Sen. Chuy Hinojosa

Maddy summaryHB 300 increases the maximum Texas Armed Services Scholarship to $30,000 per academic year (up from $15,000), capping at the average cost of attendance at Texas colleges. It expands appointment authority, allowing the governor and lieutenant governor to each appoint two students annually, and each state senator or representative to appoint one student, with deadlines set for September 30. The bill directly affects Texas students enrolled in ROTC or similar military commissioning programs at Texas colleges, requiring proof of program enrollment or acceptance into the Texas State Guard. These changes are effective immediately after the bill was signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1120 expands rights for victims of specific crimes in Texas, directly affecting victims of family violence, sexual assault, stalking, or violations of protective orders, as well as their guardians or close relatives of deceased victims. The bill codifies 10 specific rights, including the right to receive safety protections from law enforcement, input on bail decisions, timely notifications about court proceedings, information on victim compensation programs, and separate waiting areas during testimony. It also clarifies definitions of "family violence" and "victim" to include offenses like aggravated robbery, trafficking, and injury to vulnerable individuals. These provisions aim to ensure victims and their families have consistent access to information and support throughout criminal proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 163 updates Texas law regarding epinephrine auto-injector policies. It exempts schools, sports organizations, and government entities that already have policies for epinephrine systems under other laws from needing separate rules. The bill allows these entities to adopt their own policies for maintaining, administering, and disposing of epinephrine delivery systems. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and repeals prior sections of the Health and Safety Code related to this matter.

Maddy summarySB 1313 prohibits tobacco retailers from using specific signs, logos, or designs in advertising or marketing cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or tobacco products. It bans elements like cartoon characters targeting minors, copied trademarks of youth-focused products, symbols marketed to children, celebrity images, and designs resembling candy or juice. Retailers violating this law face a Class B misdemeanor charge. The law applies directly to businesses selling tobacco products and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3487 allows restaurant owners participating in a state-recognized oyster shell recycling program to reduce their sales tax liability. Specifically, it permits a $2 deduction for every 50 pounds of oyster shells recycled at their establishment and provided to a qualifying recycling project. This deduction applies to taxable sales used to calculate sales and use taxes remitted to the Texas comptroller. The bill requires restaurants to participate in a program certified by the comptroller and takes effect October 1, 2025. It directly affects restaurants with food service establishments that join the oyster shell recycling initiative.

Maddy summarySB 1300 defines "organized retail theft" as stealing from a merchant through coordinated actions (e.g., acting in concert with others), multiple incidents within 180 days, or benefiting from such theft. It changes how stolen item value is calculated for sentencing by using the merchant's posted sales price (including tax) instead of market value, and makes it easier for prosecutors to prove cases by allowing indictments to reference merchants and aggregate value ranges rather than listing each item. The bill also establishes price tags as evidence of both value and merchant ownership, streamlining prosecutions. This law directly affects Texas retailers and individuals convicted of organized retail theft, with increased penalties for the offense.

Maddy summaryHB 35 creates a state-mandated peer support network for Texas first responders, directly affecting emergency medical services personnel and firefighters. The law requires the state agency to develop peer-to-peer support programs, provide suicide prevention training for peer coordinators, and ensure confidential access to mental health resources at no cost to responders. It also mandates annual reports tracking participation numbers, peer training outcomes, regional facility locations, and program evaluations. The network aims to improve mental health support across both urban and rural communities while protecting participant privacy under confidentiality rules.

Maddy summarySB 571 updates Texas education law to restrict employment of contract employees who work in public schools and have direct student contact. It prohibits school districts and contractors from hiring individuals with certain criminal convictions (like felonies or misdemeanors listed under Section 22.085) or those identified in a misconduct registry for specific offenses. The bill also expands access to this registry - used to track ineligible employees - to include private schools, non-profit teacher organizations, and school contractors. These changes apply only to new contracts entered on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3133 requires social media platforms operating in Texas to create an easy-to-use complaint system for users reporting explicit deep fake material. The bill defines "explicit deep fake material" as AI-generated content falsely depicting real people in sexual acts or exposing intimate body parts. Platforms must provide clear, plain-language notice about this system and review complaints about such content within 48 hours (excluding weekends). This law directly affects major social media platforms by mandating specific procedures for handling these reports, without requiring content removal.

Maddy summaryHB 3963 establishes a new early childhood integrated data system to improve coordination among Texas state agencies serving young children. It requires four key agencies - the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Workforce Commission, and Children’s Learning Institute - to share aggregated, non-identifiable data across early childhood programs. The system aims to identify service gaps, align programs, and inform state-level policy decisions to improve outcomes for children and families. All data sharing must comply with privacy and cybersecurity laws, ensuring no personally identifiable information is used. This law, signed by the governor and effective September 1, 2025, directly affects state agencies responsible for early childhood services.