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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-06-20
HB2713

Regular Session

Relating to the repeal of a municipal civil service system for firefighters and police officers in certain municipalities.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

HB2713: Government Affairs Overview

Effective immediately, HB2713 prohibits municipalities with populations between 50,000 and 950,000 from holding voter-initiated elections to repeal Chapter 143 Civil Service protections. This legislation effectively locks in Civil Service status for police and fire departments in mid-to-large sized cities, removing the statutory authority for voters to unilaterally dissolve these systems via petition.

Rep. Drew Darby·House Bill·Regular Session

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20

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HB2713
Relating to the repeal of a municipal civil service system for firefighters and police officers in certain municipalities.
Low Urgency
Passed with Opposition
House Vote133 - 7
YEA
95% in favor140 voting
Senate Vote31 - 0
YEA
100% in favor31 voting
7
Total Opposition Votes
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
Municipal Governing Bodies
Primary Author: Rep. Drew Darby
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediate effect due to supermajority vote).
  • Compliance Deadline: Immediate. Any petition for repeal currently pending where an election order was not issued prior to June 20, 2025, must be rejected if the municipality’s population exceeds 50,000.
  • Agency Rulemaking: None required. This is a statutory limitation on municipal authority; however, local City Secretary protocols must be updated immediately.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Determine Official Population: Immediately document the controlling population figure for your municipality to determine if you fall within the new 50,000–950,000 prohibition zone.
  • Audit Pending Petitions: Review all active petitions. If an election order was not signed by the City Council before June 20, 2025, and the population is >50,000, declare the petition void.
  • Update Legal Guidance: Issue a memo to labor relations teams confirming that Chapter 143 status is now permanent absent legislative intervention, and adjust bargaining strategies accordingly.
  • Revise Election Protocols: Update the City Secretary’s election manual to include the HB2713 population check as the first step in the petition verification process.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Collective Bargaining/Meet & Confer: While specific contract terms do not change, the negotiation environment has shifted. Municipal legal counsel must advise negotiation teams that the "nuclear option" (threatening a repeal of Civil Service to force union concessions) is no longer legally viable in cities over 50,000. Expect entrenched positions from Police/Fire Associations regarding disciplinary procedures.

Hiring/Training

  • City Secretary/Clerk Training: Staff responsible for verifying petitions must be retrained on the new population thresholds. They must be instructed to validate the municipality's official population count *before* processing any Chapter 143 repeal petition.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Petition Logs: Maintain precise timestamps for all filings. To utilize the limited grandfather clause, a municipality must prove that an election was formally ordered (not just petitioned) prior to June 20, 2025.
  • Rejection Notices: Develop a standard form letter for rejecting repeal petitions in cities >50,000, citing HB2713 and the specific population data used to justify the rejection.

Fees & Costs

  • Litigation Risk: Budget for potential litigation regarding population definitions if your municipality is on the cusp of the 50,000 threshold.
  • Insurance: Verify Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) covers the mandatory arbitration and appeal processes of Chapter 143, as the ability to revert to at-will employment is now statutorily barred.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • Definition of "Population": The statute relies on the term "population" without explicitly mandating the use of the most recent Federal Decennial Census versus current municipal estimates. For fast-growing cities currently hovering near the 50,000 mark (e.g., 48,000 in 2020 but 55,000 in 2025), this creates a "gray zone." If a petition is filed, the source of population data will likely be the subject of immediate litigation.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 12, 2025
Passed House
May 13, 2025
Passed Senate
May 25, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsCity GovernmentCity Government--employees/officersFire Fighters & PoliceFire Fighters & Police--general
03

House Authors

Rep. Drew DarbyRepublican · Primary Author
Joint Authors

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Kelly HancockRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB2713

Q

What does Texas HB2713 do?

Effective immediately, HB2713 prohibits municipalities with populations between 50,000 and 950,000 from holding voter-initiated elections to repeal Chapter 143 Civil Service protections. This legislation effectively locks in Civil Service status for police and fire departments in mid-to-large sized cities, removing the statutory authority for voters to unilaterally dissolve these systems via petition.

Q

Who authored HB2713?

HB2713 was authored by Texas Representative Drew Darby during the Regular Session.

Q

When was HB2713 signed into law?

HB2713 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce HB2713?

HB2713 is enforced by Municipal Governing Bodies (City Councils).

Q

How significant are the changes in HB2713?

The regulatory priority for HB2713 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of HB2713?

The cost impact of HB2713 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does HB2713 address?

HB2713 addresses topics including city government, city government--employees/officers, fire fighters & police and fire fighters & police--general.

Q

What are the key dates for HB2713?

Key dates for HB2713: Effective date is 2025-06-20. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

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JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026