Sen. César Blanco

Maddy summarySB 2637 requires social media platforms to disclose when content is posted by automated accounts (bots) that mimic human activity. Platforms must display a clear notice stating the content was posted by a bot and warn that such content may contain misinformation. Violations carry a civil penalty of up to $7,500 per offense, enforceable by the Texas Attorney General. The law directly affects social media companies operating in Texas and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2403 requires campaign finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission to be submitted electronically (via software meeting commission standards) instead of by fax or hand delivery. Reports must be received electronically by midnight of the first business day after a contribution or expenditure, or by 5 p.m. the next business day if filed by fax or hand. The bill removes the requirement for most reports to include a signature affidavit and adjusts late-filing penalties, including a $500 flat fee for most late reports and tiered daily penalties for others. This directly affects campaign committees and candidates submitting financial reports under Texas election law.

Maddy summarySJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the homestead exemption for school district property taxes in Texas from $100,000 to $140,000. This change would directly reduce the taxable value of a primary residence for school taxes, lowering property tax bills for homeowners. The amendment requires voter approval in a November 2025 election to take effect for the 2025 tax year. If passed, it would provide an additional $40,000 in tax relief on primary homes for school funding purposes.

Maddy summarySB 524 repeals three specific provisions from a previous law (S.B. 938, 2021) that would have exempted veteran-owned businesses from franchise tax and certain filing fees starting January 1, 2026. The bill cancels these planned exemptions, meaning veteran-owned businesses will not receive the tax relief originally scheduled under the repealed sections. This change takes effect September 1, 2025, before the previous exemptions were set to begin. The bill directly affects businesses owned by veterans in Texas that would have qualified for the repealed tax benefits.

Maddy summarySB 1782 requires owners or operators of Texas group homes to obtain and maintain criminal history records from the Texas Department of Public Safety for all job applicants and employees. It mandates keeping records for at least 30 days after rejecting an applicant or for the entire employment duration if hired. The bill prohibits hiring individuals convicted of specific offenses listed in the Penal Code (including violent crimes, sexual offenses, and certain drug offenses) and imposes Class B misdemeanor penalties for failing to conduct checks or Class A misdemeanor penalties for hiring prohibited individuals. This law directly affects group homes - defined as facilities housing unrelated residents with basic services like meals and housekeeping but excluding licensed care facilities, hotels, or dormitories - and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution symbolically recognizes June 16-22, 2025, as "Texas Spanish Spelling Bee Week" to honor the inaugural Texas Spanish Spelling Bee. The event, hosted by Education Service Center Region 19 in El Paso on June 18-19, 2025, brings together 4th-8th grade students from across Texas to compete in spelling and celebrate cultural exchange. It directly affects participating students, organizers, and communities by highlighting academic achievement in Spanish language skills. The resolution has no legal effect - it serves only to publicly acknowledge and support the event, which offers top spellers a path to the National Spanish Spelling Bee.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo the authority to hire and commission peace officers to enforce state laws within their reservation. It amends the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to include the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo alongside two other Native American tribes that already have this power. The law allows tribal peace officers to enforce state statutes on tribal lands, expanding their jurisdiction beyond tribal codes. The legislation takes effect on September 1, 2025, and was signed into law by the Governor.

Maddy summarySB 1316 prohibits e-cigarette advertising on signs located within 1,000 feet of schools or churches in Texas. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to require this distance, measured from the nearest property line of the institution to the sign. It includes an exception for signs already advertising e-cigarettes within 500-1,000 feet of such institutions before September 1, 1997. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting businesses that advertise e-cigarettes near schools or churches.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill with policy changes) adopted by the Texas Senate on May 21, 2025. It formally recognizes the five students in the 13th class of the Senator Gregory Luna Legislative Scholars and Fellows Program - Ben Aguillon, Rachel Sepulveda, Leticia Sofia Torres, Christell Valdes, and Ezra Villarreal - for their service in Texas Senate offices during the 89th Legislative Session. The resolution commends their "remarkable service and excellent work" and provides them with a formal copy as a gesture of the Senate's "high regard." No new laws, funding, or policy changes are created by this resolution.

Maddy summaryHJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas lawmakers to exempt up to $125,000 of the market value of business-used tangible personal property (like equipment or vehicles) from property tax. It would directly affect business owners who hold such property for income generation, such as small business operators or farmers. The amendment would revise the state constitution to authorize this specific exemption amount, replacing the current exemption structure. If approved by voters in November 2025, this would become a permanent constitutional provision enabling future legislation to implement the tax break. The bill is now headed to the November ballot after passing both legislative chambers.