Rep. Maria Luisa Flores introduced HB 5234, a bill on City Government, County Government, and Family, to the Texas House on Friday, March 14 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 an exception from requirements to assist or cooperate with federal immigration officers for matters regarding activities that occur at a domestic violence shelter’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
This bill amends Section 752.053(c) of the Government Code to allow local entities and campus police departments to prohibit their employees or those under their control from assisting or cooperating with federal immigration officers in cases concerning activities at domestic violence shelters, in addition to places of worship. This adjustment aims to create a legally permissible zone of confidentiality and protection within such sensitive locations. The bill will take immediate effect if it secures a two-thirds majority vote from all elected members of each house. Otherwise, it will become effective on Sept. 1, 2025.
Maria Luisa Flores, the vice chair of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism, proposed another 27 bills during the 89(R) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence.
Flores graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1977 with a BA and again in 1980 from University of Texas Law School with a JD.
Maria Luisa Flores is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state’s 51st House district. She replaced previous state representative Eddie Rodriguez in 2023.
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 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 |
| HB 5237 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to wrongful death actions arising from the death of an unborn child resulting from an abortion |
| HB 4894 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the boundaries of, and validating certain acts and proceedings of, the Creedmoor Municipal Utility District |
| HB 4819 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to a refundable adoption fee for the sterilization of dogs and cats; authorizing a fee |
| HB 4777 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to liability for the loss, injury, or death of a domestic animal |
| 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 |
| HB 4775 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to an application for a warrant to seize a cruelly treated animal |
| 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 |
| HB 4089 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the regulation and operation of electric bicycles |
| 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 |
| HB 3885 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the transfer of public school students who are children of certain public servants |
| HB 3883 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of a Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Championship international automobile race for funding under the major events reimbursement program |
| HB 3566 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to the frequency of county bail bond board meetings |
| HB 1701 | 12/20/2024 | Relating to the administration and enforcement of a county fire code |
| 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 |
| HB 720 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to a ketamine treatment grant program for ketamine clinics serving active duty military personnel, first responders, and veterans |
| 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 |
| HB 662 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the adoption of cats and dogs previously used for research |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| HB 580 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to prohibited disqualification of and peremptory challenges to certain prospective jurors |
| HB 550 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the provision of menstrual products at public schools |
| HB 502 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the confidentiality of identifying information of victims of certain offenses |
| 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 |
| HB 392 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the provision of the reason for rejecting a voter registration application |
| HB 349 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to civil liability for removing certain individuals or animals from a motor vehicle |
| 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 |
