Sen. Roland Gutierrez

Maddy summarySB 147 requires Texas counties to establish polling places on the main campuses of public institutions of higher education within their borders if those institutions enroll at least 5,000 students. Specifically, counties must designate one polling place for campuses with 5,000-9,999 students, two places for 10,000-19,999 students, and one additional place for every 10,000 students beyond 10,000. The bill applies to all public colleges and universities meeting these enrollment thresholds located in the county. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 484 requires manufacturers and retailers of portable generators sold in Texas to place clear warning labels on generators without carbon-monoxide kill switches. These labels must inform consumers about the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and provide safe operation instructions. Manufacturers or retailers who fail to comply face civil lawsuits for injuries or deaths caused by the lack of warnings, including compensation for damages and legal fees. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025, and applies only to incidents occurring after that date.

Maddy summarySB 146 would require Texas county voter registrars to automatically register naturalized U.S. citizens who reside in the county to vote upon receiving a certificate of naturalization. The bill establishes a system where the Texas Department of Public Safety coordinates with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to notify registrars of new naturalizations, enabling automatic voter registration without requiring separate applications. If USCIS fails to notify the state, naturalized citizens can present their certificate directly to the registrar for registration assistance. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and aims to streamline voter access for newly naturalized citizens.

Maddy summarySB 148 repeals Section 43.007(i) of the Texas Election Code, which governed how counties participate in the countywide polling place program. This change removes a specific provision related to county operations under that program. The bill would take effect immediately if passed by two-thirds vote, or on September 1, 2025, if not.

Maddy summarySB 485 requires landlords of multiunit housing complexes (where at least one resident is elderly, disabled, or a child) to take specific steps during disasters. Landlords must implement reasonable safety precautions, train staff to assist vulnerable residents, provide clear evacuation instructions and danger alerts, and not abandon the complex unless a mandatory evacuation order is issued. Residents who suffer harm due to a landlord’s failure to meet these duties can sue for damages. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not override existing landlord responsibilities under other laws.

Maddy summarySB 163 amends Texas Education Code to change how full-day prekindergarten programs are funded under the Foundation School Program. It requires districts operating full-day preK to provide at least 32,400 minutes of annual instructional time to qualify for full average daily attendance credit (matching K-12 funding rules), instead of half-credit for half-day programs. This directly affects public school districts and charter schools offering preK programs by determining their state funding eligibility. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, aligning preK attendance calculations with K-12 standards for funding purposes.

Maddy summarySB 348 expands medical consent rights for certain minors under Texas law. It allows unmarried minors aged 16 or older who live independently (and manage their own finances) to consent to pregnancy-related care, including postpartum treatment, and contraception-related medical treatment (excluding abortion). The bill also permits minors who are parents to consent to medical care for their children, and minors in state custody facilities to consent to treatment (with specific exceptions). These provisions directly affect minors meeting the defined criteria, enabling them to make certain health decisions without parental involvement.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new constitutional right to the Texas Constitution, guaranteeing all Texas residents the right to be free from government interference in their private lives. It would amend Article I, Section 37 to state that individuals have this right "except as otherwise provided by this constitution," while explicitly preserving existing rights to access public meetings and records. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election, with the ballot phrasing "The constitutional amendment establishing the right to be free from governmental intrusion or interference into an individual's private life." This is a procedural proposal for a constitutional change, not an immediate law.

Maddy summarySB 357 requires peace officers to report lost or stolen firearms to the Texas Department of Public Safety within 24 hours of receiving a report from the owner. The department must then forward these reports to the National Crime Information Center. The bill also creates limited liability protection: firearm owners who report the loss or theft to law enforcement within 24 hours of discovering it cannot be held legally liable for harm caused by that firearm afterward. This law applies only to incidents occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects firearm owners who must report losses/stolen weapons promptly to avoid potential liability.

Maddy summarySJR 30 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Texas cities and counties to create a property tax exemption for homeowners' primary residences. It would let local governments exempt at least $5,000 of a home's market value from annual property taxes, with the exemption permanent once adopted (meaning local governments cannot later reduce or eliminate it). The amendment requires voter approval in November 2025 and would take effect for the 2026 tax year. This directly affects homeowners in jurisdictions that choose to implement such an exemption.