Rep. Angie Button

Maddy summaryHCR 59 is a ceremonial resolution designating April as "Promise Month" in Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035. It does not create new laws, funding, or obligations - it is solely a symbolic recognition intended to honor religious and historical perspectives on promises. The resolution references biblical principles and the founding of the U.S. on "Biblical principles," but the designation itself has no legal or policy impact on residents or state operations. This is a procedural, commemorative resolution with no concrete policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas to create a property tax exemption for surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-connected conditions. Specifically, it would authorize the legislature to exempt all or part of the market value of a surviving spouse's primary home (homestead) from ad valorem taxes, provided the veteran died from a condition presumed service-connected under federal law and the spouse has not remarried. If a spouse moves to a new homestead, they could retain the same tax exemption amount as their previous home. The amendment requires voter approval in November 2025 and would take effect January 1, 2026, if approved.

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 summarySB 1265 requires the Texas Workforce Commission to create and maintain an online resource hub on its website by February 1, 2026, providing employers with comprehensive, current information about child-care resources. The hub must include details on child-care assistance programs, tax credits, dependent care savings accounts, employer best practices, and free tools to help employers support employee parents. It explicitly states the Commission won’t provide legal advice and employers aren’t obligated to adopt any suggested policies. The bill, signed into law on May 28, 2025, takes effect September 1, 2025, focusing solely on information access without mandating new employer actions or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 37 requires hospitals with maternal care designations to provide bereavement counseling options and perinatal bereavement devices (which delay tissue deterioration for up to 72 hours after pregnancy loss or infant death) to families following intrauterine fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth. The Texas Department of State Health Services must establish a perinatal bereavement care initiative offering hospitals training for staff on compassionate communication and resources like devices with maintenance support. This law directly affects designated hospitals and families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss in Texas. The initiative aims to improve access to supportive care during this difficult time, with the law taking effect September 1, 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 summarySB 2521 requires local registrars to send monthly abstracts of death certificates (for residents 18+) to county appraisal districts. The chief appraiser must then review these to determine if property tax exemptions (like homestead exemptions) previously granted to the deceased should continue for surviving spouses or children. If exemptions no longer qualify, the appraiser must cancel them and notify property owners within five days, effective September 1, 2025. This directly affects county appraisal districts, property owners, and surviving family members regarding tax exemption eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 1802 requires Texas landlords to make a "diligent effort" to repair or fix conditions that materially affect a tenant's health or safety after receiving proper notice. It directly affects landlords and tenants in residential properties, specifically covering issues like failure to maintain hot water at 120°F or unsafe accessibility features (ramps, elevators, handrails). The bill mandates that tenants must notify landlords at the rent payment location, be current on rent, and give a follow-up written notice if repairs aren't made within a reasonable time. Landlords who fail to address these issues after proper notice become liable to tenants under the law.

Maddy summarySB 1361 establishes a state-funded disaster recovery loan program for Texas small businesses (21-99 employees) and micro-businesses. It creates a dedicated "small- and micro-business recovery fund" in the general revenue fund and requires the state bank to provide zero-interest loans to community development financial institutions (CDFIs). These CDFIs would then make interest-bearing loans to qualifying businesses that struggle to access capital after disasters. The program aims to help create jobs by expanding capital access for eligible businesses across Texas.

Maddy summarySB 1080 requires Texas licensing authorities to issue either a full occupational license or a provisional license (valid for six months) to otherwise qualified applicants who have been convicted of certain offenses, instead of automatically denying their applications. The provisional license begins on the date an applicant is released from prison if they were incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. This bill directly affects individuals with criminal convictions seeking occupational licenses (such as for nursing, contracting, or other licensed professions) who meet all other qualification requirements. It aims to reduce barriers to employment by providing a temporary licensing pathway for these applicants.