Sen. Judith Zaffirini

Maddy summaryHB 3463 amends Texas Penal Code Section 31.04 to change notice requirements for defendants accused of theft of service (like failing to pay for services after receiving them). It requires written notice to be sent via registered mail, commercial delivery, email, or text message to the defendant's contact information listed in agreements or on checks. The bill establishes a presumption that notice was received within two days for some cases and five days for others, affecting how prosecutors must prove notice was delivered. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas law enforcement agencies to report missing children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children within two hours of receiving a report. The law mandates that agencies immediately begin investigations and enter detailed information about the child and any suspected abductor into multiple national and state databases. Police must also electronically share case details with other law enforcement agencies within 200 miles and inform families that their information has been submitted to these systems. These requirements apply to all law enforcement agencies in Texas regardless of where the child went missing. The bill repeals a duplicate provision to avoid redundancy in existing statutes.

Maddy summarySB 1254 regulates professional employer organizations (PEOs) in Texas by requiring them to hold valid licenses to provide payroll and employee benefits services. The bill establishes a 18-month grace period after a license expires during which PEOs may continue serving covered employees, but they lose this status and face penalties if they continue operating beyond that period without renewal. It also expands disciplinary actions against PEOs that provide services without a current license or while their license is expired, suspended, or inactive. This law directly affects PEOs operating in Texas, requiring them to maintain active licensing to legally provide these services.

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 4738 eliminates a requirement for lenders to remit portions of loan administration fees to the Texas Comptroller. Specifically, it removes language from the Finance Code that previously directed lenders to deposit $1 per fee (for loans over $1,000) or $0.50 per fee (for loans of $1,000 or less) into the Comptroller's account. The bill affects lenders who charge administrative fees on consumer loans, as it changes how those fees are handled without altering the fee amounts themselves ($25 max for loans over $1,000, $20 max for smaller loans). The change takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies to fees collected after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers certain parental educational rights to students who are 18 years old or have had their "disabilities of minority" removed under Texas Family Code Chapter 31 (typically through court order). It directly affects minors meeting these criteria, allowing them to make school enrollment decisions previously held by parents or legal guardians. The key mechanism amends Education Code Section 26.002 and Family Code Sections 31.006 and 151.001 to explicitly state that these rights transfer to the minor, unless the minor is deemed incompetent or restricted by court order. The law became effective September 1, 2025, after signing by the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 3804 amends Texas Finance Code definitions to clarify what constitutes a "deposit" for state bank regulation. It specifically defines "deposit" to include common banking arrangements like checking/savings accounts and checks, while explicitly excluding obligations like immediate payment reductions toward debt. The bill also updates exemptions for securities acquisitions by controlling persons of state banks. These changes directly affect how Texas state banks categorize and report financial liabilities under regulatory requirements. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, after passing both chambers and receiving gubernatorial approval.

Maddy summarySB 2069 requires Texas' Health and Human Services Commission to create a 15-member work group to study whether a statewide or regional registry tracking available acute psychiatric beds at hospitals would be feasible. The work group must include representatives from hospitals (rural, urban, and large-population counties), mental health associations, technology experts, and public health professionals. The group must complete its study and submit a report to the legislature by November 1, 2027, detailing findings on implementing such a registry. This bill directly affects mental health facilities and patients seeking inpatient psychiatric care by examining a potential system to improve bed availability transparency.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for licensing and regulating hearing instrument fitters and dispensers in Texas. It requires the state commission to create new rules that standardize written contracts, record-keeping, and a 30-day trial period for hearing instrument purchases. These rules must be written in plain language that is easy for average consumers to understand. The bill also allows license renewals for professionals who missed continuing education requirements due to serious illness or disability.

Maddy summaryHB 793 protects the personal information of individuals seeking or receiving protective orders in Texas. It allows applicants and protected persons to request that their mailing address, county of residence, workplace, school, or child-care facility details be kept confidential from public records and the respondent. Courts must then maintain these details in a private file, exclude them from protective orders, and specifically ask affected individuals at hearings if they want this confidentiality. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying to all new and existing protective orders under the Family Code.