Sen. Tan Parker

Maddy summaryHB 1639 directs the Texas Department of State Health Services, in collaboration with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, to study whether female firefighters in Texas have higher rates of certain cancers (like breast and ovarian cancer) compared to other women in the state. The study will use existing cancer registry data and readily available sources, requiring a report with findings and recommendations to be submitted to the legislature by September 1, 2026. The bill does not create new laws or funding but mandates this specific analysis to assess potential health risks. The study is required to be made publicly available online by the agencies involved.

Maddy summaryHB 1500 requires Texas' Department of Information Resources to create and deliver a quarterly in-person certification course on procuring information resources technologies. This course is available to state employees holding existing purchasing or contract management certifications (under Sections 656.051 and 656.052) and counts toward their continuing education requirements. The bill also mandates annual training for upper management at state agencies on best practices for purchasing these technologies, though participation is voluntary. These provisions aim to improve procurement standards for state technology purchases by enhancing staff expertise. The law took effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4386 standardizes the process for exchanging or surrendering annuity contracts in Texas, directly affecting annuity owners and insurance companies. The bill requires replacing insurers to submit detailed exchange requests to existing insurers, including proof that the transaction qualifies as a tax-free exchange under federal law (Section 1035). It sets strict deadlines: existing insurers must notify owners within 5 business days and transfer funds within 30 business days, unless exceptions apply (like fraud concerns or contractual terms). This creates a clearer, faster process for annuity holders moving contracts between insurers without triggering tax penalties.

Maddy summarySB 955 increases penalties for human trafficking in Texas by elevating certain offenses to first-degree felony status. It specifically enhances punishments when trafficking occurs near schools, colleges, shelters for vulnerable populations (like runaway youth or trafficking survivors), or during school events, within 1,000 feet of these locations. The bill also raises penalties if the victim is a child or disabled person, if serious injury or death occurs, or if traffickers use deadly weapons or obstruct breathing. These changes apply only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The law directly affects traffickers who commit offenses in these specified circumstances.

Maddy summarySB 1281 amends Texas Penal Code Section 31.20 to create a new criminal offense for intentionally taking mail without consent when intending to deprive someone of it or steal negotiable instruments. The bill increases penalties based on the scale of the crime: stealing mail from 50+ addressees or 50+ negotiable instruments becomes a first-degree felony, while smaller-scale offenses range from state jail felonies to third-degree felonies. This law directly affects individuals who steal mail from residential or business mailboxes, including packages, letters, or sealed items delivered by carriers. The policy change clarifies and escalates criminal penalties for mail theft to better address thefts targeting multiple victims or financial instruments. The bill was signed into law and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 213 prohibits Texas insurers from requiring customers to purchase multiple personal insurance policies (like home and auto) from the same company or bundling them as a condition for coverage. It directly affects consumers who buy residential property or auto insurance, ensuring they can choose insurers separately for each policy type. The key provision bans insurers from using "unfair methods of competition" by forcing policy bundling, making it illegal to require multiple policies from one provider or tie one policy to another. This creates a clear rule for insurers to follow, promoting consumer choice without restricting how insurers offer policies. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2786 exempts certain public safety students from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) assessment requirement. It specifically applies to students working as emergency medical technicians (EMTs) employed by local governments, firefighters defined under state law, or peace officers (like police) serving in government roles. The bill amends the Education Code to add these three categories to the existing list of exemptions, waiving the TSI assessment for them. This change directly affects students pursuing or working in these public service careers while enrolled in college. The law takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, or September 1, 2025, otherwise.

Maddy summaryHB 1443 creates a new criminal offense in Texas for promoting or possessing a "child-like sex doll," defined as an obscene, anatomically correct doll or robot designed to look like a child and intended for sexual use. It prohibits three specific actions: promoting such dolls (felony, second degree), possessing them with intent to promote (felony, third degree), or simply possessing them (state jail felony). The law presumes intent to promote if someone possesses two or more dolls, but includes an exception for law enforcement using them for legitimate purposes. This bill directly affects individuals who manufacture, sell, or own these dolls, making the specified actions punishable under Texas Penal Code.

Maddy summarySB 843 requires Texas school districts to report detailed information about bonds, taxes, and related projects to a new Texas Education Agency database. The database must include bond election results, project lists funded by bonds, tax rate projections, and maintenance tax proposals. School districts must submit this data to the agency, which will maintain the database and allow report generation by geographic area. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting all Texas public school districts.

Maddy summarySB 1207 requires Texas public schools to include specific adoption information in their existing parenting and paternity awareness program for high school health classes, with optional use in middle/junior high schools. The bill mandates teaching three key adoption topics: differences between private adoption and foster care, processes for private/state adoption, and adoption as an alternative to parenthood. This policy change applies to all Texas public school districts beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on June 20, 2025, and took effect immediately.