Sen. Donna Campbell

Maddy summaryHB 549 requires Texas public school districts to make at least one airway clearance device available at each campus by the 2025-2026 school year. These devices, defined as noninvasive tools for removing foreign-body airway obstructions, must be stored where students eat and accessible when students are present. Each school must also ensure at least one trained employee is available at all times during student activity. The law applies to all public school campuses and specifies districts may obtain devices through donations or purchased funds, while clarifying it does not create new liability for schools.

Maddy summaryHB 1211 creates a tuition and fee exemption for students who were under the conservatorship of Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) at specific points in their lives. It applies to former foster youth who were under DFPS conservatorship on their 18th birthday, during high school graduation, or on the day of adoption (after Sept. 1, 2009), and who enroll in a public Texas college as undergraduates or in dual credit courses by their 25th birthday. The exemption covers tuition and fees charged by public institutions of higher education, including dual credit courses. This policy takes effect September 1, 2025, for the 2025 fall semester.

Maddy summaryHB 541 establishes a legal framework for healthcare providers to offer direct payment models, allowing physicians and non-physician health care practitioners to charge patients directly for services without insurance. It defines "direct fees" as payments like monthly retainers, membership fees, or subscription charges, and creates "direct patient care agreements" requiring written contracts between providers and patients (or their representatives). The bill explicitly includes telemedicine services under this model and clarifies that "health care practitioner" excludes physicians, applying separately to them. This policy change enables providers to structure patient payments outside traditional insurance systems for primary care services.

Maddy summarySB 23 increases the school district homestead tax exemption for elderly (65+) or disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000 of their home's appraised value. This directly affects eligible homeowners who qualify for the exemption and school districts that may lose local tax revenue due to the change. The bill requires the state to provide additional aid to school districts to offset revenue losses from the higher exemption, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The state aid calculation compares current revenue to what would have been collected under the previous exemption amount. The bill was signed into law on June 16, 2025, and is now effective.

Maddy summarySB 40 prohibits local governments (like cities or counties) from using public funds to pay bail bonds through nonprofit organizations that accept public donations. It directly affects local governments and nonprofits handling bail payments, banning the use of taxpayer money for this purpose. The bill allows taxpayers or residents to seek court orders to stop such spending and recover legal fees if they win a lawsuit. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 9 requires magistrates to document in writing within 24 hours if they determine no probable cause exists for an arrest. It mandates a detailed public safety report for bail decisions, including defendants' criminal history, pending charges, previous failures to appear, and violence-related offenses. The bill also regulates charitable bail organizations and updates procedures for setting bail conditions. These changes directly affect defendants, magistrates, and charitable bail organizations by standardizing information used in pretrial release decisions.

Maddy summaryThis Texas bill (SB 4) increases the homestead exemption for school district property taxes from $100,000 to $140,000 per homeowner, directly affecting residential property owners. School districts will receive additional state aid to offset revenue losses from this exemption increase, calculated as the difference between current local revenue and what would have been available before the change. The compensation mechanism applies starting with the 2023-2024 school year for the initial exemption increase and will extend to future changes proposed for 2025. This ensures school districts maintain funding stability despite reduced local tax revenue from larger homestead exemptions.

Maddy summarySJR 5 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow judges to deny bail to individuals accused of certain violent or sexual offenses punishable as first-degree felonies, or continuous human trafficking. It directly affects people facing these specific charges by requiring judges to find, by clear and convincing evidence, that bail would not ensure court appearance or community safety. Key provisions include mandating written orders with specific findings for bail denials and requiring judges to consider standard bail factors under existing law. The amendment must be approved by voters in November 2025 to take effect, as it is a proposed constitutional change rather than an immediate law.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (SR 629), not a policy bill. It honors Joshua Daniel King, a Weatherford resident who died on April 5, 2025, at age 37. The Texas Senate formally pays tribute to his life, career in business (including roles at Steergate Payment Solutions and Select Mat), family, faith, and community impact, extending condolences to his wife, daughter, parents, sisters, and other relatives. The resolution was adopted by the Senate on June 2, 2025, as a ceremonial recognition.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 222) honors Joe J. Bernal, a former Texas state senator and representative from San Antonio who served from 1964-1973. It recognizes his legislative work championing bilingual education (including Texas' first bilingual education act in 1969), civil rights advocacy, and roles in establishing UT San Antonio and the UT Health Science Center. The resolution was adopted by the Texas Senate on June 1, 2025, as a commemorative tribute to his legacy. It does not create any new laws or affect policy, as it is a purely ceremonial resolution.