Sen. Tan Parker

Maddy summarySB 509 requires courts to notify the Texas Attorney General before a hearing in any election-related case seeking a temporary restraining order under the Election Code. This procedural change directly affects courts handling election disputes and ensures the Attorney General receives advance notice of such requests. The bill adds a new requirement that courts must provide this notice "as soon as practicable" before the hearing. It took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025. The law does not alter election rules or voting procedures, only the court notification process.

Maddy summarySB 1534 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to study health physics education programs at Texas colleges and universities. The study must identify gaps in training and assess workforce needs in nuclear energy and radiological safety sectors. The board must submit a report by December 1, 2026, with recommendations for addressing identified gaps. This bill directly affects Texas institutions offering health physics education and the state's nuclear/radiological workforce sectors. The report will inform potential future policy actions, but the bill itself does not make immediate changes to programs or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2818 establishes an Artificial Intelligence Division within the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) to guide state government use of artificial intelligence. The division must assist state agencies in implementing generative AI for projects like modernizing legacy computer systems and other appropriate initiatives, requiring cost analysis reports to document time and resource savings compared to traditional methods. It mandates that the division coordinate all AI activities to avoid duplication and maximize efficiency across state resources. The division can hire staff directly or partner with vendors (with vendors completing most work) for AI projects, as outlined in the amended Government Code.

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 summarySB 2407 updates governance rules for the Lower Neches Valley Authority (LNVA), a local water management district in Texas. It specifies grounds for removing a board member, including failing to meet qualifications, violating ethics laws, being unable to perform duties due to illness, or missing over half of scheduled meetings without board approval. The bill also requires new board members to complete mandatory training before voting or attending meetings. These changes apply directly to LNVA board members and ensure clearer separation of policy and management roles. The bill, effective September 1, 2025, follows Sunset Commission recommendations to strengthen oversight of the authority.

Maddy summarySB 2368 requires electricity market participants in Texas to report purchases of critical grid equipment from specified foreign entities and attest that such purchases won’t grant foreign access to grid infrastructure (except for warranty/support). It directly affects utilities, power companies, and other entities operating in Texas’ electricity market. Key provisions include mandatory reporting to the independent grid operator (ERCOT), new attestation requirements, and increased administrative penalties for violations - raising fines to $1 million per violation. The bill amends Texas Utilities Code sections 39.360 and 15.023 to implement these requirements, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 742 requires first responders, including firefighters and emergency medical personnel (but excluding volunteers and law enforcement officers), to complete approved human trafficking prevention training on identifying, assisting, and reporting victims. It mandates hospitals to display a specific 11x17 inch sign in emergency departments with human trafficking information, using a 16-point font as defined by the attorney general. The bill also provides legal protection for health care employees who report suspected trafficking incidents. The Health and Human Services Commission must approve training courses (including at least one free option) and maintain an online list of approved courses.

Maddy summaryHB 3686 requires Texas identification cards for retired peace and law enforcement officers to include specific details: the officer's full name, photograph, agency name, physical description (height, weight, eye color), thumbprint or unique barcode, dates of last service and card issuance, and a 24/7 verification phone number. This applies directly to honorably retired officers receiving these cards from law enforcement agencies. The bill mandates these details be printed on the card itself, replacing prior requirements. It became law on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 840 establishes new rules for zoning certain mixed-use and multifamily residential developments in Texas. It defines "mixed-use residential" as projects with at least 65% residential space and "multifamily residential" as developments with three or more dwelling units. The law applies only to cities over 90,000 population located in counties over 300,000 population, limiting municipal authority to regulate these projects under Chapter 218 of the Local Government Code. It does not affect existing rules for short-term rentals or water quality protections.