New Texas laws start Dec. 4. Changes affect ivermectin, STAAR tests, bathrooms

Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Dec 2, 2025

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More than a dozen laws passed during a special legislative session earlier this year take effect on Dec. 4, governing things like the STAAR Test and access to medications.

We break down a handful of them. Here’s what to know.

Texas Congressional Redistricting

Texas’ new congressional map (House Bill 4) officially takes effect on Dec. 4, though whether it was drawn in a way that’s racially discriminatory and whether it can be used for the 2026 midterm elections is under court review.

The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether the new congressional boundaries or old ones should be used for the election after the state appealed a lower court ruling that blocked the 2025 map from taking effect for 2026 elections. Justice Samuel Alito is temporarily allowing the new map to be used as the litigation continues.

Texans, the rest of the country and 2026 congressional prospects are watching to see which boundaries are ultimately in place for the midterms, especially since candidate filing for the March Democratic and Republican primaries closes Dec. 8.

Stay tuned!

On a related note: Most House Democrats broke quorum to try and block mid-decade congressional redistricting. Another new law, House Bill 18, limits the ability of lawmakers who break quorum to accept political contributions.

Abortion medication access

House Bill 7 allows a person to sue someone who manufactures, prescribes or distributes “abortion-inducing” drugs in a state where abortion access is already virtually banned.

There are exceptions, like for medical emergencies and a person seeking the medication for personal use. Additionally, hospitals, physician groups and internet service providers are among those who can’t be sued, and state and local governments can’t initiate the lawsuits.

A successful lawsuit could result in the person who sued being awarded at least $100,000, though in certain situations in which the person suing isn’t related to the fetus, 90% of the money would go to charity.

Replacing the STAAR Test

House Bill 8 replaces the STAAR test with three shorter exams administered at the beginning, middle and end of the school year.

Don’t expect the STAAR to go away immediately. The new testing format doesn’t start until the 2027-28 school year.

Ivermectin access

House Bill 25 lets Texans access ivermectin without a prescription. The medication has been used to treat some parasites, as well as COVID-19, but hasn’t been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for coronavirus treatment.

“The FDA has determined that currently available clinical trial data do not demonstrate that ivermectin is effective against COVID 19 in humans,” the FDA website reads.

Supporters have said the law change promotes medical freedom, but opponents have raised concerns about physicians not being involved in the treatment process, according to the House Research Organization.

Regulating bathroom use

Senate Bill 8 bars transgender Texans from using bathrooms aligning with their gender identity in government buildings.

The law says multiple-occupancy private spaces, such as bathrooms and locker rooms, in buildings owned or operated by political subdivisions and state agencies, must be designated “for use only by individuals of one sex.”

Local governments and state agencies must “take every reasonable step to ensure an individual whose sex is opposite to the sex designated for a multiple-occupancy private space ... does not enter the private space.”

Supporters say the law is needed to protect women and children in restrooms and other private spaces in public buildings, but opponents say it is unnecessary. They raise concerns about its enforceability and fear it will endanger and further marginalize transgender people, according to the House Research Organization.

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