Full story
Sept. 1 Texas law changes
New Texas laws took effect Tuesday and on Sept. 1, including measures affecting electronics repairs, special education funding, the use of gold and silver for purchases, and tighter oversight of solar companies.
“Several new Texas laws take effect Sept. 1”
JAM Broadcasting said House Bill 2963, the right-to-repair bill, requires electronics manufacturers to make certain parts, tools and repair manuals available to independent repair shops and consumers, while excluding medical equipment and video game systems.
JAM Broadcasting also said Senate Bill 568 shifts special education funding from a system based on the total number of qualifying students to one based on the intensity of services a student receives during the school year, and adds stricter reporting requirements.
The same JAM Broadcasting summary said Senate Bill 1036 requires solar companies and salespeople to register with the state, carry insurance, use licensed contractors for installations, obtain required permits and utility approvals, and comply with consumer protection and lending laws with penalties for noncompliance.
Right to repair and limits
Secret Houston described HB 2963 as a right-to-repair law under which manufacturers of covered consumer electronic equipment must make repair parts, tools, and documentation available on fair and reasonable terms to owners and independent repair providers.
Secret Houston said the coverage applies to newer devices with a wholesale price of at least $50 such as laptops, phones, tables, and/or other covered small electronics sold in Texas from September 1, 2026.
Secret Houston also said the law is limited and does not cover video-game consoles, medical devices, farm equipment, home appliances, industrial equipment, nor aerospace equipment.
The Facts said a new state law that took effect Tuesday provides more consumer protections in the sale and installation of residential solar panels, describing it as the beginning of September when new laws just went into effect in Texas.
Gold, silver, and solar oversight
House Bill 1056, as described by The Times of India, recognizes qualifying privately produced gold and silver specie as legal tender in Texas beginning Sept. 1, with the metal marked with its weight and purity and not bearing markings suggesting government issuance.
“recognizes qualifying privately produced gold and silver specie as legal tender in Texas beginning Sept. 1”
The Times of India also said no person, business or government agency will be required to accept it, and that the electronic-payment component does not begin Sept. 1 while provisions authorizing systems backed by bullion held in the Texas Bullion Depository take effect May 1, 2027.
Secret Houston added that the optional electronic payment system backed by bullion in the Texas Bullion Depository may be authorized beginning May 1, 2027, and described it as allowing depositors to use account balances representing stored gold or silver bullion for purchases.
For solar, Secret Houston said residential solar retailers and their sales affiliates must register with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, must carry insurance and supervise their sales personnel, and regulators can seek penalties, cancel contracts, and receive refunds with potentially higher consequences when the affected customer is 65 years or older.