Sen. Mayes Middleton

Maddy summarySB 2283 adds a "SPECIAL FORCES VETERAN" designation to Texas handgun carry licenses for qualifying veterans. It directly affects veterans who served at least 12 consecutive months in specific U.S. Army Special Forces roles (e.g., detachment commander, weapons sergeant) at enlisted, warrant, or commissioned officer pay grades. The bill requires license applications to include space for veterans to list qualifying service and submit proof for the designation, and it mandates that licenses display this new designation when eligibility is confirmed. This change modifies existing license forms and definitions but does not alter eligibility requirements for handgun carry licenses.

Maddy summarySB 371 requires Texas public school districts to obtain written parental consent before providing human sexuality instruction to students. The bill mandates that schools must separately notify parents at least 14 days before instruction begins, with this request not bundled with other communications. It directly affects parents of students in Texas public schools and applies starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The law does not change existing curriculum content but adds a consent requirement for this specific instruction.

Maddy summarySB 2571 authorizes the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) to assess member insurers for excess losses and operating expenses exceeding reserves, specifically for catastrophe events occurring before January 1, 2026. It establishes that assessments may not exceed 33% of the association’s probable maximum loss for a single catastrophe year and prohibits recouping these assessments through premium surcharges or tax credits. The bill directly affects property insurers participating in TWIA, requiring them to pay these assessments when reserves and existing trust funds are insufficient. Key provisions include limiting assessments to 33% of probable maximum loss, requiring commissioner approval for certain funding methods, and expiring on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2824 requires Texas school districts to first offer unused or underused facilities to public school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, or approved private schools before selling or leasing to the general public. The bill mandates districts obtain a recent appraisal before offering a facility and gives eligible schools a 90-day window to submit offers matching or exceeding the appraised value. If no qualified offers are received in that period, districts may then sell to the public but must give prior applicants 14 days to match the offer. The bill applies to all independent school districts in Texas and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 378) designates April 7, 2025, as "DJ Daniel Day" in the Texas State Capitol to honor Devarjaye "DJ" Daniel, a 13-year-old Houston-area resident and childhood cancer survivor. It recognizes his resilience through brain cancer treatment, his advocacy for childhood cancer awareness, and his work as an honorary law enforcement officer with over 900 police departments nationwide. The Texas Senate passed this ceremonial resolution on April 7, 2025, to welcome DJ Daniel to Austin and express appreciation for his efforts. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or affect any legal rights.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes Cernosek Wrecker Service in Pasadena for its 50th anniversary in 2025. It honors the business and its founder, Larry Cernosek, acknowledging his decades of service to the towing industry and community involvement. The Texas Senate resolves to commemorate the milestone and send an official copy of the resolution to Larry Cernosek as a gesture of appreciation. This is a ceremonial resolution with no policy or financial impact.

Maddy summarySB 854 would require Texas municipalities to permit multifamily housing (three or more dwelling units) and mixed-use developments (with at least 50% residential space tied to a religious organization's mission) on religious land. It prohibits cities from demanding additional zoning approvals, variances, or special permits for such projects on properties owned by or leased long-term to religious organizations. The bill excludes religious land within a quarter mile of heavy industrial sites, airports, seaports, or military bases. This legislation, which passed committee with a 5-1 adverse vote and did not advance further, aims to streamline housing development on religious properties by limiting municipal regulatory barriers.

Maddy summarySB 381 prohibits manufacturers and dealers from selling or making motor vehicles equipped with remote vehicle disabling technology, which includes any device or software that can remotely disable a vehicle's operation (excluding standard ignition interlocks used in DUI cases). The law, effective September 1, 2025, requires compliance by January 1, 2026, and imposes license revocation for violations by licensed dealers. It directly affects automotive manufacturers, dealers, and distributors by banning the sale or distribution of vehicles containing this technology. The bill does not restrict existing vehicles but applies to new vehicle sales and manufacturing from the effective date.

Maddy summarySB 756 repeals criminal offense designations for unpaid tolls in Texas, shifting toll violations from potential criminal charges to civil administrative matters. The bill removes "offense" language from multiple Transportation Code sections (including 228.0547, 284.070, and 370.177), changing how non-payment is handled. Key provisions now focus on civil enforcement mechanisms like payment plans, administrative fees, hearing procedures, and fines - not criminal prosecution. This directly affects drivers who fail to pay tolls, replacing potential court charges with civil penalties managed through the Texas Department of Transportation.

Maddy summarySB 137 establishes new rules for toll billing and enforcement on Texas toll roads. It requires toll project entities (like toll road operators) to bill the registered vehicle owner for unpaid tolls using video billing or similar technology, sending an invoice to the owner's address on file with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. The bill mandates payment within 30 days of the invoice date and authorizes toll entities to charge an administrative fee and impose a civil penalty for non-payment. This directly affects vehicle owners who use toll roads without paying at the time of use and toll operators managing toll collection.