Sen. Brent Hagenbuch

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Pastor Tommy Nelson's retirement after nearly 50 years as senior pastor of Denton Bible Church. It is a symbolic gesture by the Texas House of Representatives expressing appreciation for his service, leadership, and community impact, including his work as an author and educator. The resolution contains no policy changes or direct effects on constituents, as it is a commemorative statement with no binding provisions.

Maddy summarySB 412 amends Texas Penal Code sections 43.24 and 43.25 to add new affirmative defenses for certain offenses involving material or conduct harmful to children. It allows judicial or law enforcement officers to use their official duties as a defense when prosecuted under specific sections, and adds two other defenses: being the child’s spouse or being no more than two years older than the child. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, and does not affect past cases. These changes directly affect prosecutors, defendants in such cases, and law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity.

Maddy summarySB 1745 officially renamed "Chambers County Improvement District No. 1" to the "Cedar Port Navigation and Improvement District" in Texas law. The bill updates all legal references to the district in the Special District Local Laws Code to reflect this new name, without changing the district's existing powers or responsibilities. This is a purely administrative renaming bill, not a policy change affecting residents or services. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on May 19, 2025, and is now effective.

Maddy summarySB 2043 prohibits health care facilities and others from retaliating against physicians or health care providers who report violations related to patient safety, unsafe treatment practices, or public health risks. It directly affects nurses, pharmacists, technicians, and other health care workers who report concerns about care quality or safety. The law creates a civil remedy, allowing affected providers to sue for damages if retaliated against (e.g., through termination or demotion). This establishes a legal pathway for health care professionals to report safety issues without fear of workplace punishment.

Maddy summarySB 2619 modifies Texas school district governance by requiring school boards in underperforming districts (those rated "F" for two years or designated "rapidly declining" due to significant performance drops) to hold special elections for trustees before December 31 of the following year. It mandates that school boards publicly review and disclose applicants' past academic performance records when hiring a superintendent, including relative performance rankings from state evaluations. The bill also requires all school districts to post board member contact information and term dates on their websites (or submit to the Texas Education Agency if no website exists), with updates required within 30 days of membership changes. Additionally, it establishes new approval requirements for training providers for school board members, prohibiting political advocacy during training and mandating agency review of provider credentials and content.

Maddy summarySB 3045 creates the Hills of Walnut Creek Municipal Utility District in Parker County to provide essential utility services and infrastructure improvements. The district will have limited authority to acquire land through eminent domain, issue bonds for infrastructure projects, and impose assessments, fees, and taxes on properties within its boundaries. This bill directly affects residents and property owners in the designated district area by establishing a local government entity to manage water, sewer, road maintenance, and storm drainage systems. The district’s creation aligns with Texas constitutional provisions for municipal utility districts and requires municipal consent before implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Texas pet stores from selling dogs or cats, with limited exceptions for showcasing animals for adoption through qualified animal control agencies or nonprofit rescue organizations. Pet stores may only host these organizations if they meet strict criteria, such as not breeding animals, not receiving payment for animals, and having no ties to breeders or animal brokers. Violations carry a civil penalty of up to $500 per day for each animal sold in violation. The law applies only to animals obtained by pet stores on or after the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 13) urges the U.S. Department of State and the International Boundary and Water Commission to ensure Mexico complies with the 1944 Treaty on shared water resources. It specifically addresses Mexico's failure to deliver the required 350,000 acre-feet of water annually (averaged over five years), with a current deficit of 984,814 acre-feet. The resolution highlights how this shortfall harms Texas water users, including municipal, agricultural, and industrial sectors in the Rio Grande Valley, impacting reservoir levels and causing economic losses like the closure of Texas' only sugar mill. As a non-binding resolution, it formally requests U.S. federal agencies to take action but does not change legal obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Texas insurers and insurer holding companies from adopting or including in proxy statements shareholder proposals that restrict fossil fuel insurance, require emissions tracking, or limit insurance for environmental/social causes. It defines "political shareholder proposals" to specifically cover three types of requests: banning fossil fuel-related coverage, mandating emissions tracking (including for insureds or investments), or restricting insurance for entities pursuing environmental/social goals. The law would take effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting all insurers operating under Texas law. It creates a clear prohibition on these specific types of shareholder initiatives without requiring insurer action on broader environmental or social policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Texas business law to give domestic entities more control over internal dispute resolution. It allows businesses formed under Texas law to require that internal disputes (like shareholder disagreements) be filed only in Texas courts and to waive jury trials for these cases. The changes apply to all Texas domestic entities, including corporations and LLCs. The law ensures Texas governance rules take precedence over other states' laws for these internal matters.