Sen. Mayes Middleton

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas voters to declare their political party affiliation when registering to vote, adding a new field to voter registration forms. It mandates that applicants state their party affiliation (or indicate none) as part of the registration process under Election Code Section 13.002(c)(11). Providing false information about party affiliation would be considered perjury under criminal law, as specified in the bill's amendments to Section 13.122(a). The change directly affects anyone registering to vote in Texas, making party affiliation a required part of the registration application.

Maddy summarySB 2715 requires employees of amusement ride operators in Texas to complete sexual abuse and assault prevention training. This new requirement is added to existing safety and insurance regulations for operating amusement rides under the Occupations Code. The training must be completed by employees before the bill takes effect on September 1, 2025. The law applies to all amusement ride operators statewide, directly affecting their workforce.

Maddy summarySB 2574, titled the "Protection of Religious Liberty from Nativist Jurisprudence Act," restricts Texas state and local officials - including school employees - from enforcing Texas' Blaine amendments (constitutional provisions limiting religious funding) or the federal Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The bill prohibits enforcement unless the U.S. Supreme Court overrules two recent rulings (Espinoza v. Montana and Carson v. Makin) or specific court orders require it. Individuals harmed by prohibited enforcement can sue for injunctions, damages, and attorney fees, while those bringing enforcement actions that fail must pay the opposing side's legal costs. This directly affects school officials, government employees, and religious entities navigating state education and religious freedom policies.

Maddy summarySB 476 increases penalties for intoxication manslaughter when drivers violate ignition interlock restrictions. It applies to individuals under 18 or 18+ who were ordered to use an ignition interlock device (after a prior DUI) but operated a vehicle without it or bypassed the device during the offense. Violators would face life imprisonment without parole for intoxication manslaughter under specific circumstances outlined in the bill. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, for offenses committed on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 508 amends Texas election law to increase penalties for failure to properly handle precinct election records. It upgrades the offense under Section 65.014(e) from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor for officials who don't deliver required records on time. The bill also clarifies procedures for when records are delayed, allowing a district judge to order their "impoundment" (legal seizure) and supervise completion of the count. This directly affects election officials and precinct workers responsible for processing vote counts, with changes taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 348) commemorates Monument Chevrolet in Pasadena for its 50th anniversary. It symbolically recognizes the family-owned dealership's history, community involvement, sustainability efforts, and contributions to local charities. The Texas Senate formally expresses appreciation through this ceremonial resolution, which has no legal effect or policy changes. It directly honors the dealership and its owners but does not impose obligations or alter laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows designated emergency infant care providers in Texas to immediately take custody of infants under one year old (or 60 days old) without a court order, provided the parent leaves the child voluntarily with staff or in a designated safety device and does not express intent to return. Parents who deliver children this way are automatically considered to have relinquished all parental rights under the law. The policy applies directly to parents abandoning infants and the designated care providers, streamlining emergency custody while terminating parental rights without judicial review. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and amends Family Code Section 262.302.

Maddy summarySB 2404 extends the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) until September 1, 2037, and revises its governing board to include 11 members: seven voting members appointed by the governor and four nonvoting members representing higher education, top-spending state agencies, and smaller agencies. The bill requires DIR to create a voluntary certification course on procuring information technology for state employees with existing purchasing or contract management certifications, to be offered in person at least quarterly. It also mandates annual training for upper management at state agencies on best practices for purchasing information technology, covering topics from the certification program. These provisions update DIR's structure and training requirements for state agency procurement of information resources.

Maddy summarySB 2402 extends the Texas Lottery Commission's existence by subjecting it to periodic review under the Texas Sunset Act, preventing its automatic dissolution on September 1, 2037, unless legislative action continues it. The bill adds a limited-scope Sunset review for 2025-2029 to assess the Commission's compliance with recent law changes and Sunset Advisory Commission recommendations. It also requires the Commission to implement annual training for members on laws, audits, and ethics, establish three subcommittees (audit, legal, planning), and create a lottery advisory committee with balanced public representation. The bill updates minor sales rules to require sales agents to exercise criminal negligence (e.g., failing to check age) when selling tickets to individuals under 18. These provisions directly affect the Commission’s operations, its members, and sales agents handling lottery transactions.

Maddy summarySJR 77 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas lawmakers to create a property tax exemption for partially disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The exemption would cover a percentage of a homestead's market value equal to the veteran's disability rating (10% to 99%). This would directly affect veterans certified with a 10-99% disability rating and their surviving spouses who continue living in the same home after the veteran's death. The amendment requires voter approval in November 2025 before it could take effect.