Sen. Adam Hinojosa

Maddy summaryHB 1646 increases the spending limit for emergency services district employees from $2,000 to $50,000 without requiring immediate board approval. Under this bill, employees may pay expenses up to $50,000 directly, but amounts exceeding that would still need prior board approval. The change applies only to purchases made on or after September 1, 2025, with pre-existing purchases governed by the previous $2,000 limit. This directly affects Texas emergency services districts and their employees by streamlining smaller payments while maintaining oversight for larger expenditures.

Maddy summarySJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the homestead exemption for school district property taxes in Texas from $100,000 to $140,000. This change would directly reduce the taxable value of a primary residence for school taxes, lowering property tax bills for homeowners. The amendment requires voter approval in a November 2025 election to take effect for the 2025 tax year. If passed, it would provide an additional $40,000 in tax relief on primary homes for school funding purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 2617) requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt policies mandating the use of "Anno Domini (AD)" and "Before Christ (BC)" when expressing dates during student instruction. It prohibits schools from purchasing or selecting curriculum materials that use alternative date formats (like "CE" or "BCE"). The policy applies to all instructional materials and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation. The law directly affects school districts, charter schools, and curriculum developers by standardizing date terminology in educational settings.

Maddy summarySB 990 amends Texas law to impose enhanced penalties for specific murder cases. It targets offenders who commit murder under nine defined aggravating circumstances, including killing police/firefighters on duty, murdering during other serious crimes (like burglary or robbery), hiring hitmen, killing children under 15, or killing someone in retaliation for their judicial role. The bill does not change general murder penalties but increases punishment severity for these specific scenarios. It directly affects individuals convicted of murder meeting any of these listed conditions. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summarySB 2713 prohibits professional and trade associations (like bar associations or industry groups) from denying membership or services based on race, religion, sex, disability, national origin, or protected speech/assembly activities. It overrides any conflicting bylaws and directly affects both associations and individuals seeking membership. The bill creates a private legal remedy, allowing affected people to sue for damages or court orders if discrimination occurs, with courts able to award attorney fees to winning parties. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 27 modifies Texas education law to protect public school educators' rights and provide financial support. It requires salary reductions for unpaid leave to be calculated using annual salary divided by expected workdays (affecting teachers, counselors, and librarians), waives certification exam fees for first-time applicants in special education and bilingual programs, and prevents sanctions against educators who leave probationary contracts after the 45th day before school starts due to serious illness or spouse relocation. The bill directly impacts educators seeking certification and those on probationary contracts, while also directing the Texas Education Agency to cover exam fees for qualifying applicants. These changes aim to reduce financial barriers and provide clearer protections for educators during employment transitions.

Maddy summarySB 2231 requires Texas public colleges and universities to waive application fees during the second full week of October each year, designated as "Free College Application Week." This policy directly affects Texas students applying for undergraduate admission to any public higher education institution in the state. The bill mandates the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish this annual fee waiver period, with implementation beginning for the 2025-2026 academic year. The provision applies to all public institutions of higher education in Texas and removes a financial barrier during the designated week. The law took effect immediately after Governor's signature on May 21, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1863 requires the Texas Secretary of State to conduct randomized audits of election procedures in 16 counties (reduced from 89) following each November election. It mandates that counties register with the Secretary of State and notify them 90 days before elections, while audits must cover voter registration accuracy, equipment testing, mail ballot procedures, and election record documentation. The bill specifies that audits must randomly select 13 counties with under 300,000 residents and 3 counties with 300,000+ residents, excluding counties audited in the previous cycle. Audits cannot occur during election contest periods or runoffs, and must be completed before the next election cycle. This applies directly to all Texas counties and political subdivisions holding elections.

Maddy summarySB 1316 prohibits e-cigarette advertising on signs located within 1,000 feet of schools or churches in Texas. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to require this distance, measured from the nearest property line of the institution to the sign. It includes an exception for signs already advertising e-cigarettes within 500-1,000 feet of such institutions before September 1, 1997. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting businesses that advertise e-cigarettes near schools or churches.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill with policy changes) adopted by the Texas Senate on May 21, 2025. It formally recognizes the five students in the 13th class of the Senator Gregory Luna Legislative Scholars and Fellows Program - Ben Aguillon, Rachel Sepulveda, Leticia Sofia Torres, Christell Valdes, and Ezra Villarreal - for their service in Texas Senate offices during the 89th Legislative Session. The resolution commends their "remarkable service and excellent work" and provides them with a formal copy as a gesture of the Senate's "high regard." No new laws, funding, or policy changes are created by this resolution.