Rep. Terri Leo-Wilson

Maddy summarySB 1035 allows agricultural operations (like farms and ranches) to sue local governments if those governments enforce rules that violate Texas agriculture laws. It creates a new legal right for affected businesses to seek court orders blocking enforcement of such rules and to recover legal fees if they win their case. The bill applies only to disputes arising after its effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote). This changes the process for resolving conflicts between local regulations and state agricultural law, giving farmers a direct legal remedy.

Maddy summaryHB 4847 requires county assessor-collectors to post specific school district tax information on their websites for districts that exceed state funding entitlements. It mandates disclosure of: (1) the percentage of local taxes required to pay for attendance credits, (2) the percentage not required, and (3) a plain-language explanation of how recapture works. This affects school districts collecting more local property taxes than the state requires them to retain under Texas law. The goal is to increase transparency for taxpayers about how their property taxes fund public education and contribute to state education funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas navigation districts to cover costs if they need to move dredged material (sediment removed during waterway maintenance) from another district's authorized disposal site. If relocation reduces another district's capacity at that site, the requesting district must replace the lost capacity in a new location and pay for any extra transportation costs. The law applies specifically to districts managing dredged material placement areas and mandates compliance with federal Corps of Engineers rules. It became effective immediately upon the governor's signature on May 19, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3679 temporarily allows vehicles to use dyed motor fuel (typically for off-road use) on public roads during declared disasters like hurricanes or floods. It permits this fuel use for 30 days after a disaster declaration ends, provided the vehicle operates in the declared disaster area or where the fuel was added. The bill also creates a new permit allowing oversized agricultural vehicles to deliver farm products (like crops, livestock, or processed foods) during disasters, bypassing standard weight restrictions. This applies to vehicles transporting "agricultural commodities" as defined in the bill, specifically for disaster-related deliveries. The policy directly affects commercial fuel users and agricultural transporters operating during emergency periods.

Maddy summaryHB 2417 helps people wrongfully imprisoned in Texas get compensation and clear their arrest records. It expands eligibility for compensation to those who received a full pardon for innocence, had a court rule them actually innocent via habeas corpus, or had charges dismissed with a state attorney's declaration of no credible evidence and belief in their innocence. The bill also creates a new path to remove arrest records if a conviction is reversed on appeal and the state's attorney recommends expungement. People who qualify under these new rules have until September 1, 2028, to apply for compensation. The law applies to cases occurring before, during, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3631 creates a credit against required recapture payments for school districts in designated coastal counties (first or second tier under Texas Insurance Code). The bill reduces a district's annual recapture payment by the amount it spent the previous year on windstorm and hail insurance. This credit applies after other applicable reductions under the public school finance system. The bill is pending and would take effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1619 creates new rules for schools and colleges regarding emergency medical treatments. It defines "epinephrine delivery devices" (including auto-injectors and nasal spray) and "medication for respiratory distress" (like albuterol), requiring schools to establish procedures for their storage, administration, and staff training. The bill mandates an advisory committee to review how schools handle these medications on campus. It directly affects all Texas public school districts, charter schools, private schools, and colleges. The law became effective immediately after being signed by the governor on May 19, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1820 allows individuals arrested for a crime but never charged to clear their arrest records under specific conditions. It directly affects people who were arrested but not prosecuted, including those where a grand jury failed to find probable cause for the alleged offense. The bill establishes timeframes for expungement: 180 days for Class C misdemeanors, one year for Class B/A misdemeanors, and three years for felonies, or if the state attorney certifies records aren't needed for investigations. If no indictment or information was filed within these periods, or if the grand jury declined to find probable cause, the person can request record removal. The law applies to offenses occurring before, during, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3142 sets new requirements for school marshals in Texas public and private schools. To qualify, a person must either hold a specific license under Texas law or be a volunteer who is a veteran, active military member, peace officer, reserve officer, or retired peace officer. School districts, charter schools, private schools, and public junior colleges must appoint marshals meeting these standards. The bill also allows school districts to reimburse volunteers for training costs related to the marshal role. This directly affects school districts, volunteers, and individuals seeking to serve as school marshals.

Maddy summarySB 65 requires counties with populations of 265,000 or more to establish uniform work hour rules for specific employees, including department heads, assistants, deputies, and other staff whose pay is set by the commissioners court. The bill amends the Local Government Code to mandate that commissioners courts adopt and enforce these consistent scheduling standards. It directly affects county employees in larger jurisdictions (over 265,000 residents) whose compensation is approved by the court. The law took effect immediately after Governor's signature on May 19, 2025.