Sen. Charles Perry

Maddy summaryThis bill requires county fire marshals in Texas counties with 100,000+ residents to obtain specific certifications within 12 months of appointment, including fire department leadership and fire protection personnel credentials. It allows counties to commission fire marshals, inspectors, and investigators as peace officers with authority to enforce fire-related codes, conduct arson investigations, and make building safety recommendations. However, these officers cannot enforce most transportation code violations (except as related to fire safety). The law applies only to large counties and clarifies that fire marshals must hold permanent peace officer licenses when acting in that capacity.

Maddy summarySB 1388 establishes the Thriving Texas Families Program, a statewide initiative under the Health and Human Services Commission that provides community outreach, consultation, and care coordination for women facing unexpected pregnancies. The program offers "life-affirming" alternatives to abortion through support services, directly affecting pregnant individuals seeking non-abortion options. Key provisions define terms like "abortion services provider" (broadly including those who refer for abortion, fund travel, or provide related information) and "network contractor" (entities delivering program services), shaping eligibility and service delivery. The law, effective September 1, 2025, replaces the previous "alternatives to abortion" program with this new framework.

Maddy summarySB 1261 authorizes Texas water agencies and districts to issue bonds or other debt instruments to finance large-scale water supply projects. It specifically applies to projects included in the state water plan that have cumulative capital costs of at least $750 million. The law creates new Chapter 1373 in the Government Code, allowing issuers to finance or refinance these qualifying projects without conflicting with other state laws. It explicitly excludes projects funded through the Texas Water Development Board’s existing programs. This legislation provides a new financing mechanism for major water infrastructure, directly affecting local water authorities and districts planning large-scale projects aligned with the state water plan.

Maddy summarySB 260 increases funding for school safety in Texas public schools under the Foundation School Program. It raises the per-student allotment from $10 to $20 per student in average daily attendance and doubles the campus safety allotment from $15,000 to $30,000 per school campus. These changes apply to all Texas public school districts and take effect September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects school funding formulas by increasing state support for safety resources at both the student and campus levels. The policy change provides additional state funds specifically designated for school safety measures.

Maddy summarySB 1307 requires the Texas Department of Insurance to create a biennial reference guide for the public, updated every two years, to help Texans understand health coverage options. The guide must include definitions of health insurance terms, sources for obtaining coverage (like employers), comparisons of plan types (such as HMOs and PPOs), explanations of out-of-pocket costs (premiums, deductibles), and how to recognize coverage scams. It also covers the Affordable Care Act marketplace categories, consumer rights, dispute resolution methods, and federal/state programs for health care assistance. This bill directly affects Texas residents seeking health coverage by providing standardized, accessible information to make informed decisions. The guide will take effect September 1, 2025, following the bill's recent signing into law.

Maddy summarySB 7 requires the Texas Water Development Board to coordinate planning for water infrastructure projects to maximize use of existing utility corridors and minimize land acquisition through eminent domain. It mandates the Board to develop standardized specifications for water infrastructure, ensure different water systems can connect and operate together, and recommend building extra capacity during construction to accommodate future projects. The bill directly affects water project developers, utilities, and local governments working with the Board on infrastructure planning and financing. Key provisions include creating interconnectivity standards and facilitating collaboration between project sponsors and transportation/utility entities.

Maddy summarySB 1610 increases penalties for individuals civilly committed as sexually violent predators who commit new offenses. It mandates life imprisonment or 25-99 years for felony convictions if the person was a sexually violent predator at the time of the offense (Section 1 of the Penal Code). The bill also elevates harassment offenses by these individuals to a third-degree felony (Section 21.08) and creates a presumption that assaulters knew they were targeting Texas Civil Commitment Office staff wearing distinctive uniforms (Section 22.01). The law directly affects people under civil commitment for sexually violent predator status who commit new crimes, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 43 amends Texas law to update the definition of "agricultural business" in the Agriculture Code, explicitly including rural recreational businesses (like hiking or fishing on farmland) and nonprofit land conservation groups. It also revises the composition of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority's board, requiring the governor to appoint nine members with specific representation: two young farmers/ranchers, two representatives from rural entities (chambers, trade associations), and others with agricultural lending expertise. These changes directly affect entities applying for the Authority's loan and grant programs, such as farmers, ranchers, rural tourism businesses, and conservation nonprofits. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, after passing both chambers unanimously.

Maddy summaryHB 4263 requires the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to establish new procedures for handling employment grievances from current and former employees, including a mediation option for employees facing dismissal. The bill also revises rules for the department's release review panel, mandating that panel members must be current central office employees with no prior involvement in cases they review, and requiring the department to ensure panel decisions are transparent and consistent. These changes, effective September 1, 2025, apply directly to department employees and panel members. The law aims to standardize grievance processes and prevent conflicts of interest in review decisions.

Maddy summarySB 13 requires Texas school districts to provide parents with access to records about their child's school library materials, including books or digital resources checked out. It mandates that school libraries prohibit the acquisition of materials rated "sexually explicit" by vendors or deemed "harmful" under Texas law, and restricts access to content described as "pervasively vulgar" or "educationally unsuitable." The bill also creates local school library advisory councils to help develop library policies. These changes directly affect parents, school districts, and students by expanding parental oversight of library resources and setting new standards for library collections. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.