Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 13) urges the U.S. Department of State and the International Boundary and Water Commission to ensure Mexico complies with the 1944 Treaty on shared water resources. It specifically addresses Mexico's failure to deliver the required 350,000 acre-feet of water annually (averaged over five years), with a current deficit of 984,814 acre-feet. The resolution highlights how this shortfall harms Texas water users, including municipal, agricultural, and industrial sectors in the Rio Grande Valley, impacting reservoir levels and causing economic losses like the closure of Texas' only sugar mill. As a non-binding resolution, it formally requests U.S. federal agencies to take action but does not change legal obligations.
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Maddy summarySB 1706 allows state agency boards to hold closed meetings specifically to discuss defense, military, or aerospace matters. It directly affects state governmental bodies (like local boards or commissions) that handle federal defense projects. The bill defines these matters as either establishing military bases/facilities in Texas or offering economic incentives tied to federal defense grants. The law amends Texas Open Meetings rules to permit this exception for those specific issues, without requiring public disclosure during deliberations. This is a procedural change, not a new policy on defense funding or facility location.
Maddy summarySB 451 prohibits Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools from adopting or using instructional materials listed as "rejected" by the State Board of Education under Section 31.022(a). It also bans using state funds to purchase materials that are obscene/harmful or would prevent schools from meeting certification requirements under Section 31.1011. The bill allows schools to use local funds for instructional materials not on the rejected list, but requires all adopted materials to comply with this restriction. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 395) formally recognizes the ninth class of Governor William P. Clements Jr. Scholars, a group of 20 Texas students participating in the Clements Legislative Study Program. The program, hosted by the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, provides conservative students with hands-on experience in public policy and leadership through direct work with Texas legislators. The resolution commends these students for their dedication to public service and extends "sincere best wishes for success" without creating any new laws, policies, or funding requirements. As a commemorative resolution, it serves solely as an expression of recognition by the Texas Senate.
Maddy summarySB 2943 prohibits Texas state agencies from adopting rules, regulations, or policies that limit an occupational license applicant's or holder's ability to obtain, maintain, or renew a license based on their sincerely held religious beliefs. It also bans actions that burden an applicant's or holder's free exercise of religion, religious speech, or membership in a religious organization. Exceptions include peace officer licensing (handled by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement) and requirements to ensure professional standards, while the law does not override medical services needed to prevent death or serious injury. Individuals can challenge violations through administrative hearings or court actions, except in cases involving sexual misconduct allegations or criminal prosecution.
Maddy summarySB 2600 prohibits Texas public school districts from charging students a fee for transportation if the student lives within two miles of their school. This specifically affects families of students attending schools located near their homes, preventing districts from imposing costs for bus rides they already cover through state funding. The bill amends the Education Code to explicitly ban such fees (except when districts receive funding under Section 48.151(d) for transportation). It removes a potential financial burden on nearby families by ensuring school districts cannot charge for transportation services they are already funded to provide.
Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 715) modifies reliability requirements for electric power plants in Texas' ERCOT grid that have operated for at least one year and aren't self-generators. It creates specific exemptions from financial penalties for these plants during planned maintenance, transmission outages, or when they already meet other performance rules. The bill also requires Texas' Public Utility Commission to consider using collected penalty funds to rebate money directly to consumers or fund reliability improvements, prioritizing maximum consumer benefit while maintaining grid reliability. These changes apply to facilities meeting the bill's criteria starting September 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 48), not a bill with legal force. It formally urges the Gulf Coast Protection District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain navigation safety and two-way vessel traffic during projects authorized under Texas law (Section 9502.0301(a)). The resolution specifically references projects managed by the Gulf Coast Protection District in Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jefferson, and Orange Counties. It has no legal effect but serves as a formal expression of legislative concern for coastal navigation.
Maddy summarySB 410 changes how the Gulf Coast Protection District is led and manages projects. It requires the governor to appoint the district's leader (instead of electing them) and limits this role to two consecutive terms. The bill also mandates that any district project must follow navigation safety rules for Harris County ports, as defined in state transportation law. These changes directly affect the Gulf Coast Protection District and its project planning, ensuring compliance with port traffic regulations.
Maddy summarySB 504 requires nonprofit organizations (including economic development corporations) that sign contracts worth over $500,000 with local governments (like cities, counties, or school districts) to disclose two specific financial details. They must provide their current operating budget and list any employee salaries exceeding twice the median salary of state employees. Local governments must then publish this information on their public websites. The bill excludes electric cooperatives, certain utility organizations, and water supply corporations from these requirements. This law aims to increase transparency around large nonprofit-government contracts.