Sen. Borris Miles

Maddy summarySB 373 clarifies who can request a hearing from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regarding concrete plant construction. It specifies that only two groups may formally request such a hearing: (1) the municipality or county where the plant is proposed, or (2) residents living in permanent homes within 440 yards of the site. This changes the eligibility criteria under existing law, limiting hearing requests to these specific affected parties. The bill applies only to applications submitted to TCEQ on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025).

Maddy summarySB 281 requires Texas municipalities and political subdivisions to retain police complaints alleging official oppression (under Texas Penal Code §39.03) for at least five years after an officer leaves employment. It mandates creating an abstract of each complaint that must be kept permanently, and ensures these records are publicly disclosable under Texas public information law - overriding any conflicting local policies or agreements. The bill directly affects police departments, officers (through their complaint records), and the public, who gain access to these historical records. Key provisions include mandatory retention periods, indefinite abstract storage, and explicit public disclosure requirements for these specific complaints.

Maddy summarySB 431 repeals Section 44A.002(b) of the Texas Agriculture Code, which previously governed how state funds could be used for the Urban Farm Microenterprise Support Program. This change directly affects the program's funding rules by removing a specific allocation restriction. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025, eliminating the repealed provision from state law. It does not create new funding or alter the program's structure, only removing the referenced code section.

Maddy summarySB 273 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to consider the cumulative health and property impacts of air emissions from a facility *and* other facilities within three miles when reviewing new permits or renewing existing permits after September 1, 2025. This directly affects businesses seeking emissions permits for industrial facilities in Texas, particularly those located near other polluting sites. The key provision mandates that permit decisions must evaluate how emissions from multiple nearby sources collectively affect public health and property, rather than assessing each facility in isolation. The law applies only to permit applications filed on or after the effective date, not to existing permits.

Maddy summarySB 433 allows individuals who were adjudicated for misdemeanor offenses as minors to apply to have those juvenile records expunged after turning 18. The bill requires juvenile courts to issue an expunction order within 30 days of receiving a valid application. It specifically applies to misdemeanor offenses committed during childhood but excludes other juvenile records not covered under this provision. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department must establish the application process by September 1, 2025, when the law takes effect.

Maddy summarySB 257 creates an exception to Texas' abortion ban for pregnancies resulting from sexual assault as defined in specific Penal Code sections (22.011, 22.021, and 25.02). It removes requirements for victims to file police reports, provide forensic evidence, or pursue prosecution to access this exception. The bill repeals Chapter 6-1/2 of the Revised Statutes, which was the main state law prohibiting most abortions. This exception applies only to cases meeting the sexual assault criteria and does not change other abortion laws or regulations.

Maddy summarySB 278 restricts former Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) employees from working in industries regulated by TCEQ for two years after leaving their position. Employers who violate this rule face administrative penalties up to three times the employee's salary for the hired position. The law applies only to TCEQ employees who leave on or after September 1, 2025, when the bill takes effect. This bill creates a two-year cooling-off period to prevent potential conflicts of interest in environmental regulation.

Maddy summarySB 429 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to analyze alternatives before issuing air quality permits for major new facilities or major modifications in areas designated as "nonattainment" under federal Clean Air Act rules. The bill mandates the TCEQ to evaluate whether proposed facilities' benefits outweigh environmental and social costs by considering different locations, sizes, production processes, and pollution controls. This applies only to permit applications pending on or after September 1, 2025, for facilities classified as "major stationary sources" under federal definitions. The law directly affects developers seeking new permits in nonattainment areas and the TCEQ's review process for those applications.

Maddy summarySB 282 requires public and open-enrollment charter schools in Texas to notify parents in writing if they lack a full-time nurse or equivalent coverage (e.g., two nurses covering all instructional hours) for more than 30 consecutive instructional days during a school year. Schools must provide this notice by the 30th instructional day after the absence begins, make a good-faith effort to offer it in the parent’s primary language, and retain copies. The law excludes schools with fewer than 10,000 students and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. It directly affects parents of students in schools meeting the coverage gap threshold.

Maddy summarySB 280 creates civilian review boards in Texas cities with populations of 200,000 or more to investigate complaints about police misconduct. These boards must have five members appointed by city leadership, county officials, and police leadership, with strict rules preventing current law enforcement staff or officials from serving. The boards will specifically review complaints alleging excessive force, threats, unlawful searches, or other abuses of authority by police officers. This requirement applies only to large municipalities, not all Texas cities.