Sen. Borris Miles

Maddy summarySB 2911 creates the Northeast Houston Redevelopment District, a special district authorized under Texas Constitution Article XVI, Section 59. The bill grants the district authority to issue bonds and impose assessments or fees on properties within the district to fund economic development projects. It directly affects property owners in the designated Northeast Houston area by subjecting them to these assessments. The district’s purpose is to promote employment, commerce, housing, transportation, and public welfare in the region, supplementing but not replacing existing county services. This bill establishes the legal framework for funding improvements like infrastructure and community development within the defined district boundaries.

Maddy summarySB 2909 requires Texas Health and Human Services call centers to meet specific quality standards. The bill directs the commission to establish performance measures including call resolution rates, hold times, client satisfaction, and call answer rates. It also mandates creating an inventory of all call centers and consolidating them where appropriate. These requirements apply directly to all state-operated health and human services call centers and hotlines.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local jails to notify mental health or behavioral health authorities before releasing individuals who previously received services from them. It prohibits these authorities from refusing or discontinuing services solely because the person was processed by a jail. The law aims to ensure continuity of care for offenders with mental health or behavioral health needs during their transition from jail to community services. The requirement takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1783 prohibits Texas concrete crushing facilities from processing concrete contaminated with specific chemicals that pose health risks when crushed. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must establish a list of these chemicals based on their potential to cause adverse health effects, considering contamination risks before adding any chemical to the list. Existing facilities must comply with these new rules by September 1, 2025 - effectively requiring them to stop crushing contaminated concrete even if their permits were issued before the rules took effect. The commission must adopt implementing rules by March 1, 2026, to enforce this requirement.

Maddy summarySB 1779 prevents Texas public colleges and universities from withholding a student's official academic transcript solely because the student hasn't paid certain fees charged by the institution. It directly affects current and former students who might otherwise be blocked from receiving transcripts due to unpaid fees like tuition, housing, or other mandatory charges. The bill allows institutions to still charge a reasonable fee for issuing the transcript itself, but they cannot refuse the transcript based on non-payment of other fees. This policy change ensures students can access their academic records for transferring to other schools or employment without financial barriers unrelated to transcript production.

Maddy summarySB 1776 limits the portion of a defendant's monthly income that Texas courts can require for criminal fines and court costs to no more than five percent, without the defendant's agreement. It applies to all defendants sentenced on or after September 1, 2025, regardless of when the offense was committed. Courts may still order payment in full at sentencing, at a later date, or in installments, but the 5% cap must be followed. This law directly affects individuals convicted of crimes in Texas who are ordered to pay fines and costs.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 258 is a commemorative measure honoring the late U.S. Congressman Sylvester Turner of Houston, who died on March 5, 2025. The resolution recognizes his career as a Texas state legislator, mayor of Houston, and U.S. Congressman, highlighting his dedication to public service in Houston's Acres Homes neighborhood and his work on health care, education, and community resilience. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups, as it is a symbolic tribute to his legacy.

Maddy summarySB 1773 increases the maximum fine for violating municipal rules prohibiting illegal refuse dumping from $4,000 to $10,000. This directly affects municipalities enforcing local ordinances against improper waste disposal and individuals or businesses violating those rules. The bill amends three sections of Texas law to raise the penalty ceiling specifically for "dumping of refuse" violations. Municipal courts handling these cases will apply the higher $10,000 fine for such offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 1781 creates a new franchise tax credit for businesses that help cover employee child care costs. It directly affects Texas businesses subject to franchise tax that subsidize child care through licensed centers (either operated by the business or a commercial/home-based provider). The credit equals the lesser of the actual subsidy costs or 1.5% of the business's franchise tax after other credits. The credit applies only to tax reports due on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases criminal penalties for public servants who commit official oppression. Specifically, it upgrades certain offenses to a third-degree felony if a public servant intentionally manipulates school data reported to the Texas Education Agency through the PEIMS system. It also creates a second-degree felony for peace officers who cause bodily injury or threaten others with deadly weapons while committing such acts. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.