 6
Senate vote • 5/9/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/9/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Intergovernmental Affairs
Yes: 8 • No: 2
Senate vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Local Government
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective on 9/1/25
6/20/2025HouseFiled without the Governor's signature
6/20/2025HouseSent to the Governor
6/1/2025HouseSigned in the House
6/1/2025HouseSigned in the Senate
5/30/2025SenateSenate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
5/29/2025HouseReported enrolled
5/28/2025SenateRecord vote
5/28/2025SenateSenate concurs in House amendment(s)
5/28/2025SenateRead
5/28/2025SenateHouse amendment(s) laid before the Senate
5/28/2025SenateHouse passage as amended reported
5/25/2025SenateStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
5/24/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#3447)
5/24/2025HousePassed
5/24/2025HouseRead 3rd time
5/24/2025HouseStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
5/23/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#3387)
5/23/2025HousePassed to 3rd reading as amended
5/23/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#3386)
5/23/2025HouseAmended (1-Lujan)
5/23/2025HouseRead 2nd time
5/23/2025HousePlaced on General State Calendar
5/22/2025HouseConsidered in Calendars
5/20/2025HouseCommittee report sent to Calendars
5/19/2025House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
Senate Committee Report
Related Bills
SB 2111, Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent defendant.
SB 1838, Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity.
SB 3, Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; requiring occupational licenses and permits; imposing fees; creating criminal offenses; authorizing an administrative penalty.
SB 2878, Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court security, court documents and arrest warrants, document delivery, juvenile boards, constitutional amendment election challenges, mandatory expunction for certain persons, record retention, and youth diversion; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing fees.
SB 646, Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.
HB 4325, Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.