Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

Maddy summarySB 10 requires all Texas public elementary and secondary schools to display a specific, standardized version of the Ten Commandments in every classroom starting September 1, 2025. The law mandates a durable poster or framed copy meeting strict size (at least 16x20 inches) and content requirements, including only the exact text listed in the bill. Schools must display this unless they accept a privately donated version meeting the same specifications, and may optionally use district funds to purchase compliant displays. This directly affects every public school classroom in Texas, requiring a physical display of the specified religious text.

Maddy summaryHB 223 exempts Texas municipalities from standard competitive bidding requirements when procuring lobbying, government relations, or similar services intended to influence state or federal lawmakers. This change applies directly to cities, towns, and counties that hire firms for advocacy work with government officials. The bill amends the Local Government Code to explicitly exclude these services from mandatory competitive procurement rules, creating a specific exception in Section 252.022(a)(4). The policy change took effect September 1, 2025, after the governor signed it on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 512 prohibits money services businesses (such as wire transfer companies) from including monetary fines or penalties in their customer terms of service agreements for violations. Businesses that violate this rule would face a civil penalty equal to three times the fine they attempted to impose, enforced by the attorney general. The law applies only to new terms of service agreements entered into after September 1, 2025, leaving existing agreements unaffected. It does not prevent businesses from closing accounts for violations but bans the use of fines as a penalty mechanism.

Maddy summarySB 379 prohibits SNAP (food stamp) benefits in Texas from being used to purchase energy drinks, sweetened beverages (like soda), carbonated drinks, candy, potato/corn chips, and pre-packaged cookies. It directly affects SNAP recipients who previously could buy these items with their benefits. The law includes exceptions for milk products, milk substitutes (like almond milk), unsweetened beverages, infant formula, weight-loss drinks, and health-recommended products. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 4535 requires healthcare providers to obtain written informed consent before administering any COVID-19 vaccine to patients, including parental or guardian consent for minors or individuals lacking decision-making capacity. The law mandates that consent forms include acknowledgment of receiving a standardized information sheet developed by the state health department. This sheet must detail vaccine benefits/risks, accelerated development timeline, availability of long-term studies, manufacturer liability status, and instructions for reporting adverse reactions through the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The law, effective September 1, 2025, applies directly to healthcare providers and patients receiving COVID-19 vaccinations in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 2674 prohibits the Texas Education Agency, State Board of Education, and other educational institutions from adopting rules or policies that regulate homeschool educational programs. It directly affects homeschooling families in Texas by preventing state oversight of their curriculum, teaching methods, or operational standards. The bill adds Section 1.010 to the Education Code, explicitly banning such regulations, and takes effect September 1, 2025, for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a substantive policy change that removes potential state regulatory requirements for homeschools.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Rural Health Stabilization and Innovation Act, creates a State Office of Rural Hospital Finance to develop and implement a strategic plan for rural hospitals in Texas. The plan must include specific strategies to improve access to hospital services - such as enhanced Medicaid reimbursement, hospital rate enhancements, or reduced regulatory costs - and require annual financial vulnerability assessments to evaluate each hospital’s ability to maintain services, meet obligations, and remain operational. The office will submit annual reports to the legislature, governor, and budget board detailing progress on these goals. This law directly affects rural hospitals by mandating participation in this structured program to address financial challenges and sustain healthcare access in underserved communities.

Maddy summaryHB 3627 allows the chair of Texas' State Board of Education to hire staff to support the board's work. The bill authorizes the chair to employ personnel, set their duties, pay them using existing legislative funds, and make employment decisions like promotions or terminations. Staff hired under this law would receive retirement benefits, expense reimbursements, and report directly to the board chair. The law took effect September 1, 2025, and affects the State Board of Education's internal operations.

Maddy summarySB 1379 increases criminal penalties for forgery in Texas by creating a new value-based penalty structure. It raises penalties based on the value of property or services obtained through forgery, ranging from Class B misdemeanors for under $100 to first-degree felonies for $300,000+ (Section 1, subsection e-1). The bill also specifies higher penalties for forging certain documents like wills, deeds, credit cards, government records, or instruments issued by government entities (Sections 1(d) and 1(e)). Additionally, it mandates enhanced penalties when forgery targets elderly individuals (Section 1(e-2)). The law applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025).

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits public school districts in Texas from assigning or requiring staff to engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. It specifically bans schools from mandating DEI statements, giving preferential treatment based on such statements, or implementing policies that reference race, gender identity, or sexual orientation - except where required by law. School employees who violate these restrictions may face discipline, including termination. The bill directly affects public school districts, their employees, and students by restricting certain curriculum and staff training practices related to DEI. It does not impact schools' ability to teach about historical holidays or events.