Sen. Royce West

Maddy summarySB 2560 restricts the use of no-knock warrants (where officers enter a property without announcing their presence) in Texas. It generally prohibits magistrates from issuing such warrants, except under two specific conditions: (1) a law enforcement chief or designee must approve the request in writing, and (2) officers executing the warrant must wear uniforms or be clearly identifiable. The bill also limits which judges can issue these warrants to certain district, county, or municipal court judges in specific counties. This directly affects law enforcement agencies seeking no-knock entries and the magistrates who review such requests.

Maddy summarySB 2555 establishes a state-mandated peer support network for Texas firefighters and law enforcement officers (including retired personnel) to provide mental health assistance. The bill requires the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to jointly develop this network, which includes peer-to-peer support, suicide prevention training for coordinators, and technical assistance for program implementation. It mandates confidentiality for participants' involvement, prohibiting disclosure under state open records laws. The network must serve both urban and rural areas, with the commissions able to contract with higher education institutions for program development. This legislation creates a formalized system to address mental health needs within first responder communities.

Maddy summarySB 2754 requires Texas public schools to include contact information for three national hotlines on student ID cards issued to students in grade six or higher. Specifically, the cards must display the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, National Domestic Violence Hotline, and National Sexual Assault Hotline. Schools may also add a local suicide prevention hotline if available. This policy directly affects all Texas public school students in grades six through twelve by ensuring critical support resources are visibly accessible on their identification. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, unless approved for immediate implementation.

Maddy summarySB 2725 allows Texas municipalities to set lower speed limits (minimum 25 mph) on non-state highways within residential districts without requiring an engineering study. It requires cities to post specific signage at district entrances rather than every block and mandates annual reports comparing traffic citations, warnings, and speed-related collisions for affected roads. The bill directly affects city governments and residents in neighborhoods where speed limits are adjusted. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and requires cities to publish these reports online annually.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 2551) changes how Texas homeowners can pay property taxes on their primary residence (homestead) without penalty. It allows eligible homeowners to pay taxes in four equal installments if they pay the first installment and submit notice to their taxing unit before the first day of the month following the tax delinquency date. The bill specifies exact due dates for subsequent payments based on the original delinquency date (e.g., second installment due before April 1 if delinquency is February 1). It applies to all Texas homeowners who own and occupy their residence as a homestead and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2792 makes it a crime to intentionally cause hospital personnel to contact blood, saliva, urine, or feces while on hospital property, unless the contact occurs during normal healthcare services. It specifically targets acts meant to harass, alarm, or assault staff, including nurses, doctors, janitors, and receptionists employed at licensed hospitals. The law applies when the perpetrator knows the person is hospital staff and the contact isn’t part of routine medical care. This expands existing harassment protections to cover physical contact with bodily fluids on hospital grounds, excluding standard treatment scenarios. The bill is currently in the Criminal Justice committee for review.

Maddy summarySB 2554 creates a program allowing Texas residents with unpaid traffic fines (over $200 total for offenses issued before September 1, 2023, and still unpaid by September 1, 2025) to reduce their debt. It requires courts to notify defendants about the program via notices, websites, and mail, especially for those with suspended licenses due to unpaid fines. Participants pay a $100 administrative fee (credited toward their debt) and can pay remaining amounts over 12 months if they have three or more unpaid fines, with fee waivers available for indigent individuals. The bill mandates courts to establish this program and provide application options (online, phone, in-person, or mail).

Maddy summarySB 2556 allows cities and counties to ban firearms at fairs, festivals, and similar events held on public fairgrounds or facilities they own or lease. Private event organizers using public property for such events can also independently ban firearms, regardless of local rules. Carrying a firearm in these banned areas when the restriction is properly posted would be a Class A misdemeanor, though it does not apply to individuals legally authorized to carry (like law enforcement). The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting attendees and vendors at these events who carry firearms.

Maddy summarySB 2557 requires Texas law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies preventing racial profiling and governing the use of video/audio recording during motor vehicle stops. These policies must specify when officers must activate recording equipment, mandate 90-day retention of recordings, ensure secure data storage, allow public access via open records requests, and include procedures for internal review and equipment handling. Officers who do not activate recording equipment during stops must document a reasonable justification (e.g., safety concerns), and the policy must align with state and federal evidence rules. The bill creates a criminal offense for violating the racial profiling prohibition, directly affecting all Texas law enforcement agencies and peace officers.

Maddy summarySB 2561 establishes the Student Success Initiative Program within the Texas Education Agency to provide grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. The program focuses on improving student well-being and academic outcomes through evidence-based practices, prioritizing schools serving 100,000+ students and those with high percentages of students not meeting assessment standards or facing educational disadvantage. Grants must fund supports like tutoring, mentoring, and community partnerships, with 75% of funds allocated to large districts and up to 10% reserved for program administration. The Texas Education Agency must annually report on the program’s impact to the legislature. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, pending legislative approval.