Maddy summarySB 11 would allow Texas public school districts or charter schools (not affiliated with religious organizations) to adopt a policy requiring daily voluntary prayer and Bible/religious text reading periods on school campuses. To participate, students or employees must provide written consent from a parent/guardian or the employee themselves, acknowledging the choice to participate and waiving legal claims related to the policy. The bill prohibits mandatory participation, using public address systems for these activities, or substituting this time for instruction, and requires physical separation for those who opt out. School districts must also follow specific guidelines to accommodate non-participants, and the Texas Attorney General would provide legal guidance and defend districts in related lawsuits.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 24 requires Texas public schools to include specific instruction about communist regimes and ideologies in social studies curricula for students in grades 4 through 12. The bill mandates age-appropriate lessons covering historical events like the Holodomor, Cultural Revolution, and Cambodian genocide under the Khmer Rouge, as well as comparative analysis of communist ideologies versus U.S. democratic principles. It also requires teaching modern threats from communist regimes and methods used to spread such ideologies, including propaganda and censorship. This policy directly affects all public school students in the specified grades across Texas. The law became effective immediately upon the Governor's signature on June 20, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 2310 requires the Texas Education Agency, in collaboration with the Health and Human Services Commission and Texas Workforce Commission, to develop a strategic plan improving early learning opportunities for young children with disabilities or developmental delays. The plan must address barriers to inclusion in prekindergarten programs, early childhood special education, and subsidized childcare, while recommending policy, funding, and training changes. Key provisions include strategies for inclusive settings, analysis of current challenges, and recommendations for provider staffing and resource coordination. The bill directly affects children with disabilities and the programs serving them, including public schools, childcare providers, and early intervention services. It does not create new programs but mandates a coordinated state plan to enhance existing early education access.
Maddy summaryHB 4848 requires Texas public university systems to offer competency-based bachelor's degree programs in high-demand fields at one or more campuses within each system. It caps program costs at no more than half the average tuition for students, with annual inflation adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board determines which fields are "high demand" and sets cost rules. This directly affects public universities and students seeking affordable, skill-focused degrees in priority areas starting in the 2026-2027 academic year.
Maddy summaryHB 3000 creates a state grant program to provide financial assistance to qualified rural ambulance service providers in counties with populations of 68,750 or less. Counties may apply for grants of up to $500,000 (for counties under 10,000 people) or $350,000 (for counties between 10,000-68,750 people) to purchase ambulances, with funds restricted solely to ambulance procurement. Grants require counties to maintain ambulance service budgets in the following fiscal year and prioritize counties with greater distance to trauma facilities or limited funding capacity. The program, now law after being signed by the governor on June 20, 2025, aims to ensure adequate ground ambulance services in underserved rural areas.
Maddy summaryHB 2508 creates a property tax exemption for the residence homestead of a surviving spouse whose veteran spouse died from a qualifying condition or disease. The exemption applies to the full appraised value of the homestead and is available to spouses who have not remarried since the veteran's death. Qualifying conditions are defined under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022. The exemption takes effect January 1 of the tax year the surviving spouse qualifies and applies regardless of when the veteran died, provided all eligibility criteria are met. This bill amends Texas Tax Code Sections 11.136, 11.42(c), and 11.43(c) to implement the change.
Maddy summarySB 10 requires all Texas public elementary and secondary schools to display a specific, standardized version of the Ten Commandments in every classroom starting September 1, 2025. The law mandates a durable poster or framed copy meeting strict size (at least 16x20 inches) and content requirements, including only the exact text listed in the bill. Schools must display this unless they accept a privately donated version meeting the same specifications, and may optionally use district funds to purchase compliant displays. This directly affects every public school classroom in Texas, requiring a physical display of the specified religious text.
Maddy summaryHB 2674 prohibits the Texas Education Agency, State Board of Education, and other educational institutions from adopting rules or policies that regulate homeschool educational programs. It directly affects homeschooling families in Texas by preventing state oversight of their curriculum, teaching methods, or operational standards. The bill adds Section 1.010 to the Education Code, explicitly banning such regulations, and takes effect September 1, 2025, for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a substantive policy change that removes potential state regulatory requirements for homeschools.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Texas law to include the National Rifle Association's (NRA) annual meetings and exhibits as eligible events for state funding under the major events reimbursement program. Previously, the program funded events like sports championships (e.g., NCAA Final Four, NASCAR races) and music awards, but excluded NRA gatherings. The bill adds the NRA specifically to the definition of "Event" in the Government Code, expanding the list of qualifying activities. This change directly affects the NRA by allowing it to seek state reimbursement for these events starting September 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 1858 clarifies eligibility for Texas's bulletproof vest and body armor grant program by expanding the definition of "law enforcement agency" to explicitly include independent school districts. This change allows school districts - previously unclear under the program - to apply for grants covering body armor and bulletproof vests for campus safety personnel. The bill amends Government Code Section 772.0075(a) with these specific definitions, effective September 1, 2025. It directly affects school districts and law enforcement agencies seeking these safety equipment grants. The legislation does not alter grant funding levels or application processes, only who qualifies to apply.