As we pass the halfway point of 2025, there has already been a flurry of legislative changes and court decisions that have changed the landscape of Texas employment laws. With several of these laws already in effect, and others becoming effective on September 1, 2025, now is the time for Texas employers to become informed of these changes and take appropriate action to comply with these new developments.
Key changes include:
1 – “Ban the Box” Legislation (HB 2466)
With respect to the hiring process, effective September 1, 2025, Texas will join 37 states which prohibit employers from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal history on its job application. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has long taken the view that “banning the box” will prevent job applicants with prior convictions from being automatically excluded from job opportunities.
New guidance from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) addressed the serious issue of properly classifying workers as independent contractors vs. employees. If there is any doubt about a worker’s classification, the TWC recommends erring on the side of caution and classifying the worker as an employee. Misclassification can lead to significant penalties, including back pay and fines under both state and federal law.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced its plan to increase enforcement in Texas. Employees are experiencing more frequent OSHA inspections and...
Tribune News Editor [email protected] TWO Bahamians were indicted in separate US federal districts last week on charges linked to passport fraud and false claims of American citizenship, acc...