Sen. Judith Zaffirini

Maddy summarySB 1923 modifies Texas child support orders to direct payments to the parent with physical custody under specific circumstances. It allows courts to redirect payments when the non-custodial parent voluntarily relinquishes primary care for six months, is incarcerated for 90+ days, or enters certain agreements (like parental safety placement agreements under Section 264.902). The bill requires courts to hold hearings within 30 days for safety placement agreement cases and mandates that unpaid support accrue from the date of the qualifying event. This directly affects parents with physical custody, child support obligors, and family courts handling custody disputes. The law became effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1916 clarifies that the court issuing a final divorce decree retains exclusive authority to divide property not previously divided in that decree. It directly affects Texas divorcing couples whose property division was incomplete at the time of their divorce. The bill amends the Texas Family Code to require that any subsequent suit to divide such undivided property must be handled by the original divorce court, not a new court. This eliminates uncertainty about which court has jurisdiction for these cases. The law applies to all pending or future cases filed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2802 amends Texas law to adjust population thresholds for firefighter retirement systems in certain cities, expanding eligibility to cover municipalities with populations of 450,000 to 500,000 (previously 950,000 to 1,050,000). The bill updates definitions and administrative rules for retirement funds, including terms like "actuarial accrued liability" and "amortization period," to align with revised funding calculations. These changes directly affect firefighters in qualifying cities by modifying how their retirement contributions and benefits are calculated and administered under state law. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after receiving final approval in June 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1574 creates a "Centers of Excellence" program administered by the Texas Judicial Council to recognize judges and justices who excel in community service and judicial representation. The program identifies eligible judges from appellate courts, district courts, county courts, justice courts, and municipal courts based on two key criteria: court governance (including access, fairness, and case management) and compliance with statutory requirements for reporting, security, fees, and fraud prevention. Judges may apply for recognition using forms prescribed by the council. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to recognitions granted under this program after that date.

Maddy summaryTexas designates May 23 as Family Abduction Awareness Day annually for a 10-year period ending in 2035. This concurrent resolution raises public awareness about family abductions - where a parent or family member abducts a child, often during custody disputes - and highlights that such cases account for 58% of AMBER Alerts in 2022. It does not create new laws or affect specific individuals but aims to emphasize the seriousness of these incidents through annual recognition.

Maddy summaryHB 201 establishes Texas' Financial Crimes Intelligence Center to combat card fraud and motor fuel theft. The center coordinates law enforcement, financial institutions, and merchants to detect skimmers (devices stealing card data) and motor fuel manipulation devices (tools altering fuel meters for theft). It serves as a centralized hub for sharing information, providing training, and developing prevention strategies. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies, banks, credit card companies, and retailers by enhancing their ability to address these specific crimes. The center becomes operational September 1, 2025, after the bill was signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 764 changes the procedure for hearings when the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation denies an electrician's license or takes disciplinary action against one. It directs that these hearings be governed by Chapter 2001 of the Texas Government Code (which outlines administrative hearing rules), rather than existing licensing procedures. This change applies only to hearings starting on or after September 1, 2025, meaning existing cases follow the old rules. The bill affects electricians facing license denial or discipline by shifting their hearing process to a standardized administrative framework.

Maddy summaryHB 4226 exempts nonprofit food banks and specific housing providers from Texas state sales, use, and rental taxes on motor vehicles they purchase, use, or rent. It directly affects food banks (as defined in Section 162.001) and housing providers serving homeless individuals with disabilities who meet strict criteria (continuously homeless for 1+ year or four homelessness episodes in 3 years). The bill adds new Tax Code sections requiring vehicles to be used "primarily" for the organization's core services. This exemption applies only to vehicles acquired on or after its September 1, 2025 effective date. The law was signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2294 changes how Texas reimburses child-care providers in the Texas Rising Star Program. It allows providers to receive reimbursement at the state's maximum rate based on their program rating level - not their own published rates - provided this doesn't reduce the commission's target for daily children served in subsidized care. The bill directly affects child-care providers participating in the program and the state commission managing subsidy targets. The key provision ensures providers can be paid more fairly without undermining existing daily child care targets. This law took effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1606 requires Texas electric utilities to include clear instructions in customer bills about how to request vegetation management near power lines. This applies to all retail electric customers receiving bills from utilities, cooperatives, or municipally owned providers. The bill mandates that utilities periodically provide this information alongside billing statements, detailing the specific procedure for customers to request trimming of trees or plants near transmission or distribution lines. The law aims to improve customer access to information about maintaining safe clearance around power infrastructure. The bill became effective September 1, 2025.