Maddy summaryHB 43 amends Texas law to update the definition of "agricultural business" in the Agriculture Code, explicitly including rural recreational businesses (like hiking or fishing on farmland) and nonprofit land conservation groups. It also revises the composition of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority's board, requiring the governor to appoint nine members with specific representation: two young farmers/ranchers, two representatives from rural entities (chambers, trade associations), and others with agricultural lending expertise. These changes directly affect entities applying for the Authority's loan and grant programs, such as farmers, ranchers, rural tourism businesses, and conservation nonprofits. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, after passing both chambers unanimously.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 1923 modifies Texas child support orders to direct payments to the parent with physical custody under specific circumstances. It allows courts to redirect payments when the non-custodial parent voluntarily relinquishes primary care for six months, is incarcerated for 90+ days, or enters certain agreements (like parental safety placement agreements under Section 264.902). The bill requires courts to hold hearings within 30 days for safety placement agreement cases and mandates that unpaid support accrue from the date of the qualifying event. This directly affects parents with physical custody, child support obligors, and family courts handling custody disputes. The law became effective September 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 5509 allows Texas municipalities to suspend or revoke a hotel's certificate of occupancy if law enforcement provides an affidavit of probable cause and a court issues a finding of probable cause regarding human trafficking activity occurring at the hotel. The law requires municipalities to follow the same procedural standards used for suspending other business certificates of occupancy. It explicitly states this does not create private lawsuits for hotel owners and defines "human trafficking activity" as offenses under Texas Penal Code Sections 20A.02 or 20A.03. The bill took effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025. This law directly affects hotels in Texas municipalities where human trafficking is suspected, creating a specific process for local government action.
Maddy summaryHB 5629 simplifies occupational licensing for military service members, veterans, and spouses in Texas. It allows them to practice licensed professions without obtaining a new Texas license if they hold a current, comparable license from another state in good standing, or held a Texas license within the past five years. The bill also removes residency documentation requirements (like proof of military orders or marriage licenses) for these applicants. This directly affects military-connected individuals seeking to work in licensed fields like healthcare, trades, or education across Texas.
Maddy summarySB 835, known as Trey's Law, invalidates any nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement that prevents someone from disclosing an act of sexual abuse. The law directly affects survivors of sexual abuse who may have signed such agreements, making those specific clauses unenforceable. Key provisions state that agreements cannot prohibit disclosure of sexual abuse details (defined using existing Texas Penal Code and Family Code offenses), though other settlement terms like payment amounts remain valid. This change applies to all agreements entered into before, on, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 1314 requires Texas healthcare facilities to provide patients with written price estimates for nonemergency elective procedures (like surgeries or outpatient services) before scheduling. Facilities must deliver these estimates within five business days of a patient's request, including disclaimers about potential cost variations based on medical condition and coverage. The bill also mandates that facilities include information on how patients can dispute bills exceeding the estimate by $400 or more. This law directly affects patients seeking cost transparency and healthcare facilities that must comply with new billing requirements, effective September 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 4226 exempts nonprofit food banks and specific housing providers from Texas state sales, use, and rental taxes on motor vehicles they purchase, use, or rent. It directly affects food banks (as defined in Section 162.001) and housing providers serving homeless individuals with disabilities who meet strict criteria (continuously homeless for 1+ year or four homelessness episodes in 3 years). The bill adds new Tax Code sections requiring vehicles to be used "primarily" for the organization's core services. This exemption applies only to vehicles acquired on or after its September 1, 2025 effective date. The law was signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 1894 designates November as "Veterans Month" in Texas to celebrate and honor military veterans' achievements and sacrifices. The bill amends the Government Code to establish November as an official month for recognizing veterans, encouraging state agencies and communities to hold appropriate programs and activities. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects all Texans by creating a formal observance period for veterans' contributions, without changing existing benefits or creating new obligations.
Maddy summaryHB 5646 allows students enrolled in specific military-related programs - such as ROTC, senior military college cadet corps, or midshipmen programs - to pay Texas resident tuition rates at public colleges, regardless of their actual residence. This applies to tuition and fees for the 2025 fall semester and beyond. However, these students cannot use this residency status to qualify for state financial aid programs. The bill became effective immediately on June 20, 2025, after passing both chambers.
Maddy summaryHB 754 requires Texas health care facilities to post bilingual signs (in English, Spanish, and other languages spoken by 10%+ of staff) displaying human trafficking indicators, reporting resources, and a statement that medical assistants must complete trafficking prevention training. It mandates training for medical assistants through the Health and Human Services Commission and prohibits facilities from disciplining employees who report suspected trafficking in good faith. The law also requires facilities to disclose trafficking information to authorities as specified. This bill affects all Texas health care facilities and their medical assistant staff, taking effect September 1, 2025.