Sen. Adam Hinojosa

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 471) honors Royce Chadwick upon his retirement as head women's basketball coach at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. It commends his 30+ years of coaching success, including becoming the winningest coach in Southland Conference history and reaching 750 career wins. The resolution specifically recognizes his impact at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi since 2012 and his prior coaching roles at multiple universities. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create policy changes but serves as a formal expression of appreciation from the Texas Senate.

Maddy summarySB 2877 increases penalties for election fraud in Texas by elevating the offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a second-degree felony under the Election Code. It directly affects individuals who commit acts like altering ballots, casting votes for deceased or ineligible voters, or destroying completed ballots without consent. The bill amends Section 276.013 to specify that such offenses become felonies unless committed by an elected official in their official capacity (then a state jail felony) or as an attempted offense (third-degree felony). This change applies only to offenses committed on or after the bill’s effective date, leaving prior offenses governed by existing law.

Maddy summarySB 1924 would require students convicted of or placed on probation for school offenses (defined in Section 37.141) to complete community service and pay all fines before graduating high school. The bill amends education code to mandate that courts certify such completion to school districts before diplomas are issued. It also changes criminal procedure to allow law enforcement to issue citations for minor traffic or fine-only offenses instead of taking students into custody, while prohibiting citations for school offenses under certain conditions. This directly affects students in Texas public schools who face criminal charges for conduct on school property.

Maddy summarySB 407 would require Texas healthcare facilities to include conscience-based exemptions (including religious beliefs) in their policies for vaccine-preventable diseases. It mandates that facilities cannot reject such exemptions for any reason. The bill directly affects healthcare facilities (like hospitals and clinics) and patients seeking exemptions based on personal or religious beliefs. Key provisions amend existing law to specify that exemption policies must allow for conscience claims and prohibit facility refusal of these exemptions. The bill was reported adversely by the Health & Human Services Committee on April 22, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 49 amends Texas law to change how public junior colleges receive state funding based on student outcomes. It establishes three specific metrics for evaluating colleges: (1) the number of "credentials of value" (degrees/certificates leading to better jobs, with extra weight for high-demand occupations), (2) the number of students transferring to four-year colleges or completing structured co-enrollment programs, and (3) the number of students completing dual credit courses that count toward college degrees. These metrics will directly affect Texas public junior college districts by determining their state funding levels. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, but remains pending in committee as of the latest update.

Maddy summarySB 2434 requires Texas gas utilities to prioritize natural gas deliveries to natural-gas-fired power plants during supply shortages, placing them at the same priority level as hospitals, water facilities, and other essential services. This directly affects gas utilities and natural-gas-powered electricity generators by mandating that these power plants receive gas before non-essential commercial or industrial customers during shortages. The bill defines "human needs customers" to include these power plants under Section 121.159 of the Utilities Code. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not alter existing priorities for residential or emergency services.

Maddy summarySB 39 amends Texas law to change how commercial vehicle accident lawsuits handle employer liability. It requires employers to formally admit (via stipulation) that an employee was acting within their job duties during a collision before negligence claims against the employer can proceed. This prevents claimants from presenting evidence about the employee's driving negligence in the first trial phase, but allows claims based on the employer's own actions (like poor vehicle maintenance) to move forward. The bill affects commercial motor vehicle owners/operators and accident victims seeking compensation for collisions. It applies only to cases filed or ongoing after its effective date.

Maddy summarySB 1717 requires Texas state agencies and lawmakers to use "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico" in all new statutes, resolutions, agency rules, and official publications. It amends multiple state codes (including Government, Agriculture, and Civil Practice codes) to replace the current terminology with the new phrase in all future legal references. This is a purely procedural change affecting only new state documents, not existing laws or geographic boundaries. The bill does not alter any physical geography or policy, only the language used in official state materials.

Maddy summarySCR 42 is a non-binding Senate Concurrent Resolution passed by the Texas Senate in April 2025. It declares the state's policy to "recognize two sexes, male and female," stating that biological sex is "immutable and innate." The resolution does not create new laws or change existing policies but affirms this position in state communications and actions. It specifically references concerns about "men entering spaces designed for women," though the resolution itself has no legal effect on access to facilities or protections.

Maddy summarySB 240, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, requires public schools, government buildings, and facilities like restrooms, locker rooms, and shelters to designate and restrict access based on biological sex as defined by birth certificate and physical characteristics. It prohibits facilities from allowing individuals to use spaces designated for a biological sex different from their own, with exceptions for young children (under 10), ADA accommodations, or emergency assistance. Violations carry civil penalties of $5,000 for first offenses and $25,000 for repeat violations, and citizens can file complaints with the attorney general after providing 3 days’ notice to the facility. The law directly affects state and local government entities managing public facilities, including schools, shelters, and correctional facilities.