Sen. Brian Birdwell

Maddy summarySB 1242 amends Texas Education Code Section 135.02(c) to allow the Texas State Technical College System to acquire land and facilities in counties where it has campuses. The bill requires the coordinating board to review and approve acquisitions only if the property value exceeds $300,000 or if the board of regents requests adding it to the system's inventory. This change streamlines the process for the college system to obtain property while adding a threshold for larger acquisitions. The law took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature on June 20, 2025. It directly affects the college system’s property management operations, not students or general public policy.

Maddy summarySB 7 requires the Texas Water Development Board to coordinate planning for water infrastructure projects to maximize use of existing utility corridors and minimize land acquisition through eminent domain. It mandates the Board to develop standardized specifications for water infrastructure, ensure different water systems can connect and operate together, and recommend building extra capacity during construction to accommodate future projects. The bill directly affects water project developers, utilities, and local governments working with the Board on infrastructure planning and financing. Key provisions include creating interconnectivity standards and facilitating collaboration between project sponsors and transportation/utility entities.

Maddy summarySB 13 requires Texas school districts to provide parents with access to records about their child's school library materials, including books or digital resources checked out. It mandates that school libraries prohibit the acquisition of materials rated "sexually explicit" by vendors or deemed "harmful" under Texas law, and restricts access to content described as "pervasively vulgar" or "educationally unsuitable." The bill also creates local school library advisory councils to help develop library policies. These changes directly affect parents, school districts, and students by expanding parental oversight of library resources and setting new standards for library collections. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5093 modifies Texas public information law to require the secretary of state to disclose a notary public's home address, home phone number, and email address - previously protected under confidentiality rules. This change directly affects notaries appointed under Chapter 406 of the Texas Government Code, making this contact information publicly accessible through the secretary of state's records. The bill amends Section 552.11765 of the Government Code to remove these details from the list of exempt information, overriding prior protections for license holders. The law took effect September 1, 2025, after receiving final approval from the governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 3048 creates the Bluebonnet Hills Municipal Management District No. 1, a special district in the Bluebonnet Hills area near Midlothian, Texas. The bill grants the district authority to issue bonds for infrastructure, collect property assessments and fees, and use limited eminent domain powers to acquire land for development. It directly affects property owners within the district boundaries by subjecting them to these financial obligations. The district’s purpose is to promote economic development, employment, housing, and public services - supplementing but not replacing city services in the area. The bill establishes a governing board and defines the district’s public purpose under Texas constitutional provisions.

Maddy summarySB 2601 creates a state program to compensate agricultural landowners and lessees for property damage caused by border-related criminal activities. It defines "border crime" as specific offenses involving transnational criminal activity (like drug trafficking or illegal border crossings) under Texas law. The attorney general will administer compensation for physical damage, debris, pollutants, or soil contamination, including costs to restore agricultural use. Insurance companies cannot factor such claims into rate-setting for policies delivered or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2781 restricts registered lobbyists (those required to register under Chapter 305, Government Code) from using political contributions they received to fund other political activities. Specifically, it prohibits lobbyists from making political contributions or expenditures to other candidates, officeholders, or committees using funds they received as candidates, from specific-purpose committees supporting them, or from committees that received funds from those sources within the previous two years. Violators face civil penalties of up to twice the amount of the prohibited contribution or expenditure. The law applies only to violations occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 843 requires Texas school districts to report detailed information about bonds, taxes, and related projects to a new Texas Education Agency database. The database must include bond election results, project lists funded by bonds, tax rate projections, and maintenance tax proposals. School districts must submit this data to the agency, which will maintain the database and allow report generation by geographic area. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting all Texas public school districts.

Maddy summarySB 1243 allows local governments (like cities or counties) to dissolve a public utility agency by transferring all its assets, debts, permits, and licenses to remaining participating entities through joint ordinances. It directly affects public utility agencies and the local governments that operate them, providing a legal mechanism for reorganization. Key provisions let participating entities add or remove members or fully dissolve the agency while ensuring all obligations and resources are transferred to surviving members. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 571 updates Texas education law to restrict employment of contract employees who work in public schools and have direct student contact. It prohibits school districts and contractors from hiring individuals with certain criminal convictions (like felonies or misdemeanors listed under Section 22.085) or those identified in a misconduct registry for specific offenses. The bill also expands access to this registry - used to track ineligible employees - to include private schools, non-profit teacher organizations, and school contractors. These changes apply only to new contracts entered on or after September 1, 2025.