Rep. Brad Buckley

Maddy summaryThis bill would have created the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention, a 13-member body tasked with developing recommendations to improve teacher retention and job satisfaction across Texas public schools. The commission would be appointed with specific representation: five members by the governor (including at least three current or former teachers with 10+ years experience), four by the lieutenant governor, and four by the speaker of the house, with geographic diversity as a consideration. Members would not receive salary but could be reimbursed for expenses, and the commission could hire staff and legal counsel to carry out its work. The bill passed the legislature but was vetoed by the governor on June 22, 2025, so it did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 1883 updates rules for Texas local governments regarding land use planning and development impact fees. It requires cities and counties to make land use assumptions and capital improvement plans publicly available at least 60 days before hearings on these plans. The bill mandates a two-thirds vote for approving impact fees and prohibits increasing those fees for three years after adoption or the last increase. These changes aim to improve transparency and limit frequent fee hikes for new construction projects.

Maddy summaryHB 2970 amends Texas law governing the Gulf Coast Protection District's operations. It changes how the district's presiding officer is selected - requiring the governor to appoint from among directors (instead of election) with a two-term limit - and adds a requirement that district projects must not disrupt navigation safety or two-way traffic in Harris County ports, as defined by transportation rules. The bill directly affects the district's governing board and port operations in Harris County. These changes take effect immediately upon the governor's signature, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summarySB 2885 allows Texas water authorities to permit the injection of treated reclaimed water into aquifers for storage and recovery projects, provided the water meets specific standards set by the commission. This amendment to the Water Code directly affects water utilities, environmental agencies, and aquifer management projects seeking to use recycled water. The key mechanism enables the commission to authorize such water use through rules or individual permits, streamlining access to this water resource. The law took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 3749, known as "Jenifer's Law," establishes new regulations for elective intravenous (IV) therapy in Texas, defined as non-emergency treatments (like hydration or vitamin infusions) sought for temporary wellness or symptom relief, not administered in hospitals, licensed health facilities, or physician offices. The law allows physicians to delegate prescribing and administering such therapy to physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and registered nurses, but only under direct physician supervision. It prohibits these services in specific settings (e.g., hospitals or clinics) and requires prescriptive agreements to count toward existing limits under Texas law. The law took effect September 1, 2025, applying to all elective IV therapy provided after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 5515 requires publishers of instructional materials sold to Texas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools to stop charging inflated freight and shipping fees. Specifically, it prohibits including shipping costs that exceed actual carrier rates or adding unrelated handling charges, ensuring these costs match standard industry rates nationwide. The bill also mandates price matching for materials sold elsewhere in the U.S., guarantees delivery 10 business days before school starts, and requires error-free materials. This law directly affects publishers by changing how they price and ship educational materials to Texas schools, aiming to reduce costs for school districts. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on June 20, 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 43 amends Texas law to update the definition of "agricultural business" in the Agriculture Code, explicitly including rural recreational businesses (like hiking or fishing on farmland) and nonprofit land conservation groups. It also revises the composition of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority's board, requiring the governor to appoint nine members with specific representation: two young farmers/ranchers, two representatives from rural entities (chambers, trade associations), and others with agricultural lending expertise. These changes directly affect entities applying for the Authority's loan and grant programs, such as farmers, ranchers, rural tourism businesses, and conservation nonprofits. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, after passing both chambers unanimously.

Maddy summaryHB 120 amends Texas education law to prioritize college, career, and military readiness for high school students. It adds two new academic goals: requiring graduates to have immediate workforce skills (Goal 5) and ensuring college readiness without remediation (Goal 6). The bill mandates public schools to report de-identified student outcomes - including college enrollment, remedial coursework, and employment data - disaggregated by school district and campus. These reports will inform school accountability ratings and guide funding for career programs like the FAST and R-PEP initiatives. The law directly affects all Texas public high schools, students, and district administrators through updated accountability measures.

Maddy summarySB 13 requires Texas school districts to provide parents with access to records about their child's school library materials, including books or digital resources checked out. It mandates that school libraries prohibit the acquisition of materials rated "sexually explicit" by vendors or deemed "harmful" under Texas law, and restricts access to content described as "pervasively vulgar" or "educationally unsuitable." The bill also creates local school library advisory councils to help develop library policies. These changes directly affect parents, school districts, and students by expanding parental oversight of library resources and setting new standards for library collections. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.