Sen. Judith Zaffirini

Maddy summarySB 2122 establishes new application fees for permits related to oil and gas waste disposal in Texas. It requires $200 for fluid injection well permits, $500 for landfarm/landtreatment/land application permits, $2,000 for commercial waste separation facility permits, and $3,000 for commercial surface waste facility permits. These nonrefundable fees apply to applications filed with the Railroad Commission of Texas on or after September 1, 2025, directly affecting companies or individuals seeking to store, treat, or dispose of oil and gas waste. The bill does not change waste disposal regulations but modifies the fee structure for permit applications and amendments.

Maddy summarySB 72 shortens the definition of short-term vehicle rentals from 180 days to 30 days, expanding state regulation to cover most standard car rentals. It requires rental companies to provide pro-rata refunds for damage waiver charges if customers return vehicles early. The law applies only to new rental agreements entered on or after September 1, 2025, affecting both rental companies and customers who rent private passenger vehicles for 30 days or less. Existing contracts remain governed by prior law.

Maddy summarySB 570 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt attendance policies aimed at preventing truancy. These policies must inform students and parents about attendance benefits, describe consequences like academic impacts and potential truancy court referrals, and mandate schools to notify parents about absences via email/text or mail. Schools must also hold meetings with parents when students risk truancy and provide referrals to support services for students struggling to attend. The policy takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySB 1015 would require the Texas comptroller to redistribute excess fees collected by county probate courts. If total fees paid to the judicial fund exceed amounts needed for court operations (calculated under specific sections), the comptroller must send the excess proportionally back to counties that contributed more than their share. This applies to all statutory probate courts statewide and affects counties that collect these fees. The bill would take effect September 1, 2025, for fees collected on or after that date. (Note: The bill was reported adversely by the Senate Jurisprudence Committee on April 30, 2025.)

Maddy summarySB 1447 requires the Texas Education Agency to create standards for public schools using electronic devices and software. It mandates that schools minimize student data collection, obtain direct parental consent for most apps (except essential testing tools), and prohibit apps from conducting unauthorized mental health assessments. The bill also requires schools to provide parents with cybersecurity resources, set device deactivation periods for safety, and consider age-appropriate device use in classrooms. These standards apply directly to all Texas public school districts and charter schools, affecting how they manage student technology access.

Maddy summarySB 1377 creates a grant program to provide financial assistance to rural counties in Texas with populations of 68,750 or less. Qualified ambulance service providers in these counties can receive grants up to $500,000 (for counties under 10,000 people) or $350,000 (for counties between 10,000 and 68,750 people) to purchase ambulances. Counties must use the funds exclusively for ambulance purchases within five years and cannot reduce ambulance service budgets with this money. The comptroller administers the program, prioritizing counties farther from trauma centers and those with limited ability to fund ambulance services independently.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Texas counties to contract with local municipalities or emergency services districts to administer and enforce county fire codes, rather than handling it directly. It directly affects counties, their municipalities, and emergency services districts by changing how fire code enforcement is managed. The key provision requires county fire marshals to delegate enforcement to contracted entities under written agreements, as specified in the bill's amendments to local government code. The changes take effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate Resolution (SR 558), not a bill with policy changes. It formally recognizes the City of Laredo on its 270th anniversary, commemorating its founding in 1755. The resolution extends congratulations from the Texas Senate to Laredo for its historical significance, cultural vibrancy, and role as a major international trade hub. It has no legal effect or direct impact on residents or policies.

Maddy summarySB 1538 requires the Texas Office of Court Administration to study digital court reporting - using technology to create exact written records of court proceedings instead of traditional stenography. The study must evaluate current costs, access, accuracy, and effectiveness in Texas courts, compare practices in other states, and propose legal changes if needed. The Office must submit a report to state leaders by October 1, 2026, with the bill taking effect September 1, 2025. This study directly affects the Office of Court Administration and future court procedures in Texas. The bill expires September 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 1555 establishes a state grant program to fund railroad grade separation projects at local road and pedestrian crossings not on state highways. Local governments (cities, counties) can apply for grants to build overpasses or underpasses at these intersections to improve safety and reduce traffic conflicts. The program requires at least 10% of project costs from non-state sources (like local funds or federal grants), prohibits using state highway funds for these grants, and mandates that recipients partner with the Texas Department of Transportation to manage construction. Signed into law on May 24, 2025, this policy directly affects communities with railroad crossings near public roads or sidewalks.