Sen. Charles Perry

Maddy summarySB 2060 establishes the Texas Advanced Nuclear Deployment Office within the Governor's office and creates a Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Program to support the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in Texas. The program, funded through the Texas energy fund, will assist companies in securing licenses and making final investment decisions for nuclear projects that generate electricity. It specifically targets advanced reactor technologies like small modular reactors and aims to create high-wage manufacturing jobs while advancing Texas' energy infrastructure. The bill defines key terms and outlines how the Office of the Governor and Texas Public Utility Commission will administer the program.

Maddy summarySB 513 establishes a pilot program to expand community-based child welfare services in rural Texas counties meeting specific population criteria (at least two-thirds of counties in a region having 50,000 or fewer residents). The bill requires the state child welfare department to partner with a locally selected lead entity - either a community nonprofit with resident-led governance or a local government - to implement the program. Key provisions include prioritizing community engagement, improving child welfare outcomes through innovative service delivery, and developing a sustainable model for rural areas. The program became effective September 1, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers and receiving the Governor’s signature.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for businesses subject to Texas insurance tax that make cash investments in approved rural development funds. The credits apply to investments supporting rural small businesses located outside cities over 50,000 people or in USDA-designated rural areas. For loans to these businesses, the fund must verify the business was denied financing by a commercial bank or referred by one. The law defines "growth investment" as equity or loans with specific terms, including minimum five-year maturity for debt instruments.

Maddy summaryHB 1461 requires state agencies like the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Texas Juvenile Justice Department to take custody of individuals confined in county facilities within 45 days. If they fail to do so, the agencies must compensate counties for the cost of each day the individuals remain confined beyond that deadline, at the rate the agency would have paid for confinement. This applies to defendants in criminal cases, children in juvenile justice cases, and releasees for administrative violations. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, for all cases occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 1727 restricts probation options for certain juvenile offenders in Texas. It prohibits community supervision (probation) for teens aged 17+ who commit a felony while under the Texas Juvenile Justice Department's (TJJD) custody, in a TJJD halfway house, or in a secure juvenile facility. The bill also redefines "habitual felony conduct" to require prior felony adjudications and expands when prosecutors may refer serious juvenile cases (like murder, sexual assault, or aggravated robbery) to grand jury instead of juvenile court. These changes primarily affect teens facing felony charges during active juvenile detention or supervision. The law aims to limit probation for repeat or serious offenses committed while under state juvenile justice supervision.

Maddy summarySB 262 updates Texas's requirements for becoming a licensed public accountant (CPA). It mandates that applicants must either complete 150 academic hours with an accounting focus or earn a bachelor's degree in accounting (both meeting board standards), pass the CPA exam, fulfill work experience requirements (including two years for degree holders), and pass a professional conduct exam. The bill also revises reciprocity rules to allow Texas to accept CPA exam credits from other states if administered by standard bodies like AICPA or NASBA and if the applicant met prior state requirements. These changes take effect September 1, 2025, and apply to all new applicants seeking a Texas CPA certificate.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment (SJR 18) that would ban Texas from taxing capital gains - both when assets are sold (realized) or when their value increases without being sold (unrealized) - for individuals, families, estates, or trusts. It explicitly excludes property taxes, sales taxes on goods/services, and use taxes from this prohibition. If approved by voters in the November 2025 election, the amendment would require future Texas laws to comply with this ban on capital gains taxation. The measure directly affects taxpayers who own investments or assets subject to capital gains, but does not change existing tax types like property or sales taxes.

Maddy summarySB 1870 prohibits cities, counties, and their officials (including sheriffs, police departments, and attorneys) from adopting or enforcing policies that would not fully comply with state drug laws (Chapters 481 and 483 of the Health and Safety Code) or federal drug laws. It bans local ordinances, charters, or ballot measures that would limit enforcement of these laws. Violations trigger civil penalties of at least $25,000 for the first offense and $50,000 for each subsequent violation, with penalties applied daily for ongoing violations. The bill also establishes a process for citizens to file complaints with the Attorney General to enforce this prohibition.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Texas public universities to disregard undergraduate applicants' academic records older than 10 years when evaluating admission, but requires them to retain the most recent 5 years of grades and credits. Colleges must publicly post their specific policies on this practice and cannot selectively ignore only parts of the 10-year window - they must disregard all records from that period if they choose to apply the policy. The law applies to admissions for the 2025 fall semester and affects how institutions count credits toward degree requirements for students using this "academic fresh start" option. It also ties state funding for relevant credits to this policy starting in 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2357 creates a mandatory training program for health care providers in Texas who treat pregnant or postpartum patients, including hospitals, clinics, and medical staff. The program, developed by the Health and Human Services department with input from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, requires evidence-based emergency protocols, TexasAIM safety best practices, and maternal health simulations. The bill mandates all qualifying providers to complete this training, with state licensing authorities responsible for enforcing participation and monitoring compliance.