Sen. Charles Perry

Maddy summarySB 3 creates a state grant program to help local governments cover costs for installing outdoor warning sirens in areas identified as flood-prone due to the July 2025 Hill Country floods. The bill requires municipalities and counties to install these sirens in locations with a history of severe flooding, high residential density, or significant property damage risk, as determined by the board. The Governor's office will administer the grant program, setting eligibility rules, application processes, and monitoring requirements for funding. This law directly affects local governments in designated flood-prone areas, mandating siren systems to alert residents of imminent flood threats. The bill became effective immediately upon the Governor's signature on September 5, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1, the Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act, requires youth camps (for minors on a day care or boarding basis) to comply with new safety standards. It prohibits issuing or renewing licenses for youth camps operating cabins within floodplains, except when cabins are near still water bodies like lakes or ponds that aren't connected to streams or rivers. The law also mandates annual license renewals for camps that alter boundaries, build new cabins, or renovate existing cabins affecting bed counts or access. Additionally, it creates an online registry of all licensed youth camps for public transparency. These provisions directly affect youth camp operators and the Texas Department of Health and Safety.

Maddy summaryHB 1, the Youth CAMPER Act, requires youth camp operators to submit updated plans when altering camp boundaries, building new cabins, or renovating existing cabins that change bed counts or access points. It also mandates the state health department to establish minimum staff-to-camper ratios for overnight stays at youth camps. The bill authorizes penalties for noncompliance but does not specify penalty amounts in the provided text. This law directly affects licensed youth camps operating on a boarding or overnight basis in Texas, focusing on physical safety planning and staffing standards.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 1) honors the over 130 individuals who died in the July 2025 Texas flash flooding, specifically commemorating the tragedy that affected multiple counties including Kerr, Travis, and Williamson. It extends condolences to victims' families and directs that a copy be prepared for memorial purposes. As a commemorative resolution, it contains no policy changes, funding provisions, or legislative action - it is purely symbolic recognition of the loss of life. The resolution was adopted by the Texas Senate on September 4, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2 allows justices of the peace in counties without medical examiners to skip autopsies for deaths caused by natural disasters (like hurricanes or floods), provided they confirm: 1) the death resulted from disaster injuries, 2) no unlawful act caused it, and 3) no family member is seeking an autopsy. It requires the state to create a training program for these justices on managing mass fatality events, including autopsy decisions, body documentation, and coordinating with agencies. The law expires April 1, 2027, and directly affects local officials handling disaster-related deaths in rural counties. The bill does not impose licensing or fees, as implied in its title but not reflected in the actual text.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes Texas judicial districts and court procedures. It redesignates specific districts (like the 522nd and 173rd Judicial Districts), modifies court jurisdiction (e.g., the 274th District Court in Comal/Guadalupe/Hays counties), and specifies which clerks handle certain cases (e.g., county clerks for misdemeanor cases). It also directs the 173rd District Court to prioritize civil/family matters and the 392nd District Court to prioritize criminal cases. The changes take effect between 2026-2027 and directly affect county court operations and case management across multiple Texas counties.

Maddy summarySB 15 requires Texas law enforcement agencies to create and maintain confidential "department files" for each employee who holds a license (such as a peace officer or security officer). These files must include documents about employee conduct - like unproven misconduct allegations - that aren't in regular personnel records, and must be kept separate from those files. Agencies can share these files with the licensing commission for hiring reviews or investigations, but otherwise the files are confidential and exempt from public disclosure under Texas law. The bill applies directly to all law enforcement agencies employing licensed personnel and takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 6 regulates consumable hemp products (like edibles, vape liquids, and topicals containing hemp-derived cannabinoids such as CBD) by requiring businesses to obtain occupational licenses and registrations. It imposes fees for these licenses, creates criminal penalties for violations, and authorizes administrative fines for noncompliance. The law specifically applies to products intended for human ingestion, absorption, or inhalation, while excluding low-THC cannabis, research activities, and certain food ingredients like hemp seed oil. Businesses manufacturing or selling these products must comply with the new licensing and fee structure under the Health and Safety Code.

Maddy summarySB 7 creates civil liability for manufacturers and providers of abortion-inducing drugs, with key exemptions for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and spontaneous miscarriages. It allows private citizens to file lawsuits (qui tam actions) seeking damages against those supplying such drugs, while modifying fee-shifting rules in abortion litigation. The bill also grants the Texas attorney general expanded authority to pursue cases under the "Woman and Child Protection Act" and alters jurisdiction for related court cases. It does not restrict medical procedures covered by the specified exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 76) is a ceremonial honor recognizing Dr. Tedd L. Mitchell for his service as chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges his 15+ years of leadership, including expanding the system to five institutions, securing funding for new schools (like Texas' first dental and veterinary schools in decades), and achieving record enrollment and economic impact. The resolution directly honors Dr. Mitchell and has no legal effect on any individuals, institutions, or policies. It serves solely as a symbolic tribute to his contributions to Texas higher education.