Sen. Royce West

Maddy summarySB 1853 creates a new legal process for property owners who suspect a recorded document (like a deed) fraudulently claims to transfer ownership of real property. It allows owners to file a verified motion with the county district clerk, attaching the disputed document and providing specific details about the property and alleged fraud. The motion must follow a suggested form outlining the owner's claim, the document's recording, and why it's considered fraudulent under existing law. This process enables courts to formally determine if the document should be disregarded for conveying title. It directly affects property owners and county clerks handling real property records.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state grant program administered by the Texas Office of Court Administration to provide legal assistance for family members caring for children. It directly affects relative or kinship caregivers (like grandparents or close family) with household incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. The program funds nonprofit organizations to help these caregivers navigate legal processes, including consent for medical treatment, care authorization agreements, and court proceedings related to child custody. Grants require recipient organizations to follow specific rules for application, funding, and monitoring to ensure they meet the program’s public purpose.

Maddy summarySB 2030 prohibits agreements where a third party advances a student athlete a percentage of their future name, image, and likeness (NIL) earnings while charging interest on that advance. It directly affects student athletes participating in University Interscholastic League activities or intercollegiate sports at Texas institutions of higher education. The bill makes such agreements void and unenforceable, bans waivers of these rules, and imposes civil penalties of up to $100,000 per violation. The Attorney General can enforce these provisions through lawsuits to recover penalties or block violations. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 292) symbolically recognizes Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, by designating March 18, 2025, as "Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Day" at the Texas Capitol. It honors the fraternity's founding in 1911, its global presence with over 700 chapters, and its historical focus on community service, civil rights, and education. The resolution extends a ceremonial welcome to the fraternity's delegation visiting Austin and includes a copy of the resolution for the organization. As a purely symbolic gesture with no policy or funding changes, it does not directly affect any laws or constituents.

Maddy summarySB 62 would allow children under 14 years old to read or mark a parent's ballot at the parent's direction when accompanying them to a voting station. This specifically applies to children under 14 who are with their parent at a voting location, and the bill clarifies this action would not be considered "assisting a voter" under election law. The bill amends Texas Election Code Section 64.002(b) to permit this limited assistance. It is scheduled to take effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2559 allows counties in Texas to require automatic enrollment in their deferred compensation (retirement) plans for certain employees. If a county adopts this option via commissioners court order, eligible county employees automatically join the plan unless they actively opt out. Employees contribute 3% of their pay through automatic payroll deductions to a default investment product, with the option to later adjust contributions, investment choices, or switch to a Roth option. The bill directly affects county employees in participating counties and clarifies that employees must be informed of their participation options and responsibilities at hire.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 258 is a commemorative measure honoring the late U.S. Congressman Sylvester Turner of Houston, who died on March 5, 2025. The resolution recognizes his career as a Texas state legislator, mayor of Houston, and U.S. Congressman, highlighting his dedication to public service in Houston's Acres Homes neighborhood and his work on health care, education, and community resilience. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups, as it is a symbolic tribute to his legacy.

Maddy summarySB 1761 requires the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to standardize and collect detailed incident reports from law enforcement agencies about officer-public encounters, including detentions. It mandates the Commission to develop uniform submission guidelines and quality standards in collaboration with public safety agencies, and to annually review these standards. The bill also requires the Commission to publish this incident data and a public glossary on its website, making it accessible for research and community understanding. This directly affects law enforcement agencies (who must submit data), the Commission (who must manage it), and the public (who gains access to the data). The bill does not create new reporting requirements but standardizes existing data collection under Texas law.

Maddy summarySB 2564 requires Texas public schools and charter schools to provide students and their parents with information about three specific public assistance programs - medical assistance, the child health plan, and the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) - at the time of student enrollment. Schools must deliver this information in a format they determine appropriate, including details on eligibility requirements for each program. The Health and Human Services Commission will create and distribute a model form to schools to standardize this information. The requirement begins with the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySB 697 requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to annually report on post-release employment and related data for inmates. The report, due by January 30 each year, includes statistics on how long released inmates take to find jobs (broken down by whether they received career training), occupational license applications and approvals, and employment data categorized by industry and median wages over three years. TDCJ must publish the report online and may partner with the Texas Workforce Commission to gather data. The first report is due by January 30, 2026, and the bill takes effect September 1, 2025. This bill directly affects TDCJ's reporting duties and provides transparency on inmate reintegration outcomes.