Sen. Judith Zaffirini

Maddy summarySB 752 requires public Texas colleges and universities to create emergency plans that specifically address the safety needs of students, staff, and guests with disabilities during crises. The bill mandates institutions to implement evacuation assistance devices in all multi-story campus buildings and develop plans accommodating different disabilities, including access to evacuation devices. It also directs the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish rules for these emergency plans, consulting disability advocacy groups during the process. These requirements apply to all public postsecondary institutions in Texas and aim to ensure equal access to safety during emergencies.

Maddy summarySB 1713 allows Texas counties to donate surplus or salvage property (like equipment or vehicles) to local civic or charitable organizations instead of selling it, under specific conditions. Counties may only do this if selling would cost more than the property's value, the donation serves a public purpose, and the organization covers disposal costs or provides equivalent value. The bill amends Local Government Code Section 263.152 to add this donation option alongside existing disposal methods like auctions or destruction. This applies only to property the county is already disposing of, not new acquisitions, and affects counties managing surplus assets.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain Texas counties to contract for solid waste disposal services in areas where municipalities don't provide them, specifically targeting counties with populations over 1.5 million (70% in one city) or under 1.3 million containing a city of 750,000+ residents. It also creates a criminal offense for intentionally burning household refuse outdoors in unincorporated areas meeting defined population criteria or containing large planned communities. The law applies only to counties meeting specific population thresholds and affects residents in those unincorporated areas. Key provisions include authorizing competitive bidding for waste services and establishing penalties for illegal outdoor burning. The bill focuses on streamlining waste management in specific county-municipality service gaps.

Maddy summarySB 1849 creates a loan repayment program for mental health professionals who work in underserved areas. It defines eligible professionals as psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed counselors, social workers, and others who provide services to Medicaid recipients, child health plan enrollees, or patients in correctional facilities. To qualify, applicants must practice in designated mental health shortage areas and apply through the state board. The bill specifies exact professions and service requirements for accessing repayment assistance.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 258 is a commemorative measure honoring the late U.S. Congressman Sylvester Turner of Houston, who died on March 5, 2025. The resolution recognizes his career as a Texas state legislator, mayor of Houston, and U.S. Congressman, highlighting his dedication to public service in Houston's Acres Homes neighborhood and his work on health care, education, and community resilience. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups, as it is a symbolic tribute to his legacy.

Maddy summarySB 1850 requires Texas truancy courts to collect and annually report detailed data on truancy case outcomes to the Office of Court Administration. The bill mandates reporting on specific metrics like referrals, dismissals, petitions filed, judgments issued, remedial orders (such as school attendance requirements or community service), and fines assessed, broken down by factors including school district, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. This data must be published online in a searchable format for public access. The bill directly affects truancy courts and school districts by establishing standardized data collection on how truancy cases are handled. It does not change truancy laws or penalties but creates a centralized database for transparency and analysis.

Maddy summarySJR 70 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove gendered language from Texas's requirements for state legislators. It would change phrases like "he" or "his" in the constitution to gender-neutral terms like "person" for qualifications to serve as a senator or state representative. The amendment affects all future candidates for Texas Senate and House seats by eliminating gender references from the constitutional eligibility rules. The bill would be submitted to voters in the November 2025 election for approval.

Maddy summarySJR 64 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how Texas judges can be disciplined. It would allow the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to require judges to complete additional training or education, in addition to issuing reprimands or warnings. The amendment also adds a new option for the Commission to ask the Supreme Court to appoint a retired judge (a "Master") to hear evidence and make recommendations in disciplinary cases. This change would apply to judges in positions specified under current law and requires voter approval in November 2025, with the amendment taking effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the State Commission on Judicial Conduct's disciplinary and investigatory powers in Texas. It defines "sanction" to include public or private warnings, reprimands, or required training for judges. The bill adds a 10-year statute of limitations for complaints (with exceptions for ongoing misconduct) and requires the Commission to decide on complaints within 90 days. For complaints about a judge's substance abuse or mental/physical incapacity, it mandates a 30-day preliminary review and allows temporary suspension with pay for up to 90 days while the judge undergoes evaluation.

Maddy summarySB 46 modifies Texas' state immunization registry rules to clarify which vaccination data can be included and how individuals can opt out. It requires healthcare providers to obtain initial consent (once for adults) before adding immunization records, while giving individuals or parents/guardians multiple ways to request exclusion - such as at birth, during appointments, online, or via written request. The bill ensures people aren’t required to repeatedly opt out and mandates that exclusion requests are honored until a new written request for inclusion is submitted. This directly affects Texas residents, parents/guardians of minors, and healthcare providers who report immunization data to the state registry.