Sen. Borris Miles

Maddy summarySB 2904 allows certain Texas counties (with 800,000+ residents adjacent to counties with 4 million+ residents) to issue bonds to pay pension debts owed to public retirement systems. Counties must obtain voter approval and sign a written agreement with the retirement system detailing the debt amount and repayment terms. Proceeds from these bonds go directly into the pension system’s assets, and counties cannot use property tax revenue to repay the bonds. This bill creates a new process for counties to address unfunded pension liabilities while requiring public approval.

Maddy summarySB 2913 prohibits the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality from issuing new air quality permits for cement kilns within 440 yards of any building currently used as a school or place of worship. This applies to both state permits under Section 382.0518 and federal Clean Air Act permits for major cement kiln sources. The law only affects future permit applications filed on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025), not existing facilities. It establishes a fixed buffer zone to prevent new cement kilns from operating near sensitive community locations.

Maddy summarySB 2863 transfers six specific parcels of state-owned land (totaling approximately 4.68 acres) from the Texas Department of Transportation to the University of Houston by December 31, 2025. The property, located along Houston's Buffalo Bayou near Milam Street and Interstate 10, must be used exclusively for public interest purposes benefiting Texas. If the university uses the land for non-public purposes, ownership automatically reverts to the Texas DOT. The bill specifies the exact legal descriptions of the parcels and requires the transfer to be documented in a deed with these usage conditions. This is a straightforward property transfer bill with no additional funding or policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 2839, the "Jovian Motley Act," requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to provide annual training on de-escalation, crisis intervention, and behavioral health to correctional officers, their supervisors, and other TDCJ staff who interact with inmates. The training must cover effective communication, alternatives to physical restraints, techniques to limit force-related injuries, suicide prevention, awareness of behavioral health conditions, and access to employee assistance programs. TDCJ must implement this training in all new officer orientation and complete it annually for affected staff by December 1, 2025, with the law taking effect September 1, 2025. This bill directly affects over 10,000 TDCJ employees working in correctional facilities across Texas.

Maddy summarySB 3012 extends a property tax limitation for homesteads in Texas. It keeps the current tax appraisal cap in place when a home is inherited by an heir, the owner's spouse, or surviving spouse, rather than expiring when the original owner or spouse no longer qualifies for the exemption. The bill changes the expiration trigger to when none of three specific people - the original owner, their spouse, or the first heir who inherited the property - qualify for the homestead exemption. This change applies to tax years starting January 1, 2026, but only if a related constitutional amendment passes in the 2025 election. The bill directly affects homeowners who inherit family residences and qualify for homestead tax exemptions.

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 recognizes April 7, 2025, as "Jack and Jill of America Day" at the Texas State Capitol. It honors the Jack and Jill of America organization, specifically acknowledging its South Central Region (covering Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana) and its work developing leadership in youth aged 2-19 through community programs and service. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the organization's contributions. The recognition is limited to the State Capitol event on that date.

Maddy summarySB 2483 requires Texas Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Program to cover up to four maternal depression screenings for a mother during well-child visits before the child turns one. It directly affects mothers of enrolled children under age one, regardless of whether the mother is also enrolled in Medicaid. The bill mandates coverage for these screenings during routine well-child or office visits, expanding access to mental health support for new mothers. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2524 creates a new chapter in Texas property law requiring landlords in unincorporated areas of counties with over one million residents to maintain rental properties in safe and habitable conditions. It prohibits specific hazards like missing working appliances, pest infestations, mold, unsafe structural elements, or lack of basic utilities (water, heat, electricity). Before legal action, district or county attorneys must first send landlords written notice detailing required repairs. Violations may result in civil penalties, aiming to improve tenant safety without specifying exact penalty amounts in the provided text.

Maddy summarySB 2627 shortens the deadline for filing discrimination complaints under Texas law from two years to 180 days after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurs. It also allows victims to seek punitive damages against government entities, officers, or employees who violate anti-discrimination laws, waiving typical legal defenses. The bill expands appeal rights for certain motions in discrimination cases, such as those denying summary judgment or class certification. These changes directly affect employees filing discrimination claims and government employers defending against such claims in Texas courts.