Sen. Adam Hinojosa

Maddy summaryHB 5084 allows counties to authorize fireworks sales during the five days leading up to and including Lunar New Year, provided the county commissioners court approves the sale. This directly affects counties that choose to adopt the policy and retailers operating within those approved counties. The bill adds this new sales window to existing permitted periods (July 4th, New Year's Eve, and a border-specific May period), requiring local approval for the Lunar New Year exception. The law took effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 5688 creates the San Benito Municipal Utility District No. 1 to provide water, sewer, and utility services in a defined area of San Benito County. The district is granted limited eminent domain authority to acquire land for utility projects, the power to issue bonds for infrastructure, and the ability to impose property assessments, fees, and taxes within its boundaries. This directly affects residents and businesses in the specific territory outlined in the bill, which includes areas for utility infrastructure and road improvements under Texas law. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers and the governor's office.

Maddy summaryHB 103 requires Texas comptroller to create and maintain a public database containing detailed information about bonds, taxes, and related projects for all taxing units (like cities, counties, and school districts) in Texas. The database must include bond ballot language, projected tax rates, election results, project uses of funds, and comparisons between adopted and voter-approved tax rates. It also mandates specific data for school district maintenance taxes. The bill includes civil penalties for noncompliance, aiming to increase transparency around local government financial decisions.

Maddy summarySB 2018 creates a tax credit for businesses that contribute to designated organizations, specifically allowing eligible entities to apply this credit against taxes paid under Texas's Alcoholic Beverage Code. The credit amount equals the lesser of the business's contributions to qualifying organizations or the taxes paid under the Alcoholic Beverage Code, with annual caps on total credits and contributions. Businesses must apply through the comptroller, who will determine eligibility based on existing Tax Code provisions (Sections 171.801-171.805). The credit expires on January 1, 2028, and directly affects alcohol-related businesses in Texas that pay taxes under the Alcoholic Beverage Code.

Maddy summaryHB 4144 creates supplemental benefits for retired firefighters and peace officers diagnosed with specific illnesses (cancer, heart attack, or stroke) within three years of retirement. It requires governmental entities to provide a benefit capped at $100,000 (or the retiree's final annual salary, whichever is lower), payable as a lump sum or over three months, with annual adjustments tied to inflation. The benefit does not apply to entities already offering comparable health coverage to retirees. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies only to retirements occurring on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2193 requires the Texas Veterans Commission to study how veterans access state and federal benefits currently managed by the commission. The study must count eligible veterans by county, assess current claims benefit advisor staffing levels, identify optimal staffing locations to minimize veteran travel, and calculate implementation costs for service improvements. The commission must submit a report with findings and recommendations to state leaders by June 1, 2026. This bill does not change benefit eligibility or amounts but focuses on analyzing and potentially improving service delivery efficiency for veterans across Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 3479 creates a state program to manage harmful vegetation, primarily Carrizo cane, along the Rio Grande River. The bill requires the state board to develop and implement this program specifically to address vegetation that impedes border security operations. It directly affects border security efforts by establishing a formal process for managing these plants in the Rio Grande corridor. The key provision mandates the state board to oversee this vegetation management, focusing on removing or controlling plants that obstruct border security.

Maddy summarySB 226 allows parents or guardians of children in parental child safety placement agreements (where parents temporarily place children with others under Texas Family Code) to establish school residency using a Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) letter. This letter must confirm the child's residence address within a school district and include specific language stating it serves as proof for public school enrollment. The bill amends the Education Code (Section 25.001(c-3)) to create this new residency verification method, replacing older processes. It applies to agreements executed on or after the bill’s effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed immediately), affecting school districts, children in these agreements, and their families.

Maddy summaryHB 46 modifies Texas' Compassionate-Use Program by requiring dispensing organizations to register certain personnel. The bill mandates that directors, owners, managers, and employees of these organizations must register with the state department, adding this as a requirement for licensing. It specifically amends the Health and Safety Code to include registration as a condition for operating a dispensing organization under the program. The law, signed by the governor on June 20, 2025, takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 647 requires county clerks and other filing officers to send written notices to affected parties if they reasonably suspect a document about property ownership or claims (like fake court judgments or unauthorized liens) is fraudulent. It specifies that notices must go to the person named as the grantor/debtor, anyone claiming an interest in the property, and the last known property owner if different. The bill creates a presumption of fraud for documents from unrecognized courts or those not authorized by Texas or federal law. This law, effective September 1, 2025, directly affects property owners and individuals involved in real or personal property transactions by adding a verification step for questionable filings.