Sen. Borris Miles

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 15) claims to address real property recording requirements and create "real property theft" and "real property fraud" offenses, but the actual bill text amends criminal procedure law (Code of Criminal Procedure §12.01) to extend statute-of-limitations periods for specific felony indictments. It lists offenses like murder, sexual assault, trafficking, and tampering with evidence as having "no limitation" for prosecution, but does not create new real property theft or fraud crimes as the title suggests. The bill was reported adversely by the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce (10-0 vote) and did not advance further. The discrepancy between the bill's title and its actual content (criminal procedure amendments) appears to be a mischaracterization in the legislative summary.

Maddy summarySB 53 establishes a regulatory framework for hemp-derived consumable products (including edibles and beverages) and the hemp-derived cannabinoids they contain. It requires businesses to obtain occupational licenses and permits, pay associated fees, and comply with new standards, with criminal penalties for violations and civil penalties authorized for non-compliance. The bill also imposes taxes on these products and sets a January 1, 2027, effective date for regulations overseen by a new state agency. This applies directly to businesses producing, selling, or distributing hemp-based consumable products in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 54 establishes comprehensive regulations for cannabis in Texas, creating new rules for businesses that cultivate, sell, or transport cannabis products. It requires occupational licenses for cannabis businesses, imposes taxes on cannabis products, and creates a process to expunge certain past cannabis-related records from criminal files. The bill also defines cannabis and cannabis beverages (excluding hemp products), sets restrictions on cannabis beverages (like no alcohol or caffeine), and creates new criminal penalties for violations. This legislation directly affects cannabis businesses, consumers, and individuals with prior convictions for decriminalized cannabis offenses.

Maddy summarySJR 3 proposes a constitutional amendment to create an independent redistricting commission that would draw district boundaries for Texas's U.S. House, Texas Senate, and Texas House of Representatives elections. Currently, the Texas legislature draws these district lines, but this amendment would transfer that responsibility to the commission. The commission would have sole authority to establish and adjust district maps for these three elected bodies after each census, removing the legislature's direct role in redistricting. The amendment requires voter approval to become part of the Texas Constitution.

Maddy summarySB 46 amends Texas Penal Code Section 39.03 to increase criminal penalties for public servants committing "official oppression" (abusing authority). It upgrades certain offenses to a third-degree felony if a public servant intentionally tampers with data reported to the Texas Education Agency via the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS). For peace officers, the bill creates a second-degree felony if they cause bodily injury or threaten it while using a deadly weapon or causing serious injury. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date (January 1, 2026), and does not change penalties for past actions.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment proposal (SJR 2) would prohibit Texas legislators from reducing the proportion of a demographic group that is a minority in the state within a congressional district where that group forms a majority of residents. It applies only to districts that have been apportioned at least once since the last U.S. census. The amendment specifically prevents the legislature from lowering that group's representation in such districts but does not restrict increasing it. This would require voter approval before becoming part of the Texas Constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Texas property tax rules for homeowners rebuilding after disasters. It exempts standard replacement structures (matching the original size and exterior materials) from being counted as "new improvements" that increase property taxes. Homeowners affected include those who rebuilt after qualifying disasters like hurricanes, floods, or accidents that made their homes uninhabitable. The rule applies only if the replacement structure doesn't exceed the original size or use higher-quality exterior materials. This prevents tax hikes for basic repairs without altering tax rates for larger or upgraded rebuilds.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would restrict when the Texas legislature can redraw election districts for both the Texas state legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. It would require redistricting to occur only during specific, defined timeframes: when the legislature is constitutionally required to act, or within a 120-day window after the federal census is released. Exceptions allow redistricting within one year if courts invalidate districts, but not during periods when the Legislative Redistricting Board has exclusive authority. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 election to take effect.

Maddy summarySB 34 creates a new exception to Texas abortion restrictions for pregnancies resulting from sexual assault, as defined in specific Penal Code sections (including aggravated sexual assault and offenses under Section 25.02). It specifies that patients do not need to file police reports, provide forensic evidence, or have the alleged assault prosecuted to access this exception. The bill also repeals Chapter 6-1/2, a law regulating abortion in Texas. These changes directly affect individuals seeking abortion care in cases of sexual assault and clarify that the exception does not alter other abortion laws or allow lawsuits against patients.

Maddy summarySB 33 adds specific exceptions to Texas abortion restrictions for certain medical conditions. It allows abortions when a physician determines they are necessary due to a lethal fetal anomaly or a life-limiting diagnosis where the fetus cannot survive outside the womb without extraordinary medical interventions. The bill also requires physicians performing abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy (or when the age is unknown but likely 20+ weeks) to use the method most likely to allow fetal survival, per medical judgment. These changes apply to physicians following the specified medical exceptions, not to general abortion access.