Rep. Joanne Shofner

Maddy summaryHB 5138 shifts responsibility for prosecuting election-related crimes from local prosecutors to the Texas Attorney General's office. It requires law enforcement agencies to report election law violations to the Attorney General and mandates that local prosecutors cooperate with the AG’s office. The bill creates new provisions in the Government Code (Subchapter D) and amends the Election Code to give the Attorney General sole authority to prosecute such offenses, effective September 1, 2026. This directly affects local law enforcement, county prosecutors, and the Attorney General’s office by centralizing prosecution authority for election crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 3809 requires lease agreements for battery energy storage facilities (like large-scale battery systems) to include specific terms about removal. It mandates that the operator (called a "grantee") must remove all equipment and restore the land to its original condition when the lease ends, covering all associated costs. This directly affects landowners leasing property to battery storage operators and the operators themselves, who must now include these removal obligations in their agreements. The law creates new rules under Texas Utilities Code Chapter 303 to ensure facilities are properly decommissioned, without changing how the storage systems operate during their active use.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal description of Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College in the Texas Education Code by removing the term "upper-level" from its official designation. It directly affects the university's Rio Grande College campuses in Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Uvalde, which are part of Sul Ross State University. The change takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not alter course offerings, funding, or academic programs. The bill is purely procedural, adjusting how the institution is formally referenced in state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds invasive visual recording (Section 21.15 of the Texas Penal Code) to the list of offenses requiring mandatory sex offender registration. It directly affects individuals convicted of recording someone without consent in private areas, such as bathrooms or changing rooms. The law expands existing registration requirements by including this specific crime under the definition of "reportable conviction" in the Code of Criminal Procedure. The bill was signed into law on May 29, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4 restricts Texas public school districts and campuses from obtaining exemptions or waivers for specific requirements, including graduation standards, school accountability measures under Chapters 39 and 39A, health and safety rules, and programs for special education and bilingual students. The bill explicitly prohibits waivers for federal mandates, essential knowledge/skills, class size limits (except as allowed by law), extracurricular activities, and other key areas listed in the legislation. It also changes the appeal process for challenges to the commissioner's decisions, requiring appeals to be filed in Travis County district court with specific procedural steps. This bill directly affects school districts, the Texas Education Agency, and individuals seeking to challenge educational decisions.

Maddy summarySB 618 prohibits public and election officials from altering election procedures without legal authorization. If officials fail to comply after being notified by the Secretary of State, they face escalating daily fines: $1,000 per day for days 3-7 and $5,000 per day after day 7. The bill requires officials to immediately cease non-compliant actions and provides a process for the Secretary of State to investigate violations and refer cases to the Attorney General. These fines, collected into the general revenue fund, directly affect election officials who change procedures without proper legal approval.

Maddy summaryHCR 75 designates Hemphill, Texas, as the "Official Bass Fishing Capital of Texas" for a 10-year period ending in 2035. This symbolic resolution recognizes Hemphill's location between Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn Reservoirs - ranked among the nation's top bass fishing sites by Bassmaster Magazine - and its role as a hub for fishing-related businesses and conservation efforts. The designation, authorized under Section 391.003(e) of the Texas Government Code, has no new funding or regulatory requirements. It serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of Hemphill's cultural and economic ties to bass fishing, with no direct impact on state laws or policies.

Maddy summarySB 462 requires Texas child-care providers to give priority placement on waiting lists to children of licensed child-care workers who work at least 25 hours per week. This applies to workers employed in licensed facilities (excluding facility owners/directors unless their child is in a separate program). The law mandates that these priority placements must be reviewed annually for eligibility. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, after being signed into law by the Governor on May 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 21 amends Texas Local Government Code provisions affecting housing finance corporations that develop or manage low- and moderate-income housing. It defines qualifying residential developments as those where at least 90% of units are intended for households with adjusted gross income below state-defined moderate income levels. The bill also requires these corporations to follow open meetings and public records laws (Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code) and restricts their development to areas within the boundaries of their sponsoring local governments - unless approved by those governing bodies. These changes clarify operational rules and transparency requirements for housing finance corporations serving low- and moderate-income residents.

Maddy summaryHB 630 exempts certain older, smaller outboard motors from requiring a certificate of title under Texas law. Specifically, it removes the title requirement for outboard motors that are at least 40 years old and have a maximum capacity of 25 horsepower. The bill amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to clarify this exception, meaning owners of qualifying vintage motors no longer need to register them as titled vessels. This change directly affects owners of these specific older, low-powered outboard motors in Texas, effective September 1, 2025.