Sen. Donna Campbell

Maddy summarySB 1418 amends Texas Education Code to update terminology for assessments used in public schools. It removes "SAT Subject Test" from the list of qualifying exams that satisfy end-of-course assessment requirements and explicitly includes PSAT and PreACT (replacing "ACT-Plan") as valid options for meeting these standards. Students who fail PSAT or PreACT must take the standard end-of-course test, while others may retake the assessment or take the required test. The bill directly affects Texas public school students by clarifying which college readiness exams count toward graduation requirements. It focuses on terminology changes rather than new policies, ensuring consistency in how assessments are referenced in education code.

Maddy summarySB 2880, titled the Women and Child Protection Act, creates a new legal framework for regulating abortion-inducing drugs in Texas. It authorizes private civil lawsuits against individuals or entities that distribute abortion-inducing drugs for elective abortions, while explicitly exempting internet service providers, search engines, and cloud service providers from liability. The bill defines key terms like "elective abortion" (an abortion not performed in response to a medical emergency) and "abortion-inducing drug" to clarify the scope of liability. It establishes Chapter 171A in the Health and Safety Code to enforce these provisions and harmonize related laws. The legislation directly affects distributors of abortion-inducing drugs and those providing information about them online, with potential civil liability for violating its provisions.

Maddy summarySB 1073 prevents Texas licensing authorities from imposing rules or penalties that discriminate against or burden applicants or licensed attorneys based on sincerely held religious beliefs, free speech (including religious or political views), religious organization membership, or freedom of association. It prohibits policies that limit license eligibility or renewal due to these protected rights, while allowing exceptions for rules strictly necessary to serve a compelling government purpose or address willful bias in legal proceedings. The bill directly affects law license applicants and holders in Texas by ensuring their constitutional rights cannot be infringed through licensing decisions. Violations can be challenged in administrative or court proceedings, though this defense cannot be used in cases involving sexual misconduct allegations or criminal prosecutions.

Maddy summarySB 1396 prohibits Texas public school districts and charter schools from adopting or using national sex education standards, such as those developed by the Future of Sex Education Initiative, in human sexuality or health curricula. The bill amends education code to require that any course materials on human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases must emphasize abstinence as the preferred choice for unmarried students, dedicate more instructional time to abstinence than other topics, and teach contraception using real-world effectiveness rates instead of laboratory rates. School boards must select these materials with input from local health advisory councils, and the law applies starting the 2025-2026 school year. The bill directly affects curriculum decisions in all Texas public schools offering health education.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Texas counties to authorize local governments (like cities or school districts) to exempt from property tax the portion of a home's assessed value tied to rainwater harvesting or graywater systems. It directly affects homeowners who install these water systems by potentially reducing their property tax burden. The exemption would apply only to the value added by the systems themselves, not the entire property. If approved by voters, local tax assessors would implement this change through existing property tax processes.

Maddy summarySB 2138 prohibits Texas public universities and related funds (including the permanent university fund and Texas University Fund) from investing money with financial companies that boycott specific energy companies. The bill applies existing state investment rules (Chapter 809 of the Government Code) to these university funds, requiring them to avoid financial institutions engaging in such boycotts. It directly affects Texas public higher education institutions and their investment decisions. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, with no specified energy companies named in the bill text.

Maddy summarySB 1633 would allow Texas counties to exempt from property tax the portion of a home's value tied to rainwater harvesting or graywater systems. Property owners installing these water conservation systems would see reduced property taxes, as the exemption applies to the specific value added by the systems, not the entire property. The exemption must be adopted by a county commissioners court and applies to all taxing entities (like cities or school districts) that tax the property. This bill requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment before it can take effect in 2026.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 561), not a legislative bill with policy changes. It formally congratulates the Boerne Little League All-Stars for advancing to the 2024 Little League Baseball World Series U.S. championship game. The resolution recognizes their achievement of winning 17 consecutive games, including regional tournaments and the World Series, and extends "sincere best wishes" to the players and coaches. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create legal obligations or affect any policies or individuals beyond expressing official recognition.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 579), not a policy bill. It formally recognizes May 2025 as "Save Your Tooth Month" to raise public awareness about oral hygiene and the role of endodontists (tooth specialists). The resolution does not create new laws, change regulations, or directly affect any individuals or entities. It simply encourages Texans to prioritize dental health through regular care and healthy habits, as stated in the Senate's symbolic recognition.

Maddy summarySB 1209 standardizes election dates in Texas by requiring all general and special elections to be held on Tuesdays, replacing previous Saturday or May election dates. It directly affects all Texas elections, including county, municipal, and school district elections, and requires political subdivisions (like cities and school boards) to switch their general election dates to the November uniform election date by December 31, 2025. Key provisions amend the Election Code to specify Tuesdays as the default election day (Section 41.001(e)), update runoff election timing (Section 2.025), and adjust deadlines for political subdivisions (Section 41.0052). The bill eliminates exceptions for May elections and aligns all elections with the November uniform date unless specifically exempted by law.