Sen. Chuy Hinojosa

Maddy summaryHB 27 requires all Texas public high school students to complete at least one-half credit in personal financial literacy as part of their social studies graduation requirements under Education Code Section 28.025(b-1)(4). The bill directs the State Board of Education to develop a list of free, open-source curricula for these courses and allows Advanced Placement courses meeting specific standards to count toward the requirement. This policy change affects all public high school students in Texas, mandating practical financial education alongside traditional subjects like history and government. The law, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025, is now effective immediately for all public school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 3486 allows restaurants in Texas to reduce the sales tax they owe by $5 for every 100 Texas farm-raised oysters they purchase for preparation and service. It directly affects restaurants that own food service establishments and buy oysters cultivated in Texas waters under state and federal regulations. The bill creates a specific tax deduction applied to taxable sales, calculated per oyster purchase, rather than changing the overall tax rate. This policy change takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies only to oysters grown and harvested within Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 3801 establishes the Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council and a separate workgroup focused on nursing career pathways, while eliminating the existing statewide health coordinating council and its nursing advisory committee. The new council, composed of agency representatives and governor-appointed members with healthcare workforce expertise, will compile data on workforce trends - including high school and higher education graduation rates - to develop strategies for a stronger healthcare system. This law directly affects Texas health agencies, educational institutions, and nursing professionals by centralizing workforce planning under the new council structure. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, replacing outdated advisory bodies with a more focused coordination mechanism.

Maddy summarySB 482 modifies Texas Penal Code sections to prevent enhanced penalties for assault or harassment against utility employees working in disaster or evacuated areas. It specifically prohibits prosecutors from applying stricter punishments (such as felony charges) under certain circumstances when the victim is a utility worker performing duties during emergencies. The bill directly affects utility company employees, contractors, and agents who provide essential services in crisis zones. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025, ensuring these workers face standard penalties rather than enhanced ones for related offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 3986 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 83 within Mission, Texas, as the "Corporal Speedy Espericueta Memorial Highway" to honor a military member. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the designated highway segment and at appropriate intermediate locations. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or direct impact on residents, businesses, or government programs. The designation becomes effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 7 requires the Texas Water Development Board to coordinate planning for water infrastructure projects to maximize use of existing utility corridors and minimize land acquisition through eminent domain. It mandates the Board to develop standardized specifications for water infrastructure, ensure different water systems can connect and operate together, and recommend building extra capacity during construction to accommodate future projects. The bill directly affects water project developers, utilities, and local governments working with the Board on infrastructure planning and financing. Key provisions include creating interconnectivity standards and facilitating collaboration between project sponsors and transportation/utility entities.

Maddy summaryHB 2731 amends Texas law to regulate roadside vendors and solicitors in unincorporated areas of counties bordering Mexico with populations exceeding 870,000. The bill permits counties to set rules for vendors and solicitors on public highways with speed limits of 40 mph or higher, requiring vendors to stay at least half the highway right-of-way width from the edge. It explicitly prohibits counties from banning the sale of livestock while allowing regulation of activities like live animal sales and solicitation. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1936 amends Texas law to clarify the definition of an "abuse unit" for certain controlled substances listed in Penalty Group 1-A. It specifies that an abuse unit equals: (1) a single unit on common carriers like blotter paper or tablets, (2) a quarter-inch square of unmarked paper (rounded down), or (3) 40 micrograms of a substance in liquid/solid form. This definition directly affects law enforcement and prosecutors when determining criminal charges for drug offenses under the Texas Controlled Substances Act. The change standardizes how quantities are measured for penalties, applying only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 43 amends Texas law to update the definition of "agricultural business" in the Agriculture Code, explicitly including rural recreational businesses (like hiking or fishing on farmland) and nonprofit land conservation groups. It also revises the composition of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority's board, requiring the governor to appoint nine members with specific representation: two young farmers/ranchers, two representatives from rural entities (chambers, trade associations), and others with agricultural lending expertise. These changes directly affect entities applying for the Authority's loan and grant programs, such as farmers, ranchers, rural tourism businesses, and conservation nonprofits. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, after passing both chambers unanimously.

Maddy summaryHB 120 amends Texas education law to prioritize college, career, and military readiness for high school students. It adds two new academic goals: requiring graduates to have immediate workforce skills (Goal 5) and ensuring college readiness without remediation (Goal 6). The bill mandates public schools to report de-identified student outcomes - including college enrollment, remedial coursework, and employment data - disaggregated by school district and campus. These reports will inform school accountability ratings and guide funding for career programs like the FAST and R-PEP initiatives. The law directly affects all Texas public high schools, students, and district administrators through updated accountability measures.