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HB 1609TEXASSession 89RState Billdead

Did Not Advance

Texas Prohibits Firing Volunteer First Responders for Disaster Absences

Original title: Relating to the prohibition of certain employment discrimination regarding an employee who is a volunteer emergency responder.

Last action · May 13, 2025: Placed on General State CalendarSponsor: VanDeaver

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Official description

Relating to the prohibition of certain employment discrimination regarding an employee who is a volunteer emergency responder.

Why it matters

Gives volunteer emergency workers legal protection against job loss during s while capping unapproved disaster leave at 14 days per calendar year.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Volunteer emergency responders

Volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services volunteers gain job protection against termination or suspension when responding to declared disasters, subject to a 14-day annual cap.

Directly affected

Employers with 20 or more employees

Employers are prohibited from firing or penalizing volunteer responder employees for disaster-related absences and may adjust wages or require use of leave time.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which employers must follow these new rules?

The bill applies to any employer who employs 20 or more employees, which includes the state and s such as counties and municipalities.

Is there a limit on how many days a volunteer responder can be absent?

Yes. An employee is not entitled to be absent from employment for more than 14 days in a calendar year for disaster response unless the employer approves additional time.

Can an employer reduce my pay if I miss work to respond to a disaster?

Yes, an employer may reduce wages owed for any pay period due to time taken off, or alternatively require you to use existing vacation, personal, or compensatory leave time.

What remedies does an employee have if they are fired for responding to a disaster?

The employee can bring a civil action within one year in the county where the employment is located to seek reinstatement, lost wages, and restoration of lost fringe benefits and seniority rights.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · on the House floor.

Procedural history

17 actions

May 13, 2025House
Placed on General State Calendar
May 11, 2025House
Considered in Calendars
May 10, 2025House
Committee report sent to Calendars
May 9, 2025House
Committee report distributed
May 9, 2025House
Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 2, 2025HouseCommittee
Reported favorably as substituted

Show 11 earlier actions

May 2, 2025House
Committee substitute considered in committee
May 2, 2025House
Considered in formal meeting
May 2, 2025House
Recalled from subcommittee
Apr 15, 2025House
Left pending in subcommittee
Apr 15, 2025House
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
Apr 15, 2025House
Committee substitute considered in s/c
Apr 15, 2025House
Considered by s/c in public hearing
Apr 15, 2025House
Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
Mar 12, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to s/c on Workforce by Speaker
Mar 12, 2025HouseIntroduced
Read first time
Dec 13, 2024HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Button, Texas, VanDeaver

PersonButton“Substitute author of C.S.H.B. No. 1609”Map →

locationTexas“State where the legislation applies”Map →

PersonVanDeaver“Author of H.B. No. 1609”Map →

Sources

Open source document

capitol.texas.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
Controversy25
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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