Sen. Donna Campbell

Maddy summarySB 835, known as Trey's Law, invalidates any nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement that prevents someone from disclosing an act of sexual abuse. The law directly affects survivors of sexual abuse who may have signed such agreements, making those specific clauses unenforceable. Key provisions state that agreements cannot prohibit disclosure of sexual abuse details (defined using existing Texas Penal Code and Family Code offenses), though other settlement terms like payment amounts remain valid. This change applies to all agreements entered into before, on, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4226 exempts nonprofit food banks and specific housing providers from Texas state sales, use, and rental taxes on motor vehicles they purchase, use, or rent. It directly affects food banks (as defined in Section 162.001) and housing providers serving homeless individuals with disabilities who meet strict criteria (continuously homeless for 1+ year or four homelessness episodes in 3 years). The bill adds new Tax Code sections requiring vehicles to be used "primarily" for the organization's core services. This exemption applies only to vehicles acquired on or after its September 1, 2025 effective date. The law was signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1894 designates November as "Veterans Month" in Texas to celebrate and honor military veterans' achievements and sacrifices. The bill amends the Government Code to establish November as an official month for recognizing veterans, encouraging state agencies and communities to hold appropriate programs and activities. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects all Texans by creating a formal observance period for veterans' contributions, without changing existing benefits or creating new obligations.

Maddy summarySB 401 allows Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt policies denying participation in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities to non-enrolled students (e.g., homeschoolers or students attending private schools) who meet eligibility standards. Currently, schools must offer such students the same participation opportunities as enrolled students, but this bill adds that school boards may now choose to decline this participation. It also clarifies that non-enrolled students must prove residency matching their district address for eligibility, and if their eligible district has a "no participation" policy, they may instead join the nearest district without such a policy. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 5646 allows students enrolled in specific military-related programs - such as ROTC, senior military college cadet corps, or midshipmen programs - to pay Texas resident tuition rates at public colleges, regardless of their actual residence. This applies to tuition and fees for the 2025 fall semester and beyond. However, these students cannot use this residency status to qualify for state financial aid programs. The bill became effective immediately on June 20, 2025, after passing both chambers.

Maddy summaryHB 3062 requires public Texas institutions of higher education to provide research-based fentanyl prevention and drug poisoning awareness education to all entering undergraduate students during their first semester. The curriculum must cover suicide prevention, fentanyl abuse prevention, local resource access, and substance use education for young adults. Institutions may deliver this instruction online or through approved partners like libraries, health agencies, or mental health organizations. The requirement applies to students enrolling for the 2026 fall semester and became effective immediately after the governor signed it on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 15 limits zoning restrictions for small residential lots (4,000 sq ft or less) in certain large Texas municipalities (population over 90,000 in counties over 300,000). It prohibits municipalities from requiring lots larger than 1,400 sq ft, wider than 20 feet, or deeper than 60 feet, and mandates a minimum density of 31.1 units per acre. The bill also bans restrictions on covered parking, parking space limits, building height (requiring at least 3 stories), and excessive open space requirements for small lots. Municipalities may still charge permitting fees equivalent to single-family lot fees but cannot impose other zoning rules inconsistent with these provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 117 establishes a governor's task force to address governance and operational challenges in Texas' early childhood education and care system. The task force, composed of state agency leaders (like the Education Agency and Health Services commissioners), educators, child-care providers, and community stakeholders, must review existing regulations and programs - including federal and local child-care services - to identify ways to improve efficiency. It directly affects state agencies, public and private early childhood programs, and providers operating under current systems. The bill creates no new funding or regulations but mandates a structured review process to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 322 amends Texas education code to clarify how funds from the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program can be used. It allows grants to cover start-up costs for new career and technical education programs at public junior colleges, technical institutes, state colleges, school districts, and charter schools, including facility construction, equipment, and technology solutions. The bill specifies grants may only support programs preparing students for high-demand jobs (including dual credit), leading to licenses/certificates, or requiring technology infrastructure. These changes apply only to grants awarded on or after September 1, 2025, and became law when signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1875 requires the Texas General Land Office, working with the Texas Veterans Commission, to study access barriers veterans face when seeking burial plots in state veterans cemeteries and identify ways to improve cemetery operations (including locations, maintenance, and other needs). The study must be completed by April 1, 2026, with a final report submitted to legislative leaders and committees. This bill directly affects Texas veterans seeking burial services and the state’s veterans cemeteries, though it does not create new laws - only directing a study to inform future action. The bill took effect September 1, 2025, and expires September 1, 2027.