Sen. Tan Parker

Maddy summarySB 66 allows local areas within Texas regional transportation authorities to allocate up to 25% of their annual sales tax revenue toward local transportation projects. This includes building/maintaining sidewalks, trails, roads, streetlights, traffic signals, and drainage improvements related to transportation infrastructure. Funds are distributed with 50% available at the start of the fiscal year and 50% on a reimbursement basis by year-end. Unused funds must be used to pay down debt secured by a 1% sales tax rate. The bill directly affects local governments participating in regional transportation authorities that manage these tax revenues.

Maddy summarySB 12 prohibits Texas cities, counties, and other local governments (political subdivisions) from using public funds to hire registered lobbyists or pay organizations that primarily represent local governments and employ lobbyists. The bill specifically bans spending on activities like lobbying state legislators, but allows local government employees to provide information to lawmakers or testify without triggering the restriction. Exceptions include associations representing sheriffs or law enforcement officers, and direct advocacy by employees that doesn’t require lobbyist registration. Taxpayers can seek court orders to stop prohibited spending and recover related costs.

Maddy summarySB 973 prohibits Texas property tax offices (appraisal districts) from posting certain residential property information online, specifically interior photos, detailed floor plans, or records showing specific interior features. It allows posting of aerial photos showing multiple buildings, street-level exterior photos, and field records showing only building outlines, general landscape features, and basic property dimensions. The law directly affects residential property owners by restricting how detailed property data can be shared publicly online. This is a concrete policy change limiting public access to specific types of property assessment information.

Maddy summaryHCR 143 is a concurrent resolution passed by the Texas Legislature to formally congratulate Aaron F. Reitz on his appointment as Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy. The resolution recognizes his background as a former Texas Deputy Attorney General, former Chief of Staff to Senator Ted Cruz, and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. It does not create any new laws or policies - it simply expresses the Legislature’s approval of his federal appointment through a formal congratulatory statement. The resolution was enacted and signed by the Governor on June 22, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 25 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide daily moderate or vigorous physical activity for students in prekindergarten through grade 8. Specifically, it mandates at least 30 minutes daily for grades K-5 and 30 minutes daily for at least four semesters in grades 6-8, with alternatives for scheduling challenges (e.g., 135 minutes weekly). The bill prohibits schools from restricting student participation in physical activity as punishment for academic or behavioral issues. It directly affects K-8 students and school employees responsible for implementing physical education curricula, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1278 would have created a legal defense for individuals prosecuted under Texas law who were victims of human trafficking (Section 20A.02) or compelled prostitution (Section 43.05). The bill would have allowed victims to claim this defense if they engaged in criminal conduct due to coercion, duress, or threats of death/serious injury to themselves or their family. It would not apply if the coercion wouldn't affect a reasonable person or if the victim was merely given an opportunity to commit the act. This defense would only apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 22, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 974 removes a restriction preventing school district teachers from serving on appraisal review boards, which are local bodies that handle property tax disputes. It amends Texas Tax Code Section 6.412(c) to explicitly state that teachers employed by school districts are eligible for these boards. The bill also creates a criminal offense related to violations of the new eligibility rules (though specific details are not provided in the text). As of June 22, 2025, the bill was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2753 integrates early voting by personal appearance and election day voting processes in Texas. It requires county election offices to stay open during extended early voting hours for voter registration, and allows counties with under 55,000 residents to use state funds to keep polling places open during early voting periods. The bill also permits combining election precincts with fewer than 5,000 registered voters in counties under 1.2 million population to reduce election costs, while maintaining population limits for precincts. These changes directly affect county election administrators, voters accessing early voting, and local election budgets. The law took effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHCR 127 is a symbolic concurrent resolution expressing the Texas Legislature's support for strengthening Texas-Taiwan relations. It highlights Texas-Taiwan trade reaching $25.5 billion in 2024, commends Governor Abbott for establishing the Texas Taiwan Office, and celebrates the 46th anniversary of the U.S. Taiwan Relations Act and Texas-Taiwan sister-state relationship. The resolution has no legal effect but formally acknowledges this partnership through diplomatic channels like the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston. It is a non-binding expression of support, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySB 1283 requires senior retirement communities in Texas (defined as residential communities with 20+ units offering shared amenities) to conduct background checks on all employees and disclose in resident contracts whether vendors must also perform such checks. The law mandates that communities maintain written safety policies addressing criminal activity risks to residents. These requirements apply to all eligible communities except healthcare facilities, boarding homes, and federally regulated housing. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.