Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed two new bills (Senate Bill 45 and House Bill 21) that increase protections for all employees who assert claims of sexual harassment under Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code (Chapter 21). Both laws will become effective on Sept. 1. With the enactment of these new laws, Texas employers can expect significant changes related to claims for sexual harassment, including a broader definition of who is considered an "employer," a heightened standard for employers to respond to internal sexual harassment complaints, and the expansion of the statute of limitations to file with the state agency.