Rep. Caroline Harris Davila

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 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 30 modifies how Texas local taxing units (like counties and cities, excluding school districts) calculate property tax rates after a declared disaster. If a disaster is officially recognized by the governor or president and at least one property owner receives a tax exemption, the taxing unit can use a new "disaster relief rate" calculation. This rate divides the unit's documented disaster costs (for debris removal and essential assistance) by the current taxable property value. The new calculation method applies until either property values exceed their pre-disaster level or three years after the disaster, whichever comes first.

Maddy summaryHB 3225 requires municipal public libraries in Texas to restrict minors (under 18) from accessing sexually explicit materials in sections designated for younger audiences. Libraries must remove such materials from "minor's sections" and obtain legal guardian consent before allowing minors to check out or view these materials. The bill imposes civil penalties for violations, including fines. It directly affects municipal public libraries, minors, and their guardians by changing how libraries manage content access in designated youth areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Texas judges to deny bail to individuals classified as "illegal aliens" charged with felony offenses, if a judge determines probable cause exists. It defines "illegal alien" as someone who entered the U.S. without inspection or violated nonimmigrant visa terms. The amendment would automatically deny bail pending trial for such individuals, without requiring additional proof of flight risk or danger. If approved by voters in 2025, it would become part of the Texas Constitution. (Note: This is a procedural proposal requiring voter approval, not an immediate law.)

Maddy summarySB 315 establishes that individuals have an exclusive property right in their unique DNA, meaning no one can collect, test, keep, alter, sell, or share another person’s DNA without their informed, written consent (except for emergency medical care, paternity testing, or law enforcement needs). The bill creates civil penalties for violations, calculated based on profits gained or harm caused, and allows the attorney general to seek court orders to stop violations. It also makes unauthorized DNA use a Class A misdemeanor if done with criminal negligence. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not apply to DNA collected before that date.

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.

Maddy summarySB 314 prohibits Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools from including seven specific food additives - brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), red dye 3, and titanium dioxide - in free or reduced-price meals served under federal programs like the National School Lunch Program. The bill applies to food contracts entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2025, with potential earlier implementation if passed with a two-thirds legislative vote. It directly affects schools serving eligible students through federally funded meal programs. The law does not restrict additives in paid meals or other school food offerings.

Maddy summarySB 617 requires Texas municipalities to hold a public hearing at least 90 days before converting public property for permanent homeless housing, with notice mailed to all nearby residents and businesses 36 hours in advance. It applies to permanent conversions (excluding temporary disaster shelters) and allows affected residents to seek court injunctions if notice requirements are violated. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, for conversions beginning after that date, ensuring local governments follow specific procedural steps before repurposing properties for homeless housing.