Maddy summaryHB 33, titled the "Uvalde Strong Act," requires Texas public and charter schools to comply with additional safety and operational requirements related to active shooter incidents and emergencies. It amends the Education Code to mandate adherence to existing rules covering student data systems, criminal background checks, discipline practices, health/safety protocols, bullying prevention, and staff reporting obligations. The bill directly affects all public and charter schools by expanding their compliance obligations under current safety frameworks. It does not create new rules but requires schools to follow more existing provisions related to emergency preparedness and student safety. The law took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 1433 clarifies the Texas Attorney General's authority to claim "legislative privilege" (protection from disclosing certain communications) when defending state laws in court challenges to their constitutionality. It requires the Attorney General to provide evidence of representing the state or agency within 30 days of asserting this privilege, establishing their authority to do so. The bill directly affects the Attorney General's office and state agencies by defining their process for invoking this legal protection during constitutional challenges. It does not change substantive law but streamlines how privilege claims are handled in court proceedings.
Maddy summarySCR 9 is a symbolic resolution passed by the Texas Legislature urging Congress to propose a constitutional amendment to permanently fix the U.S. Supreme Court's size at nine justices. It does not create new law or affect any specific group; instead, it requests Congress formally propose an amendment stating "The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine justices." The resolution directs Texas officials to send copies to federal leaders and Texas' congressional delegation, asking them to enter it into the Congressional Record as a formal request. As a concurrent resolution, it has no legal effect but expresses Texas' position on preserving the Court's current structure.
Maddy summarySB 1212 amends Texas Penal Code Section 20A.02 to expand the definition of human trafficking offenses and increase criminal penalties. The bill specifically targets traffickers who force victims into labor, services, or prohibited activities (like prostitution or sexual assault), with enhanced provisions for cases involving children or disabled individuals regardless of the trafficker's knowledge of the victim's status. It increases penalties for trafficking that results in sexual conduct or exploitation, including new provisions addressing online promotion of prostitution. This law directly affects individuals convicted of trafficking offenses, particularly those involving vulnerable populations, and became effective September 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 67 in Dallas and Ellis Counties - between U.S. Highway 287 and Interstate 20 - as the "Eddie Bernice Johnson Memorial Highway." It requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at each end of the highway and at intermediate sites along the route, in addition to any existing designations. The bill has no policy or operational changes beyond this ceremonial naming, which honors the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. It became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 4490 exempts next of kin information for deceased persons from mandatory public disclosure under Texas Government Code Chapter 552 (the public information act). This directly affects government agencies and officials who handle public records requests, preventing them from routinely releasing next of kin details. The bill creates an exception to disclosure requirements while still allowing information to be shared via subpoena or other legal authority. The exemption applies to requests received on or after the bill's effective date (June 20, 2025), with prior requests governed by previous law.
Maddy summaryHB 4850 creates new economic development structures within the Office of the Governor. It establishes an aerospace and aviation advisory committee to attract jobs and investment, a Business and Community Economic Development Clearinghouse to assist businesses, and a semiconductor consortium to advance research, manufacturing, and workforce training. The bill repeals the governor's broadband development council (as referenced in the title) and requires the Office of the Governor to hire an executive director for these new initiatives. These changes directly affect the governor's office, businesses seeking economic support, and the semiconductor industry through new advisory bodies and services. The law took effect September 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 2 amends Texas education law to change how public school districts and charter schools compensate teachers. It requires schools to implement performance-based pay systems where teacher salaries differentiate based on appraisals, prohibits routine across-the-board raises, and mandates that all teachers be eligible for designations like "master" or "exemplary" based on evaluations. The bill also establishes criteria for districts to qualify for enhanced teacher incentive funding, including strategic evaluation systems for principals and placing highly effective teachers at high-need campuses. This directly affects school districts, charter schools, and classroom teachers by restructuring compensation and evaluation practices.
Maddy summarySB 23 increases the school district homestead tax exemption for elderly (65+) or disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000 of their home's appraised value. This directly affects eligible homeowners who qualify for the exemption and school districts that may lose local tax revenue due to the change. The bill requires the state to provide additional aid to school districts to offset revenue losses from the higher exemption, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The state aid calculation compares current revenue to what would have been collected under the previous exemption amount. The bill was signed into law on June 16, 2025, and is now effective.
Maddy summarySB 40 prohibits local governments (like cities or counties) from using public funds to pay bail bonds through nonprofit organizations that accept public donations. It directly affects local governments and nonprofits handling bail payments, banning the use of taxpayer money for this purpose. The bill allows taxpayers or residents to seek court orders to stop such spending and recover legal fees if they win a lawsuit. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.