Sen. Adam Hinojosa

Maddy summarySB 2229 requires courts to move criminal trials involving peace officers to a different location under specific conditions. It applies when the defendant was a peace officer at the time of the alleged crime and was charged with an offense committed while acting in their official capacity (e.g., during a duty-related incident). A judge must order this venue change if either the state, defendant, or the judge requests it. The law only affects cases where the offense occurred on or after September 1, 2025, with past cases governed by prior law.

Maddy summarySB 2388 establishes Chapter 527 of the Texas Government Code, creating a "Managed Care Client Choice Program" for Medicaid and child health plan programs. It defines key terms like "managed care contract," "contracted managed care organization," and "health care service region" to standardize procurement processes. The bill applies specifically to Texas Medicaid programs (including STAR Medicaid, STAR+PLUS, and STAR Kids) and the child health plan program, outlining requirements for how the Health and Human Services Commission procures and manages these contracts. This legislation focuses on administrative clarity for existing managed care programs without altering service delivery or funding.

Maddy summarySB 19 would restrict political subdivisions (such as cities, counties, and school districts) from using public funds to hire registered lobbyists or pay nonprofits that primarily represent political subdivisions and employ registered lobbyists. The bill permits exceptions for activities like providing legislative information, testifying, or conducting bill analysis without requiring lobbyist registration. Taxpayers could also seek court orders to halt prohibited spending and recover related costs. This legislation aims to limit public funding for lobbying efforts while preserving direct communication with lawmakers.

Maddy summarySB 2186 requires the state to provide compensatory time off (1 hour for each hour worked) to specific state employees who work on national or state holidays falling on Saturdays or Sundays. It directly affects: Department of Family and Protective Services intake staff handling abuse/neglect reports; state peace officers; Texas Department of Public Safety communications/dispatch staff, public security officers, and traffic/criminal intelligence analysts; Parks and Wildlife communications staff; Texas Juvenile Justice Department communications staff; and juvenile correctional security officers. The bill amends Government Code Section 662.005 to specify these employee categories, replacing prior language. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2110 requires Texas' Public Utility Commission to study the costs of burying overhead power lines in coastal areas and statewide, with a report due by December 2026. It mandates electric utilities in coastal regions to replace all wooden poles by 2045, prioritizing areas within 10 miles of the coast and locations serving critical infrastructure. The bill also requires utilities to implement a vegetation management plan (clearing trees every three years near power lines) and submit annual reports on both pole replacement and vegetation activities. These provisions directly affect Texas electric utilities operating in coastal zones, focusing on grid resilience through infrastructure upgrades and maintenance.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Texas education laws to change how student performance is measured and supported. It requires schools to include state exam scores and graduation rates in accountability systems, mandates summer or school-year remedial instruction for students who fail required exams, and creates college prep courses for 12th graders not meeting readiness standards. School districts must partner with colleges to develop these courses, and the bill updates rules for transferring credits between states. These changes directly affect public school students (especially those failing assessments), school districts, and higher education institutions.

Maddy summarySB 2189 allows small coastal Texas municipalities (population 5,000 or less with a state highway ferry system) to temporarily increase their hotel occupancy tax rate from 7% to a maximum of 8% if approved by local voters. The bill requires voter approval for this rate increase, which expires December 31, 2035. Municipalities must allocate at least 1% of hotel tax revenue toward tourism-related facilities like parks, marinas, or visitor attractions, and can use excess revenue for main street beautification and pedestrian safety improvements. The law specifies that these additional beautification funds cannot exceed what the municipality spends from other sources on similar projects each year.

Maddy summarySB 1826 establishes requirements for career and technology education (CTE) programs in Texas public schools, ensuring all secondary and postsecondary students have access to these programs. It mandates that CTE programs must provide industry-recognized credentials, college credit opportunities, and align with federal funding rules, while requiring school districts to offer dual credit courses within these programs. The bill also creates a new "Military Pathway Grant Program" to fund Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs, including administering aptitude tests and annual career counseling. These changes directly affect Texas public school districts, students, and educators by shaping CTE program standards and expanding pathway options.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 305) honors Jill Diane Warrington Glover, a Republican Party member, mental health professional, and civic leader who died in January 2024. It pays tribute to her work supporting conservative legislation (including the Texas Heartbeat Act), her service on the State Republican Executive Committee, and her family. As a memorial resolution, it has no policy impact and serves solely to recognize her contributions. The Texas Senate adopted it to extend sympathy to her husband, son, brothers, and other family members.

Maddy summaryThis is a Texas Senate concurrent resolution (SCR 12), not a bill, urging Congress to change federal tax law. It requests that Congress amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow spaceports to qualify for tax-exempt private activity bonds - similar to bonds currently used for airports, docks, and ports. This would enable spaceport developers to access lower-cost financing for infrastructure, directly benefiting Texas' aerospace industry (which has over 2,000 aerospace businesses and ranks second nationally in spaceport locations). The resolution has cleared the Senate committee with unanimous support but has no legal effect; it serves as a formal request to Congress.