Rep. Richard Hayes

Maddy summarySB 11 would allow Texas public school districts or charter schools (not affiliated with religious organizations) to adopt a policy requiring daily voluntary prayer and Bible/religious text reading periods on school campuses. To participate, students or employees must provide written consent from a parent/guardian or the employee themselves, acknowledging the choice to participate and waiving legal claims related to the policy. The bill prohibits mandatory participation, using public address systems for these activities, or substituting this time for instruction, and requires physical separation for those who opt out. School districts must also follow specific guidelines to accommodate non-participants, and the Texas Attorney General would provide legal guidance and defend districts in related lawsuits.

Maddy summaryHB 4202 updates Texas law requiring proof of identity for people acknowledging legal documents, such as property deeds. It specifies three acceptable forms of identification: (1) a witness's sworn statement if the witness is personally known to the notary or shows government ID with photo/signature; (2) the person's own government-issued ID with photo/signature; or (3) a foreign passport for residential real estate transactions. This affects notaries, attorneys, and individuals signing legal documents, ensuring clearer verification standards. The bill took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1789 establishes new reliability standards for Texas electric utilities, directly affecting companies providing power to residential and commercial customers. The bill requires utilities to meet specific service interruption metrics (measuring frequency and duration of outages) for feeders serving 10+ customers, with penalties including reduced profit margins if standards are violated. It also mandates regular inspections, maintenance, and record-keeping for transmission and distribution poles to ensure structural integrity, accounting for Texas weather conditions. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies to all electric utilities, cooperatives, and municipally owned providers.

Maddy summaryHB 1522 requires governmental bodies (like city councils or school boards) holding meetings to discuss or adopt a budget to include two specific items in their public notice: (1) a physical copy of the proposed budget (or a clear link to it online), and (2) a simple comparison showing how property taxes for a typical home would change if the budget passes. This applies to most local government budget meetings but excludes university governing boards covered by separate rules. The law, effective September 1, 2025, aims to make budget discussions more transparent for residents by providing clear tax impact information upfront. It modifies Texas' open meetings law to add these notice requirements for budget-related meetings.

Maddy summaryHB 4170 requires lawsuits involving private transfer fees on real property to be filed in the county where the property is located, rather than in other jurisdictions. This directly affects property owners, buyers, and sellers who may dispute these fees in court. The bill adds this venue requirement to Texas Property Code Section 5.208, excluding cases brought by the attorney general. It applies only to lawsuits filed on or after September 1, 2025, with prior cases governed by previous law. The change aims to streamline legal proceedings by tying venue to the property's physical location.

Maddy summarySB 10 requires all Texas public elementary and secondary schools to display a specific, standardized version of the Ten Commandments in every classroom starting September 1, 2025. The law mandates a durable poster or framed copy meeting strict size (at least 16x20 inches) and content requirements, including only the exact text listed in the bill. Schools must display this unless they accept a privately donated version meeting the same specifications, and may optionally use district funds to purchase compliant displays. This directly affects every public school classroom in Texas, requiring a physical display of the specified religious text.

Maddy summaryHB 2306 changes parole eligibility for inmates convicted of specific trafficking offenses involving vulnerable victims. It prohibits parole for individuals serving sentences under Texas Penal Code Sections 20A.02 (regarding child victims), 20A.03, 21.02, 22.021(f), 51.03, or 51.04. The bill amends parole rules to explicitly exclude these trafficking offenses from eligibility, repealing prior provisions that may have allowed parole for such cases. This law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 223 exempts Texas municipalities from standard competitive bidding requirements when procuring lobbying, government relations, or similar services intended to influence state or federal lawmakers. This change applies directly to cities, towns, and counties that hire firms for advocacy work with government officials. The bill amends the Local Government Code to explicitly exclude these services from mandatory competitive procurement rules, creating a specific exception in Section 252.022(a)(4). The policy change took effect September 1, 2025, after the governor signed it on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5033 removes Texas' requirement for a motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program. It states that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Department of Public Safety are no longer obligated to implement or enforce emissions inspections under state law. The bill only takes effect if Congress repeals or significantly amends the federal Clean Air Act, or if the U.S. Constitution is amended to grant states authority to prohibit such programs. This change directly affects vehicle owners who would previously have needed emissions inspections for registration.

Maddy summarySB 379 prohibits SNAP (food stamp) benefits in Texas from being used to purchase energy drinks, sweetened beverages (like soda), carbonated drinks, candy, potato/corn chips, and pre-packaged cookies. It directly affects SNAP recipients who previously could buy these items with their benefits. The law includes exceptions for milk products, milk substitutes (like almond milk), unsweetened beverages, infant formula, weight-loss drinks, and health-recommended products. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.