Sen. Judith Zaffirini

Maddy summaryHB 3898 allows the Texas Water Development Board to provide financial assistance for brackish water desalination projects to specific counties. It directly affects counties with populations over 250,000 located on an international border and wholly or partly within a groundwater management area that lacks a groundwater conservation district inside the county. The bill amends the Water Code to authorize this assistance, creating a new eligibility pathway for these counties. The measure would take effect September 1, 2025, if passed. This is a policy change focused on expanding water infrastructure funding for targeted border communities facing groundwater challenges.

Maddy summaryHB 5339 creates a grant program administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to fund public colleges and universities conducting research and education on regenerative agriculture. The program supports projects assessing pesticide impacts, helping farmers transition to organic/pesticide-free methods, and providing training for agricultural producers and rural communities. Eligible institutions include all public universities, with priority given to non-land-grant schools with community outreach, active farm partnerships, and minimal funding from pesticide manufacturers. The grants specifically fund multi-year research, soil health studies, farmer education programs, and student projects focused on sustainable farming practices.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Resolution 555 formally recognizes May 2025 as ALS Awareness Month. The resolution acknowledges ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) as a fatal neurodegenerative condition affecting motor neurons, notes that approximately 16 Americans are diagnosed daily, and highlights the ALS Association's global research funding. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but encourages Texans to support ALS research and stand in solidarity with those affected. This symbolic resolution has no direct impact on policy or affected individuals beyond raising public awareness.

Maddy summarySJR 85 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase Texas school district property tax exemptions for elderly or disabled homeowners. Currently, the exemption for these residents is $10,000; this bill would raise it to $60,000 of a home's market value. The amendment would allow the legislature to adjust this exemption amount, with provisions ensuring eligible individuals (65+ or disabled) cannot receive both the basic exemption and this enhanced benefit. It directly affects Texas homeowners aged 65 or older or with disabilities who own their primary residence. The bill requires voter approval after legislative passage to take effect.

Maddy summarySJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the homestead exemption for school district property taxes in Texas from $100,000 to $140,000. This change would directly reduce the taxable value of a primary residence for school taxes, lowering property tax bills for homeowners. The amendment requires voter approval in a November 2025 election to take effect for the 2025 tax year. If passed, it would provide an additional $40,000 in tax relief on primary homes for school funding purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 3816 amends Texas Penal Code Section 42.09 to clarify and expand the criminal offense of cruelty to livestock animals. The bill specifically prohibits acts like torturing livestock, failing to provide necessary food/water, abandoning animals, cruel transport, poisoning non-cattle animals without consent, forcing animal fights, using live animals as lures in dog racing, tripping horses, overworking animals, or administering controlled substances to racehorses. Violations are classified as either Class A misdemeanors or state jail felonies, with enhanced penalties for repeat offenses involving prior convictions under this or related statutes. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, affecting livestock owners, handlers, and operators in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 1316 prohibits e-cigarette advertising on signs located within 1,000 feet of schools or churches in Texas. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to require this distance, measured from the nearest property line of the institution to the sign. It includes an exception for signs already advertising e-cigarettes within 500-1,000 feet of such institutions before September 1, 1997. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting businesses that advertise e-cigarettes near schools or churches.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill with policy changes) adopted by the Texas Senate on May 21, 2025. It formally recognizes the five students in the 13th class of the Senator Gregory Luna Legislative Scholars and Fellows Program - Ben Aguillon, Rachel Sepulveda, Leticia Sofia Torres, Christell Valdes, and Ezra Villarreal - for their service in Texas Senate offices during the 89th Legislative Session. The resolution commends their "remarkable service and excellent work" and provides them with a formal copy as a gesture of the Senate's "high regard." No new laws, funding, or policy changes are created by this resolution.

Maddy summaryHB 4213 increases the interest rate for overdue child support payments in Texas from 3% to 6% simple interest annually. It directly affects non-custodial parents who owe unpaid child support, applying the new rate to: (1) delinquent payments exceeding monthly obligations, (2) confirmed child support judgments, and (3) lump-sum retroactive payments. The bill sets the new rate to apply to payments due on or after January 1, 2026, while existing arrears before that date follow transitional rules (3% before 2002, current rate 2002-2025, then 6% from 2026). The law takes effect September 1, 2025, but the rate change only applies to future obligations.

Maddy summarySB 703 (effective September 1, 2025) changes licensing rules for massage professionals in Texas. It makes individuals ineligible for a massage establishment, school, therapist, or instructor license if they’ve been convicted of certain offenses - including sexual assault (Penal Code Chapters 20A, 21, or 43), related attempts, or similar offenses under federal/state law. The bill also requires automatic license revocation for licensed massage therapists or instructors convicted of those offenses or who practice at sexually oriented businesses. This directly affects Texas massage professionals, imposing new criminal conviction barriers to licensure and requiring license suspension for specific misconduct.