Rep. Senfronia Thompson

Maddy summaryHB 21 reduces penalties and interest rates for delinquent property taxes in Texas. It lowers the initial penalty from 6% to 3% for the first month a property tax payment is overdue, with an additional 0.5% per month thereafter (down from 1%). For taxes delinquent as of July 1, the total penalty drops from 12% to 6%. The bill applies only to penalties accruing after its effective date, not retroactively, and affects property owners who miss tax payments.

Maddy summaryHB 10 creates a legal defense for individuals who were victims of human trafficking or forced prostitution and face criminal charges for acts they committed under coercion. It allows defendants to argue that they engaged in the charged conduct solely because they were subjected to force, fraud, or coercion by traffickers, as defined in Texas law. To qualify, the defendant must show the coercion was necessary to engage in the conduct, would have compelled a reasonable person in their situation, and they weren't merely offered an opportunity without coercion. This defense applies only to offenses committed on or after the bill's effective date, which is 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summarySB 650 requires retailers selling alcohol to verify customer age by scanning driver's licenses or ID cards with electronically readable information. It applies to all retail alcohol sales except on-premises sales at package stores. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, but businesses have until September 1, 2027, to comply, with no penalties for violations before that date. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission must adopt implementing rules by September 2027.

Maddy summarySB 1968 amends Texas law to define specific required training topics for real estate professionals seeking licenses through the Texas Real Estate Commission. It details 10 course categories (like agency law, property management, and appraisal) and mandates minimum topics within each, such as fair housing laws, contract elements, and ethics. The bill directly affects real estate license applicants and educators by standardizing the curriculum content for pre-licensing courses. The Texas Real Estate Commission will enforce these updated course requirements for all new license applicants.

Maddy summarySB 1278 would have created a legal defense for individuals prosecuted under Texas law who were victims of human trafficking (Section 20A.02) or compelled prostitution (Section 43.05). The bill would have allowed victims to claim this defense if they engaged in criminal conduct due to coercion, duress, or threats of death/serious injury to themselves or their family. It would not apply if the coercion wouldn't affect a reasonable person or if the victim was merely given an opportunity to commit the act. This defense would only apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 22, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 1559 (Texas Family Code, Sections 85.064) clarifies when courts must transfer protective orders to the family court handling related divorce or custody cases. It requires courts to transfer protective orders issued before or during divorce/custody proceedings, or those affecting child custody after a custody order is finalized, to the court with ongoing jurisdiction over the family case. This directly affects individuals involved in family law cases who have existing protective orders, ensuring consistent oversight by the court managing their primary family matter. The bill repeals the previous subsection (c) and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1804 requires courts to order defendants convicted of trafficking or prostitution-related offenses (under Texas Penal Code Chapters 20A or 43) to pay restitution for victims' tattoo removal costs incurred through force, fraud, or coercion. It amends Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to explicitly include "reasonable and necessary costs of tattoo removal" as a covered expense under mandatory restitution. This applies to all victims of these specific crimes, not limited to minors. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3214 modifies Texas' master plumber license eligibility requirements by reducing the required journeyman plumber experience from four years to two years. It allows applicants to qualify with either two years of experience or one year of experience plus completion of a nationally recognized apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. The bill applies only to new license applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing applications and current license holders unaffected. All other requirements - including passing exams and supervision duties - remain unchanged under the revised rules.

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 4753 requires Texas municipalities to issue a verification document to building owners upon request, confirming the municipality has issued a certificate of occupancy for the building. This document can be used in place of the original certificate of occupancy, and municipalities cannot require owners to display the original certificate. The bill directly affects building owners seeking to prove occupancy status and municipalities that issue certificates of occupancy. It takes effect immediately upon the Governor's signature, as noted in the bill's recent actions.