Sen. Charles Perry

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 695 returns Senate Bill 293 to the House of Representatives for further consideration. The resolution specifies that the Senate concurs in all House amendments except Section 23 (which the Senate ruled non-germane), and instead proposes substituting Section 20 of the Senate version - which modifies how judicial retirement annuities are calculated for judges retiring before September 1, 2025. The resolution requests the House adopt this change to finalize the bill. This procedural step resolves a disagreement over one section of the bill before it advances to final passage.

Maddy summarySB 1173 reduces the threshold requiring competitive procurement for Texas school districts, municipalities, and counties from $100,000 to $50,000 for most contracts. It applies to purchases of goods and services (excluding produce/fuel for schools and sole-supplier items), mandating methods like competitive bidding, sealed proposals, or reverse auctions. The bill clarifies that purchases from a single supplier aren’t subject to these rules and prohibits splitting contracts to avoid the threshold. This procedural change affects all local government spending above $50,000, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1214 updates the election and administrative rules for Concho County Hospital District. It requires directors to be district residents, property owners, and qualified voters, while prohibiting district employees from serving on the board. The bill also clarifies that the board appoints a district administrator at its discretion and sets new requirements for construction contracts exceeding $2,000. The law, signed by the governor on May 29, 2025, takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting Concho County Hospital District operations.

Maddy summaryHB 142 streamlines how Texas' Medicaid Inspector General reviews claims and recovers overpayments. It allows the Inspector General to directly contract with qualified experts for claim reviews without competitive bidding when no bids are received, and clarifies that the office may share certain oversight information with state, federal, or local agencies. The bill directly affects Medicaid providers (through revised eligibility checks) and the Health and Human Services Commission's Inspector General office (by changing its review processes). Key provisions include simplified contracting for expert reviews and expanded information-sharing authority for oversight purposes, all while maintaining compliance with federal Medicaid requirements. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 29 requires large municipally owned water utilities (those serving over 150,000 connections) to verify their annual water loss reports through independent validation within 180 days of filing. It mandates these utilities to develop and submit a water loss mitigation plan within one year, updated every 10 years with detailed goals and projects. The bill also requires these plans to be integrated into existing water conservation reporting and includes specific guidelines for certified validation personnel. This law directly affects major municipal water providers across Texas, focusing on improving accuracy in water loss reporting and reducing waste through structured planning.

Maddy summaryHB 3229 requires recycling facilities handling wind turbine components (like blades and towers), solar equipment (such as panels and inverters), and battery storage systems to submit annual reports detailing unsent materials and recycling costs. Facilities must provide financial assurance equal to 100% of estimated recycling costs through methods like parent company guarantees or bonds. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will maintain a public list of compliant facilities. This law directly affects businesses recycling renewable energy infrastructure, creating new reporting and funding requirements to ensure proper handling of these materials.

Maddy summaryHB 2692 establishes Chapter 8513 in Texas law specifically for the San Antonio River Authority (SARA). It defines key terms (like "Authority," "Board," and "San Antonio River Basin"), confirms SARA's status as a conservation and reclamation district under the Texas Constitution, and sets its territory to include Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad Counties. The bill also requires a Sunset Review of SARA in 2035 (and every 12 years after) and clarifies that SARA's powers do not override the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority without consent. This is a procedural bill that formalizes SARA's legal structure and boundaries without creating new policies or funding.

Maddy summarySB 1895 designates a specific section of State Highway Loop 88 in Lubbock County (the portion under construction as of September 1, 2025, serving as a Lubbock relief route) as the "First Responders Memorial Loop." This memorial honors first responders (including police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel) and requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers along the designated highway segment. The bill adds this permanent designation to the highway without altering existing traffic laws or infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas to create a property tax exemption for surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-connected conditions. Specifically, it would authorize the legislature to exempt all or part of the market value of a surviving spouse's primary home (homestead) from ad valorem taxes, provided the veteran died from a condition presumed service-connected under federal law and the spouse has not remarried. If a spouse moves to a new homestead, they could retain the same tax exemption amount as their previous home. The amendment requires voter approval in November 2025 and would take effect January 1, 2026, if approved.

Maddy summaryHB 3483 amends the definition of "Issuer" in Texas law to expand which entities can issue public securities (like bonds). It specifically adds qualifying home-rule municipalities, conservation districts, transit authorities, hospital authorities in large counties, and counties meeting population or debt thresholds to the list of eligible issuers. This change directly affects these local government entities by clarifying their authority to borrow funds through public securities. The bill does not create new powers but updates existing definitions to include these additional organizations under current securities law.