Sen. Royce West

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 5) directs the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) to name its middle school gymnasium the "Robert Rives Gymnasium" as a commemorative tribute. It honors Robert Rives, a TSD alumnus who served as the school's first football coach (1894-1898), taught for over 40 years, and was inducted into the TSD Alumni Hall of Fame in 1999. The resolution affects the TSD community by permanently recognizing Rives' legacy through the gymnasium's name. It is a non-binding ceremonial action with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summarySB 60 allows public junior college libraries in Texas to donate certain library materials without needing additional approval. The bill permits donations of duplicate items already in the library's collection or materials no longer suitable due to age, condition, or outdated content, provided they have little or no monetary value. This applies to periodicals, books, e-books, tapes, and other media. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects Texas public junior college libraries managing their collections.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SCR 49), not a substantive bill. It recognizes Austin Oaks Church for its 100th anniversary in 2025, acknowledging its founding in 1925 by Swedish immigrants as the Swedish Evangelical Free Church, its relocation to southwest Austin in 2002, and its current ministries under pastors Brandon Zieske and BJ Forguson. The resolution formally commends the church's century-long service to the community and directs that a copy be presented to the church. No new laws or policies are created, and it directly affects only the church congregation as a ceremonial honor.

Maddy summarySB 441 creates civil liability for producing, soliciting, disclosing, or promoting AI-generated intimate visual material without a person's consent and with intent to harm. It specifically targets material that reveals the depicted person's identity (e.g., through facial recognition or unique features) and requires proof of actual harm. The law holds both creators of the material and owners of websites/social media platforms liable if they fail to remove such content after notice. This directly affects individuals whose images are used without consent in AI-generated intimate content, providing a legal path to seek damages for the harm caused.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SB 1818, allows military service members, veterans, and military spouses to receive a provisional license while their full occupational license application is processed in Texas. State agencies must issue these provisional licenses immediately upon application submission, valid for up to 180 days or until the final license decision is made. The law requires agencies to adopt implementing rules by December 1, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025. It directly affects military-connected individuals seeking to work in licensed professions across Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 102 requires Texas public universities to offer early registration for courses and programs to students in military-related programs who are in good standing. Specifically, it mandates this for students enrolled in ROTC programs, cadet corps (including at senior military colleges), or maritime academies. The law, effective for the 2026 spring semester, obligates institutions to provide this early registration opportunity on the same basis as other designated student groups. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will develop rules to implement this requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 5154 creates the Joint Admission Medical Program Council to administer a program supporting economically disadvantaged students pursuing medical degrees in Texas. The council, formed by participating medical schools, provides mentoring, academic support, and scholarships while guaranteeing admission to at least one participating medical school for eligible students. Key provisions require the council to establish public meeting protocols, develop communication policies, and align with statewide workforce goals to address medical professional shortages. This bill directly affects disadvantaged students seeking medical careers and the participating medical schools that form the council.

Maddy summarySB 227 modifies Texas' delayed birth certificate process to make it easier for applicants to prove identity and birthplace. It prevents state registrars from rejecting applications solely due to inconsistent supporting evidence, requiring them instead to weigh specific factors like valid ID (e.g., driver's license), evidence questioning birthplace, and verified affidavits from knowledgeable individuals. For individuals born before January 1, 1959, the bill mandates registration of a delayed birth certificate using only the established parent’s name if that parent’s identity is verified with non-contradictory information. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting residents seeking delayed birth certificates, particularly those with complex documentation.

Maddy summaryHB 3805 amends Texas law to give the banking commissioner new authority to remove or prohibit individuals from working in money services businesses. It directly affects money services licensees, their key employees, and control persons who commit specific violations, such as intentional fraud, false record-keeping, or violating regulatory orders. The bill establishes clear grounds for the commissioner to issue removal or prohibition orders when actions cause financial harm to licensees, customers, or shareholders, or demonstrate personal dishonesty. These orders can be permanent or time-limited and are subject to specific procedural requirements. The law became effective immediately upon the governor's signature on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2340 updates Texas law for child custody evaluators by requiring them to complete three hours of specialized training on intellectual or developmental disabilities within two years before conducting an evaluation. It clarifies that evaluators must make their records available to attorneys, parties, or court-appointed representatives upon written request (unless a court restricts disclosure), and defines key terms like "intellectual disability" based on existing health codes. The bill directly affects private evaluators and those working with domestic relations offices in custody cases involving children with these disabilities. These changes aim to standardize evaluator qualifications and improve transparency in record access during custody proceedings.