Sen. Bob Hall

Maddy summarySB 1397 creates the 504th Judicial District, designated to cover all of Ellis County, Texas. This new district would replace or establish a dedicated judicial system for the county, with the district taking effect immediately upon passage with a two-thirds vote in both chambers, or on September 1, 2025, if not. The bill defines the district's boundaries and administrative structure without altering existing county court functions or introducing new policies.

Maddy summarySB 1472 requires Texas assisted living facilities to allow residents to designate an advocate to represent their interests. The bill defines an "advocate" as a resident's spouse, family member, legal guardian, or court-appointed representative, including individuals chosen under a durable power of attorney for health care. Facilities must follow rules established by the Health and Safety Code to support this designation, ensuring residents have a designated person to address care concerns. This policy directly affects residents in assisted living facilities by providing a formal mechanism for advocacy in care decisions.

Maddy summarySB 1477 creates a franchise tax credit for Texas businesses that register with and actively use the federal E-Verify program to confirm employee work authorization for at least 12 consecutive months. The credit equals the business's franchise tax amount due after applying other credits, but entities can claim only one such credit. This provision applies to franchise tax reports originally due on or after January 1, 2026, and requires businesses to apply for the credit when filing their tax report. The bill does not change E-Verify participation requirements but provides a financial incentive for businesses already using the federal program.

Maddy summarySB 1474 modifies Texas state agencies' rulemaking process. It requires legislative approval for certain rules if they are withdrawn twice (Section 1) or if 52% of public comments disapprove them (Section 3). Agencies must submit proposed rules to legislative committees within 10 days of filing (Section 4), with committees required to consider them within 30 days. This directly affects all Texas state agencies that create regulations, making it harder for them to finalize rules without legislative oversight. The bill applies to most rules except short-term emergency rules under 90 days.

Maddy summarySB 1476 tightens disciplinary rules for Texas real estate professionals (brokers, agents, inspectors, appraisers, and appraisal companies) by requiring them to notify the licensing commission within 30 days of being convicted of or pleading guilty to certain offenses. The bill adds specific grounds for license suspension or revocation, including felonies, fraud-related crimes, and drug offenses, without waiting for appeal deadlines to expire. It also mandates reporting of convictions under Texas Penal Code Chapters 31-35 (covering fraud, theft, etc.) or Health and Safety Code Chapter 481 (drug offenses). This directly affects license holders who face these criminal charges, requiring prompt disclosure to the commission. The changes update existing licensing regulations to strengthen accountability for professional misconduct.

Maddy summarySB 1481 amends Texas tax code to explicitly include hydroponic farming under agricultural property tax definitions. This means land and equipment used for hydroponic farming will now qualify for the same agricultural property tax exemptions as traditional farms. The bill updates Sections 11.161(c), 23.42(d)(1), and 23.51(2) of the Tax Code to define "agriculture," "agricultural use," and "farm or ranch products" to include hydroponic methods. It directly affects hydroponic farm operators seeking property tax exemptions. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, applying only to tax years beginning after that date.

Maddy summarySJR 61 proposes a constitutional amendment to give the Texas legislature authority to create laws requiring legislative review or approval of rules made by state agencies. This would directly affect state agencies that create regulations and the legislature itself, which would gain new power to establish review procedures. Key provisions would allow the legislature to set rules for how agency rules are reviewed, determine when rules take effect, and provide mechanisms for suspending or repealing rules. The amendment must be approved by voters in November 2025 before taking effect.

Maddy summarySB 1480 makes it a criminal offense to transport an unsecured load that falls onto a roadway or creates an immediate danger while moving on public roads. It directly affects drivers and transporters of vehicles carrying cargo, with specific exemptions for construction equipment moving between barricades, agricultural products in natural state on specialized vehicles, and commercial vehicles regulated under federal rules (unless a peace officer witnesses an imminent hazard or investigates a load fall). Key provisions require vehicles to prevent loads from becoming loose or hazardous, mandate enclosed beds for loose materials with side panels and front barriers, and define the offense under two clear scenarios. The bill updates Texas Transportation Code Chapter 725 to explicitly address unsecured loads, removing prior ambiguity around "loose materials."

Maddy summarySB 1391 requires the Texas Department of State Health Services to post all public-use forms it develops online in a clear, visible location on its website. This applies to forms used by Texas residents for health-related services, such as applications or reporting tools. The bill mandates that these forms must be "conspicuously posted and readily accessible" without requiring additional technical changes to the forms themselves. It does not alter health services or eligibility rules, only the method of public access to existing forms. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025, unless approved for immediate implementation.

Maddy summarySB 1041 requires Texas state agencies to review job requirements and reduce the number of positions mandating a bachelor's degree as a condition of employment. It directs classification officers to identify roles where educational requirements could be lowered, evaluate career advancement paths for employees without bachelor's degrees, and report findings to the governor's budget office and Legislative Budget Board by 2025. The bill directly affects state agencies hiring staff for roles currently requiring bachelor's degrees and employees without such degrees. It does not change current hiring rules but mandates a review process to expand opportunities for non-degree holders. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.