Sen. Chuy Hinojosa

Maddy summarySB 2667 requires private schools in Texas to report specific educator misconduct to the State Board for Educator Certification and notify parents when allegations occur. It mandates reporting for incidents like abuse, sexual contact with students, drug offenses, financial fraud, or crimes on school property, and specifies that schools must inform parents if an educator was terminated or resigned after an investigation. Failure to report triggers administrative penalties, and repeated failures could become a criminal offense. The law directly affects private schools and educators who would need teaching certification in public schools. It creates a new reporting obligation distinct from existing public school requirements.

Maddy summarySB 2670 allows specific Texas municipalities (those with populations of 700,000-950,000, or cities containing over 70% of a county’s population where the county has 1.5 million+ residents) to use hotel occupancy tax revenue for hotels, convention centers, and related infrastructure. The bill amends the Tax Code to clarify that qualifying local government corporations collecting hotel taxes can also access these funds. It specifically expands existing authority for "qualified projects" without creating new taxes or fees. This change affects only municipalities meeting the defined population criteria and applies to current tax code provisions.

Maddy summarySB 2664 amends Texas Health and Safety Code sections to change procedures for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). It restructures the University Advisory Committee membership (e.g., specifying appointments from UT System medical centers, Texas A&M Health Science Center, and other universities) and requires the Oversight Committee to obtain two-thirds approval for funding recommendations or grant applications, with written explanations for rejections. The bill also allows CPRIT to reuse recovered grant funds during the same grant cycle for projects ready to begin imminently. These changes apply only to grant applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2668 requires vehicle storage facility operators in Texas to sell abandoned vehicles through Internet websites approved by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). It mandates specific proof of notice delivery (like certified mail receipts) before vehicles can be deemed abandoned after a 10-day claim period. The bill creates new rules for TxDMV to approve online sale platforms and specifies that operators don't need lien releases to sell vehicles. This directly affects vehicle storage businesses by changing how they legally dispose of abandoned vehicles through regulated online sales.

Maddy summarySB 2671 establishes the Texas Geothermal Energy Production Policy Council within the state commission to study and recommend policies for geothermal energy development. The council, composed of commission officials, a university geology director, and up to 11 industry representatives, will analyze geothermal project growth, tax incentives, and federal partnerships to develop a state oversight plan. It must provide legislative recommendations for regulating geothermal production, pipelines, and storage by 2032, when the council expires. This bill creates a temporary advisory body focused on policy research, not new regulations or funding.

Maddy summarySB 2666 establishes a grant program for hospitals within the Nueces County Hospital District to address physician shortages. The program allows hospitals to use grant funds to retain current physicians and recruit doctors in specialties with limited access in the district, while also increasing residency positions. Hospitals must apply through district-set criteria, and funds must align with providing care for indigent residents. The bill requires accountability measures to ensure proper use of grants and measurable benefits for the district. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2682 creates a new civil cause of action for victims of online impersonation in Texas. It defines online impersonation as using someone's name, voice, photo, or likeness on social media without consent (or parental consent for minors) to create a false identity with intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten. Victims can seek actual damages for related costs (like counseling or identity theft recovery), at least $500 in punitive damages, and court-ordered injunctions to stop the impersonation. The law excludes satire, parody, and law enforcement activities from liability.

Maddy summarySB 2741 modifies how qualified lawyers are appointed for indigent defendants and juveniles in capital felony cases where the death penalty is sought. It establishes new standards requiring appointed attorneys to have at least five years of criminal law experience, trial experience in homicide or capital cases, and specific training in mental health evidence and mitigation. If a county cannot seek the death penalty due to a court ruling, the bill mandates that counsel be appointed using the same process applied to first-degree felony cases. The bill also creates local selection committees with judicial, bar association, and certified criminal law expert representation to oversee attorney appointments. These changes aim to ensure consistent access to qualified legal representation in high-stakes criminal cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates grade-specific supplemental bilingual education teaching certificates in Texas. It requires the State Board for Educator Certification to issue two types of supplemental certificates: one for teaching bilingual education to students in grades 6 and below, and another for grades 7-12, which must align with a teacher's primary certification. The bill also changes the testing process by allowing teachers who fail the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test to retake only the sections they missed and skip certain components (like lesson plan preparation) during retakes. These changes take effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting educators seeking bilingual certification.

Maddy summarySB 2547 imposes a temporary pause on the Health and Human Services Commission (HHS) awarding new contracts to managed care organizations that provide Medicaid and child health plan services in Texas. The moratorium prevents new contracts from being issued during the period starting when the bill takes effect and ending with the Commission’s next Sunset Review under state law. Existing contracts may still be renewed, and if a provider declines renewal, new contracts can be awarded for that service area. This directly affects managed care organizations serving Medicaid and child health plan enrollees, delaying new provider contracts until after the Sunset Review cycle concludes. The bill expires automatically after this review period.