Sen. Judith Zaffirini

Maddy summarySB 148 repeals Section 43.007(i) of the Texas Election Code, which governed how counties participate in the countywide polling place program. This change removes a specific provision related to county operations under that program. The bill would take effect immediately if passed by two-thirds vote, or on September 1, 2025, if not.

Maddy summarySB 69 establishes a nine-member Texas Redistricting Commission responsible for drawing voting districts for the U.S. House, Texas House, and Texas Senate. The commission would replace the current legislative process, with eight members appointed bipartisanship by the legislature (two by each chamber's majority party) and one independent member. Commission members must be Texas voters over 25, meet specific voting history requirements, and cannot hold public office, work for campaigns, or lobby during their term. This bill directly affects how Texas voters' districts are drawn for all state and federal elections, shifting redistricting authority from the legislature to the new commission.

Maddy summarySB 43 creates the Texas Promise Grant Program for two-year public colleges, covering tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students pursuing associate degrees or certificates. It directly affects Texas residents who recently graduated high school (within three years), enroll at least half-time in an eligible program, and apply for other financial aid. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will administer the program, setting specific eligibility rules while requiring students to avoid certain felony convictions. This policy aims to reduce financial barriers for community college students without specifying future enrollment or graduation outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 56 adds "chronically absent students" to the definition of "students at risk of dropping out" under Texas education law. This change directly affects Texas public school students who miss significant school time, requiring school districts to identify these students using the commissioner's defined absence thresholds. The bill mandates that schools collect and report data about chronically absent students through the existing Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS). This amendment aligns chronic absenteeism with other recognized risk factors like academic failure or homelessness, aiming to improve early intervention efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas school districts to provide free full-day prekindergarten to eligible children, including those who are homeless, in foster care or DFPS conservatorship, educationally disadvantaged, unable to speak English, or children of active-duty military members, injured/killed military personnel, or Star of Texas Award recipients (peace officers, firefighters, or emergency responders). Districts must offer these classes without tuition for qualifying children who are at least three years old (with full-day instruction required for four-year-olds), and must identify at least 15 eligible children to offer the program. Transportation is not mandated but, if provided, counts toward regular transportation funding. The bill aims to expand access to early childhood education for specific vulnerable populations.

Maddy summarySB 572 would provide a $10,000 annual base salary increase for full-time state employees and a proportional increase for part-time employees (based on hours worked relative to full-time) at state agencies and institutions of higher education, effective September 1, 2025. Full-time employees would receive a fixed $10,000 raise each year of the 2025-2027 biennium, while part-time employees would get a prorated amount (e.g., 50% of $10,000 for a 20-hour/week employee). The bill explicitly excludes legislators, board members, and other non-salaried officials who receive per diem payments instead of regular salaries. It applies to all state agencies and universities defined under Texas Education Code Section 61.003. The bill is currently in the Finance Committee and has not yet been voted on.

Maddy summarySB 48 would require certain Texas state employees to be granted paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child. It applies to employees in the Employees Retirement System of Texas or executive branch agencies (excluding public universities), covering leave for the employee's own birth, spouse's birth, a gestational surrogate's birth, or adoption. The bill amends existing law to define eligibility and specify that leave must be taken under Section 661.912 of the Government Code. The policy change would take effect on September 1, 2025, providing a new benefit for qualifying state workers. This is a concrete policy change focused on expanding paid family leave access for specific state employees.

Maddy summarySB 50 clarifies how Texas government agencies must handle electronic public records under the state's public information law. It defines "electronic public information" as searchable or sortable spreadsheets or databases containing official business data, requiring agencies to provide such records in the requested format (like a searchable digital file) rather than just paper copies. The bill prohibits agencies from refusing to share electronic records solely because standard system commands would be needed to export them. This directly affects government bodies managing public data and individuals or organizations seeking digital access to official records.

Maddy summarySB 573 establishes a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for specific retirement benefits paid by the Employees Retirement System of Texas, effective January 2026. It directly affects retirees and beneficiaries receiving service retirement, disability retirement, death benefits, or alternate payee annuities under certain chapters of the Texas Government Code. The COLA applies only to those eligible under specific membership classes (excluding elected class retirees) and requires eligibility based on retirement or death dates before specified cutoffs (e.g., before September 1, 2024 for service retirement). The adjustment is calculated as a percentage of the base benefit amount and begins with payments for January 2026. This is a concrete policy change to help offset inflation for qualifying retirees.

Maddy summarySB 258 allows Texas voters with an unexpired driver’s license or state ID card to register to vote online through the state’s official website starting September 1, 2025. It requires applicants to verify their information, consent to using their license signature, and match details against Department of Public Safety records. If the information matches, the application is sent to the applicant’s county registrar; if not, the system directs them to submit a paper form. The bill directly affects Texas voters who hold valid driver’s licenses or state IDs, making voter registration more accessible while requiring security checks against state records.