Sen. Chuy Hinojosa

Maddy summarySB 2105 requires county or district attorneys to issue written notices to commercial lodging establishments (like hotels and motels) if they violate human trafficking awareness rules. The notice must detail the violation, state a 30-day deadline to fix it, and specify potential civil penalties (up to $5,000 per violation). If unresolved, attorneys can sue in the county where the violation occurred to collect penalties or enforce compliance. The civil penalties collected go directly to the county court’s jurisdiction, not the state. This bill focuses on enforcement mechanics, not new awareness requirements.

Maddy summarySB 438 adds new confidentiality protections for current and former administrative law judges (ALJs) working for the State Office of Administrative Hearings. It exempts their home addresses, phone numbers, emergency contacts, Social Security numbers, and information about family members from public disclosure requirements under Texas law. The bill amends the Government Code and Tax Code to ensure these ALJs' sensitive personal information remains private, regardless of other disclosure rules. These changes apply only to information requests received on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 748, known as Trey's Law, prohibits the enforcement of confidentiality clauses in agreements that prevent disclosure of sexual abuse. The bill makes any provision in settlement, employment, or other agreements that blocks someone from sharing details about sexual abuse (including the act itself, identity of victims/perpetrators, or related facts) void and unenforceable. However, it does not restrict confidentiality around other settlement terms, such as payment amounts. For agreements signed before the law's effective date (September 1, 2025), parties must first obtain a court declaration confirming the clause's enforceability to avoid being voided.

Maddy summaryHB 2427 creates a permit system for oversize and overweight vehicles traveling on specific routes in Hidalgo County, including roads near the Pharr-Reynosa and Anzalduas international bridges and key local corridors like FM 1016 and US 281. It establishes fees for these permits, requiring all collected revenue to fund the construction and maintenance of the exact routes covered by the permit program. The bill directly affects commercial trucking companies operating in these areas and ensures fees are dedicated solely to improving the infrastructure they use. This targeted funding mechanism aims to address road wear from heavy vehicles while providing a clear revenue stream for local transportation needs. The bill passed in May 2025 after amendments.

Maddy summarySB 1786 expands access to free dual credit college courses for eligible Texas high school students. It requires school districts to determine if students were educationally disadvantaged during their current or previous four school years, and to notify colleges if they qualify for no-cost enrollment in dual credit courses. The bill directly affects public high school students in grades 9-12 who meet the disadvantage criteria, with schools handling eligibility checks and college notifications. It amends Education Code sections to establish this process and clarifies definitions for public junior colleges. The policy creates a concrete pathway for qualifying students to earn college credit without tuition costs while in high school.

Maddy summarySB 1080 requires Texas licensing authorities to issue either a full occupational license or a provisional license (valid for six months) to otherwise qualified applicants who have been convicted of certain offenses, instead of automatically denying their applications. The provisional license begins on the date an applicant is released from prison if they were incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. This bill directly affects individuals with criminal convictions seeking occupational licenses (such as for nursing, contracting, or other licensed professions) who meet all other qualification requirements. It aims to reduce barriers to employment by providing a temporary licensing pathway for these applicants.

Maddy summarySB 761 strengthens rights for sexual assault victims and their families in Texas criminal proceedings. It requires prosecutors to notify victims (or their guardians/close relatives) at least five business days before court hearings about plea bargain terms and to consult with them regarding case dispositions. The bill also mandates courts to confirm victims received impact statements and ensures victims receive timely updates about court proceedings and appeals. These changes apply directly to sexual assault victims, their families, and the criminal justice system, with a civil penalty authorized for violations. The law became effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1531 would allow Texas property owners to pay ad valorem (property) taxes electronically using credit cards, debit cards, or electronic checks. County collectors could charge a processing fee of up to 5% of the tax amount, which must be reasonably related to their costs and paid in addition to the tax itself. The bill requires counties to display online payment options on their websites and establish procedures for electronic payments. This change directly affects property owners who choose electronic payment methods and county tax collectors who would implement these systems.

Maddy summarySB 442 makes it a crime to create or share computer-generated videos (deepfakes) that falsely depict real people engaging in sexual acts they did not perform. It requires creators to obtain written consent in plain language from the person depicted, describing the content and how it will be used. Violations are now a Class A misdemeanor (up to a year in jail), or a third-degree felony for repeat offenses. The law directly affects individuals who produce or distribute such deepfakes without valid consent, targeting non-consensual sexual deepfakes specifically. It does not apply to content with disclaimers or labels indicating it is fictional.

Maddy summarySB 2857 would create a state-administered prescription drug purchasing pool for certain employers and health insurers. It allows qualified public employers (like local governments and schools) and self-insured private employers to join the pool to purchase drugs at negotiated discounted rates through the Health and Human Services Commission. Participants would still pay for claims through their existing health coverage agreements, as the pool does not replace individual coverage responsibility. The bill establishes rules for enrollment, eligibility, and funding but does not change how health benefits are administered.