Sen. Royce West

Maddy summaryHB 35 creates a state-mandated peer support network for Texas first responders, directly affecting emergency medical services personnel and firefighters. The law requires the state agency to develop peer-to-peer support programs, provide suicide prevention training for peer coordinators, and ensure confidential access to mental health resources at no cost to responders. It also mandates annual reports tracking participation numbers, peer training outcomes, regional facility locations, and program evaluations. The network aims to improve mental health support across both urban and rural communities while protecting participant privacy under confidentiality rules.

Maddy summaryHB 793 protects the personal information of individuals seeking or receiving protective orders in Texas. It allows applicants and protected persons to request that their mailing address, county of residence, workplace, school, or child-care facility details be kept confidential from public records and the respondent. Courts must then maintain these details in a private file, exclude them from protective orders, and specifically ask affected individuals at hearings if they want this confidentiality. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying to all new and existing protective orders under the Family Code.

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.

Maddy summarySB 1404 requires courts in Texas to mandate that parties in parent-child relationship cases (like custody or child support disputes) provide an email address for receiving court notices and documents electronically. The law specifies that courts must include this email in final orders, with an exception if providing it would endanger the party's safety. It also allows courts in child support enforcement cases to use the most recent addresses filed with the court for service of process. These changes apply to all pending or future cases starting September 1, 2025, and are part of Texas Family Code updates.

Maddy summarySB 413 requires independent school districts in Texas to document each board member's attendance, absence, and vote on every item during meetings. It mandates that school boards post meeting minutes and adopted resolutions on their websites within seven days of the meeting. The bill also requires all board meetings to be recorded and made publicly accessible per state transparency laws. These changes directly affect school board trustees and district administrators by increasing meeting transparency for parents and community members. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 568 amends Texas Education Code sections 8.051 and 29.001 to strengthen special education support in public schools. It requires regional education service centers to provide specific core services, including teacher training on state-mandated subjects and financial literacy, assistance for districts with special education compliance issues, and support for students needing specialized services. The bill also mandates the state education agency to develop a comprehensive system ensuring statewide compliance with federal and state special education laws, focusing on student outcomes and coordinated services. These changes directly affect Texas school districts, regional centers, and students with disabilities by standardizing support and accountability. The bill does not create new funding but reorganizes how existing Foundation School Program funds are administered for special education.

Maddy summaryHB 2001 increases criminal penalties for public officials who misuse official information to gain personal financial benefit. It creates tiered felony charges based on the amount of net gain: third-degree felony for gains under $150,000; second-degree for $150,000-$300,000; and first-degree for $300,000 or more. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect cases that occurred before that date. This bill directly affects government employees or officials who improperly use confidential information for financial gain.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands criminal penalties for cruelty to nonlivestock animals (such as pets and wildlife) by defining specific prohibited acts, including torture, abandonment, failure to provide care, cruel transport, and causing injury without consent. It creates a legal defense for veterinarians and their assistants acting within their professional duties, shielding them from prosecution for negligence during routine care. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect existing penalties for cruelty involving livestock animals. This amendment clarifies prosecutable conduct while providing professional protection for veterinary staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Texas rules for handling license plates during vehicle sales. It requires dealers to remove plates when selling vehicles to other dealers and mandates private sellers to get DMV approval before transferring plates to another vehicle they own. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles can also block dealers from accessing the plate database if fraud is suspected, after providing notice and a hearing opportunity. The bill, effective June 20, 2025, requires the DMV to adopt implementing rules by October 1, 2025. It directly affects auto dealers, vehicle sellers, and the DMV.

Maddy summaryHB 20 establishes Texas' Applied Sciences Pathway program, allowing high school students to earn both diplomas and industry certificates through school-college partnerships. It requires courses in 20 specific high-wage, high-growth fields like plumbing, welding, IT, and oil/gas exploration, with a focus on successful job placement rates. Partnerships must offer non-duplicative, progressive coursework leading to both diplomas and certificates in these sectors. The program begins for the 2027-2028 school year, with industries reviewed every five years to match labor market needs.