Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 495 prohibits the Texas Department of Insurance from requiring insurers to follow environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards unless specifically authorized by law. It blocks rules based on ESG models, ratings, or standards developed by unlicensed entities (like the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) or those that could harm Texas' economy, competitiveness, or public health. The bill defines key terms like "environmental assessment" (climate change impact) and "social assessment" (labor practices), and allows legal challenges if rules violate these restrictions. This directly affects Texas insurers and the Department of Insurance by limiting their regulatory authority over ESG-related requirements.
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Maddy summarySB 2 establishes a state-funded education savings account program in Texas, allowing eligible families to use public funds for approved educational expenses. The program directly affects Texas families with children who have disabilities or who live in low-income households (at or below 500% of the federal poverty level). The comptroller administers the program, funding accounts with state money that can cover approved education costs like tuition, books, or tutoring. The bill becomes effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on May 3, 2025. This creates a new state-funded option alongside public schools for participating families.
Maddy summaryHB 1079 would designate Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and Leadership Officer Training Corps (LOTC) programs as official public school career and technology education programs. This change would directly affect public schools offering these military-focused training programs, requiring them to be counted toward the state's career and technology education metrics. The bill also specifies that participation in these programs would serve as an indicator of military readiness within the public school accountability system. This legislation aims to formally integrate these programs into existing educational frameworks without altering their structure or curriculum. The bill is currently pending in committee after a public hearing.
Maddy summaryHB 137 designates specific routes for permits allowing oversize and overweight vehicles to travel from international border crossings to ports and industrial areas in Cameron and Hidalgo counties. The bill specifies exact roadways, including State Highways 48 and 4, U.S. Highways 77 and 83, and Farm-to-Market Roads 509 and 106, that must be used for these movements. It also grants the transportation commission authority to approve alternative routes after consulting with port authorities. This bill directly affects commercial trucking companies transporting large cargo across the U.S.-Mexico border in these counties.
Maddy summaryHB 3255 expands the financing authority of a development corporation created by the Gulf Coast Authority to fund specific projects. It allows the corporation to finance educational/housing facilities, health facilities, tax-exempt organizations, hotels (including convention centers), and energy storage infrastructure - both inside and outside Texas. The bill streamlines out-of-state project approvals by requiring the attorney general to review documentation within 12 business days or the project proceeds without approval. It also removes certain compliance requirements (like Sections 501.203-501.257 of the Local Government Code) for this corporation. This technical amendment directly affects the Gulf Coast Authority’s development corporation, enabling broader project financing under existing legal frameworks.
Maddy summaryHB 267 amends Texas Penal Code sections 43.24 and 43.25 to add specific affirmative defenses for defendants accused of distributing obscene or harmful material involving children. It allows defenses if the conduct was for judicial, law enforcement, or legislative purposes (Section 43.24(c)), or if the defendant was a spouse, acting for educational/medical purposes, or within two years of the child’s age (Section 43.25(f)). The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and does not change existing criminal penalties. As of May 2025, the bill remains pending in the legislature after being postponed and laid on the table.
Maddy summaryHB 1552 updates Texas law to replace the term "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" in multiple statutes. It directly affects law enforcement, computer technicians, and digital service providers by requiring consistent terminology in legal references. Key provisions include amending Section 43.26 of the Penal Code (possession offense), Chapter 110 of the Business & Commerce Code (reporting requirements), and related definitions to use the new terminology. The bill maintains existing reporting obligations for technicians viewing such material but removes outdated references. This is a terminological update, not a change to legal standards or penalties.
Maddy summaryHB 3042 requires third-party entities that provide laboratory claim integrity programs to register with the Texas Department of Insurance. These programs identify potentially unnecessary clinical lab tests for health benefit plans, directly affecting independent companies offering such services (not the health plans themselves). Registration, valid for three years, mandates submitting contact details, a program summary, and disclosing which health plans the entity works with. The bill exempts health benefit plan issuers (like insurance companies) and certain utilization review agents already registered under other laws. This establishes a regulatory framework for these programs without altering health plan reimbursement policies.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain Texas state governmental bodies to hold closed meetings when deliberating specific defense, military, or aerospace issues. It covers matters involving the U.S. Department of Defense or NASA considering facilities in Texas, or economic incentives for private entities tied to federal defense programs. The law modifies existing open meeting requirements to permit these closed sessions for the defined topics, without requiring public discussion.
Maddy summaryHB 125 creates the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine as a new academic unit within Tarleton State University. The bill establishes that the college will operate under the oversight of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, offer osteopathic medicine degrees under Tarleton's authority, and partner with public or private teaching hospitals. This legislation directly affects Tarleton State University students seeking osteopathic medicine degrees and expands Texas' network of medical education institutions. The bill amends Texas Education Code to formally include the new college in the state's list of authorized medical and dental programs.