S.B. No. 243 amends the Government Code to strengthen the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities in Texas, particularly by revising the civil penalties for violations. The bill establishes a new penalty structure, imposing a civil penalty of no less than $50 for each person occupying a facility in violation, replacing the previous penalty of $200 for each day the violation occurred. It also broadens the scope of who can initiate actions to collect these penalties, allowing not only the department and county attorneys but also the attorney general and migrant agricultural workers under certain conditions to take action.

Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions regarding the complaint process, remediation requirements, and protections against retaliation for those reporting violations. It mandates timely remediation of complaints by facility operators and includes provisions for inspections to ensure compliance. The legislation emphasizes outreach and education for both migrant workers and facility operators about their rights and responsibilities. Furthermore, it requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to provide multilingual information in areas with a high prevalence of migrant labor housing and to conduct research to identify housing needs. The bill sets a timeline for implementation, with rules to be adopted by March 1, 2026, and specifies that the amendments apply only to violations occurring on or after the effective date of September 1, 2025.

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