Rep. Denise Villalobos introduced HB 4576, a bill on Energy, Insurance, Taxation, and Transportation, to the Texas House on Wednesday, March 12 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.
More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’relating to the operation of certain metropolitan transit authorities’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
This bill makes several amendments to laws related to certain metropolitan transit authorities in Texas where the principal municipality has a population of less than 320,000. It specifies that the exemption from taxes for compressed or liquefied natural gas does not apply if the refueling facility is accessible to non-exempt motor vehicles. The bill allows changes in fares, tolls, and other charges by such authorities to take immediate effect with board approval, except for single-ride base fare changes, which take effect on the 60th day unless disapproved by the metropolitan planning organization’s policy board. It permits the selection of a sole insurance broker for these authorities, with strict rules on remuneration and potential disciplinary actions for violations. Additionally, it outlines conditions for determining board members’ lengths of service, excluding certain service periods. The bill takes effect immediately with a two-thirds legislative vote or on Sept. 1, 2025, otherwise.
Denise Villalobos, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, proposed another 19 bills during the 89(R) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Appropriations – S/C on Articles I, IV, & V, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations – S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII, a member of the House Committee on Local & Consent Calendars, and a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Villalobos graduated from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2015 with a BA.
Denise Villalobos is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state’s 34th House district. She replaced previous state representative Abel Herrero in 2025.
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 | Author | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 4575 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the selection and retention of an insurance broker by certain metropolitan rapid transit authorities |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 4441 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the administration of topical ophthalmic medications at certain health care facilities |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 4377 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to prohibiting the retention of certain genetic material and genetic information by the Department of Family and Protective Services |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 4376 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the modification of a visitation plan for a child in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 3910 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to presumptive eligibility of certain individuals for nursing facility care under Medicaid |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 3844 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to individuals who are considered opportunity youth for purposes of administering certain federal workforce development funds |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 3724 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to the placement of a cultivated oyster in a natural oyster bed, a private oyster bed, or coastal waters |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 3628 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to the review and updating by the Texas Water Development Board of guidance principles and rules related to certain plans adopted or approved by the board |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 3416 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to prohibiting a fee for the issuance of an official transcript by a public institution of higher education |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 3161 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to member contributions to the Texas Municipal Retirement System |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 3094 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the calculation of certain ad valorem tax rates of a taxing unit for a year in which a property owner provides notice that the owner intends to appeal an order of an appraisal review board determining a protest by the owner regarding the appraisal of the owner’s property |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 3093 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the calculation of certain ad valorem tax rates of a taxing unit for a year in which a property owner provides notice that the owner intends to appeal an order of an appraisal review board determining a protest by the owner regarding the appraisal of the owner’s property |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 2877 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the definition of a project financing zone for the purposes of certain municipalities that use certain tax revenue to fund convention center facilities, multipurpose arenas, venues, and related infrastructure |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 2863 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to a hearing on the refusal to issue or the revocation or suspension of a vehicle title |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 2760 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to judicial review of a Texas Workforce Commission decision in an unemployment compensation proceeding |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 2597 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to providing for a delay in the implementation of certain changes to the assignment of performance ratings under the public school accountability system |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 2487 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to a hearing on the refusal to issue or the revocation or suspension of a vehicle title |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 2309 | 01/31/2025 | Relating to the forfeiture of certain contraband and the authority of the attorney general to bring certain forfeiture actions |
| 89(R) | Denise Villalobos | HB 2306 | 01/31/2025 | Relating to changing the eligibility for release on parole of certain inmates serving sentences for trafficking offenses involving child victims and disabled individuals |
| 88(3) | Abel Herrero | HB 24 | 10/06/2023 | Relating to the designation of a portion of Farm to Market Road 70 in Nueces County as the Los Robles Trail |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 4824 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the employment of armed commissioned security officers as school district security personnel |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 4826 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the use of certain tax-exempt compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas refueling facilities under certain circumstances |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 4844 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the use of a broker for the sale of real property by the Nueces County Hospital District |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 4886 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to sexually violent predators and the prosecution of certain offenses involving prohibited items at correctional or civil commitment facilities; creating a criminal offense |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 4931 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to requiring liability insurance for certain mixed beverage permit holders |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 4266 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to use certain tax revenue to fund convention center facilities, multipurpose arenas, venues, and related infrastructure |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 4268 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to the period during which an employee may file a claim for unpaid wages with the Texas Workforce Commission |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 4511 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to banning the use of pay-per-view in University Interscholastic athletic competitions |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 3816 | 03/07/2023 | Relating to the use of metal or body armor while committing an offense; increasing a criminal penalty |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 3817 | 03/07/2023 | Relating to a court requiring a defendant confined in a penal institution to appear by videoconference for certain pretrial proceedings |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 3818 | 03/07/2023 | Relating to financial assistance paid to survivors of certain public school employees |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 3911 | 03/07/2023 | Relating to a cost-of-living adjustment applicable to certain benefits paid by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 3236 | 03/02/2023 | Relating to the composition of the radiation advisory board |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 3260 | 03/02/2023 | Relating to the expunction of arrest records and files by a statutory county court |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 3261 | 03/02/2023 | Relating to preventing the loss of benefits by certain retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume service during a declared disaster |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 2984 | 02/28/2023 | Relating to creating the criminal offense of tampering with an electronic monitoring device |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 2640 | 02/22/2023 | Relating to health benefit coverage for bariatric surgery under the state employees group benefits program |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 2548 | 02/21/2023 | Relating to designating December 8 as Special Hearts Day |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 1991 | 02/07/2023 | Relating to the board of directors of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 1992 | 02/07/2023 | Relating to policyholder approval for certain windstorm and hail insurance rate changes |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 1332 | 01/13/2023 | Relating to the exemption of certain firefighters and police officers from jury service |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 1314 | 01/12/2023 | Relating to the establishment by toll project entities of a discount program for electronic toll collection customers |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 1315 | 01/12/2023 | Relating to the creation of the open burn pit registry fund and the issuance of specialty license plates to honor members of the United States armed forces exposed to open burn pits |
| 88(R) | Abel Herrero | HB 1278 | 01/11/2023 | Relating to eliminating certain state-required assessment instruments and certain end-of-course assessment instruments not required by federal law |
