Sen. Royce West

Maddy summarySB 600 amends Texas property law to clarify procedures for partitioning "heirs' property" (inherited land owned by multiple family members). It requires petitioners to certify if property is heirs' property, include ownership details, and prove compliance with notice rules for potential heirs. The bill mandates posting notices on the property, filing affidavits confirming proper service, and appointing an attorney ad litem to locate unknown heir cotenants - especially when a non-heir cotenant initiates a partition action after 2025. This directly affects property owners, heirs, and non-heir cotenants involved in disputes over inherited land.

Maddy summarySJR 56 proposes a constitutional amendment to create a special "child care protection and enhancement fund" in Texas. This fund, established outside the state treasury, would be used exclusively to expand childcare capacity (more childcare seats) or increase state-subsidized care rates for providers. Funding would come from legislative appropriations, gifts/grants (administered by the Comptroller), and investment earnings. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election before the fund could be implemented.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution (SR 352) recognizing April 2, 2025, as Texas Food Bank Day at the Texas State Capitol. It honors the Feeding Texas network, which operates 20 food banks serving all 254 Texas counties through partnerships with agencies like the Texas Department of Agriculture. The resolution specifically acknowledges their work distributing over 500 million pounds of surplus produce and providing nutrition assistance to low-income families. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally commends Feeding Texas for its hunger-relief efforts.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 357 recognizes members of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha for their community contributions, including humanitarian efforts, education initiatives, and interfaith harmony work in Texas. The resolution commends the group and extends best wishes for their April 2, 2025, "Strength in Unity: Elevate Texas Together" event at the Texas State Capitol. As a ceremonial resolution (not a law), it has no policy impact and solely serves to honor the organization's service to Texas communities.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative Senate resolution (SR 356) honoring Carole Stewart Keeton, a pioneering Texas public servant who died in March 2025. It recognizes her historic achievements as the first woman elected mayor of Austin, first woman on the Texas Railroad Commission, and first woman Texas Comptroller, along with her dedication to education, fiscal responsibility, and community service. The resolution expresses the Texas Senate's condolences to her family and directs the Senate to adjourn in her memory. As a purely ceremonial resolution with no policy changes, it does not affect any laws or directly impact constituents.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill), passed by the Texas Senate on March 27, 2025, to recognize March 27, 2025, as "CASA Day" at the State Capitol. It honors the Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) network, which relies on volunteer advocates to support children in foster care by making court recommendations and addressing their needs. The resolution commends CASA for its work serving nearly 18,000 youth annually across 74 programs in Texas. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or alter policies - it simply expresses the Senate’s appreciation for CASA’s advocacy efforts.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (SR 333) adopted by the Texas Senate on March 27, 2025, to honor Gordon Robert Johnson, a longtime Austin resident and legal advisor with deep ties to Texas state government. The resolution recognizes his career as a lawyer, his service as political director for former House Speaker Joe Straus, his role in securing key legislation like the Texas Racing Act, and his family life. It does not create new laws or policies; it solely serves to memorialize Johnson following his death on March 16, 2025, and extend condolences to his family.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution (SR 329) recognizes March 26, 2025, as "REALTOR Day" in Texas. It honors Texas REALTORS, a professional association with over 140,000 members, for their role in protecting property rights, contributing to the state's economy (accounting for 17.8% of Texas' GDP in 2024), and upholding ethical standards in real estate. The resolution extends a formal welcome to REALTORS visiting the State Capitol during legislative sessions and acknowledges their community involvement. It has no policy or financial impact - it is purely symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 330), not a law. It formally recognizes Tim Lee, executive director of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA), for his 21 years of collaboration with the Texas Legislature. The resolution honors his work advocating for teacher pension benefits, cost-of-living adjustments, and federal policy changes like the Social Security Fairness Act. It does not create new laws or affect any policies; it is solely a symbolic gesture of appreciation from the Texas Senate.

Maddy summarySB 2242 requires all Texas public school districts to include a specific dating violence policy in their annual district improvement plans. The policy must define dating violence (including physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse in a dating relationship), state it is not tolerated at school, and establish victim-focused reporting procedures. Crucially, it mandates that schools notify parents of alleged victims before notifying parents of alleged perpetrators, and include interim safety measures for victims during disciplinary processes. This affects every public school district, students, staff, and parents across Texas, directly shaping how schools address dating violence incidents. The bill amends Education Code Sections 11.252(a)(11) and 37.0831(b) to implement these requirements.