Sen. Brian Birdwell

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment (SJR 18) that would ban Texas from taxing capital gains - both when assets are sold (realized) or when their value increases without being sold (unrealized) - for individuals, families, estates, or trusts. It explicitly excludes property taxes, sales taxes on goods/services, and use taxes from this prohibition. If approved by voters in the November 2025 election, the amendment would require future Texas laws to comply with this ban on capital gains taxation. The measure directly affects taxpayers who own investments or assets subject to capital gains, but does not change existing tax types like property or sales taxes.

Maddy summarySB 28 prohibits purchasing or facilitating the purchase of state lottery tickets via telephone, internet, or mobile applications. It specifically bans individuals from buying tickets online or through apps (a Class C misdemeanor) and bans selling or arranging such purchases for compensation (a Class A misdemeanor). The bill directly affects residents attempting to access lottery games digitally and businesses or individuals offering such services. It creates new criminal penalties under Section 466.318 of the Government Code, effective September 1, 2025. The law aims to enforce existing age and location restrictions for lottery play by closing digital loopholes.

Maddy summarySB 2 establishes a state-funded education savings account program in Texas, allowing eligible families to use public funds for approved educational expenses. The program directly affects Texas families with children who have disabilities or who live in low-income households (at or below 500% of the federal poverty level). The comptroller administers the program, funding accounts with state money that can cover approved education costs like tuition, books, or tutoring. The bill becomes effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on May 3, 2025. This creates a new state-funded option alongside public schools for participating families.

Maddy summarySB 1754 prohibits municipalities and counties from entering tax exemption agreements for renewable energy facilities. The bill specifically blocks local governments from exempting from ad valorem taxes a portion of the value of property (or related equipment) where solar, wind, or qualifying battery storage facilities are located or planned. It defines "renewable energy facility" to include solar power generation, wind power generation, and battery storage facilities that collect, store, and discharge energy (excluding natural gas-based systems). This applies only to facilities selling energy wholesale to the power grid. The bill does not create new tax breaks but prevents local governments from offering them for these specific renewable energy projects.

Maddy summarySB 1756 limits Texas municipalities to using certain tax revenues for only one qualified project, such as a hotel, convention center, or historic hotel renovation. It prohibits municipalities from pledging or committing revenue for additional projects after the first qualified project is selected. The bill includes a grandfather clause allowing municipalities that already committed to multiple hotel projects before January 1, 2025, to maintain those commitments but prevents new pledges for additional projects after that date. This bill directly affects cities and local government corporations seeking to fund tourism infrastructure through tax revenue.

Maddy summarySB 39 amends Texas law to change how commercial vehicle accident lawsuits handle employer liability. It requires employers to formally admit (via stipulation) that an employee was acting within their job duties during a collision before negligence claims against the employer can proceed. This prevents claimants from presenting evidence about the employee's driving negligence in the first trial phase, but allows claims based on the employer's own actions (like poor vehicle maintenance) to move forward. The bill affects commercial motor vehicle owners/operators and accident victims seeking compensation for collisions. It applies only to cases filed or ongoing after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 465) symbolically recognizes April 29, 2025, as "Donate Life Texas Day" to honor organ, eye, and tissue donors and promote awareness of organ donation. It highlights Texas’s need for more donors (with over 10,000 awaiting transplants and only ~60% of eligible Texans registered) and aligns with National Donate Life Month. The resolution has no legal effect but aims to encourage Texans to register as donors by celebrating existing donors and raising public awareness. It directly affects all Texans by promoting a public health initiative through symbolic recognition.

Maddy summarySB 1199 requires that when a prisoner dies in a county jail (excluding deaths from natural causes confirmed by a physician), the state commission must appoint an independent law enforcement agency - distinct from the jail's operating agency - to investigate the death. This applies to all non-natural death cases and aims to prevent conflicts of interest by ensuring investigations are conducted by outside entities. The bill mandates these investigations begin "as soon as possible" after the death is reported. It directly affects county jails, the state commission, and the appointed law enforcement agencies responsible for conducting the reviews. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 1573 restricts how law enforcement agencies and state attorneys can use unverified reports of peace officer misconduct. It prohibits agencies from sharing such reports with state attorneys unless misconduct has been officially confirmed, and bars attorneys from considering unadjudicated misconduct when assessing an officer’s credibility in court. Peace officers who face credibility challenges due to unsubstantiated reports can dispute them in district court using a "preponderance of evidence" standard. The bill directly affects peace officers, law enforcement agencies, and state attorneys handling criminal cases in Texas.

Maddy summaryThis is a Senate Resolution (SR 453), not a substantive bill. It honors Stanley C. Parker of Waco, who died in September 2024, by expressing the Texas Senate's condolences to his family. The resolution formally commemorates his life, including his work with veterans through the Stan C. Parker Foundation, his community service, and his personal achievements. The Senate adopted it to extend sympathy and adjourn in his memory.