Sen. Brent Hagenbuch

Maddy summarySB 1322 creates a new Texas Higher Education Accreditation Commission (THEAC) to oversee accreditation of public universities. The commission, appointed with three members each by the governor, lieutenant governor, and House speaker, must include employer representatives from key job fields and exclude those with recent ties to federal accreditors. It requires the commission to approve at least three accrediting agencies, conduct biennial evaluations of them (rating as unsatisfactory, satisfactory, or exemplary), and publish evaluation standards online. This bill shifts oversight of accreditation standards from federal bodies to a state-level commission, directly affecting all public institutions of higher education in Texas.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a binding law) expressing Texas's support for strengthening economic ties with Israel. It urges the creation of a Texas Trade and Investment Office in Jerusalem to foster business connections, particularly with countries in the Abraham Accords or peace agreements with Israel. The resolution reaffirms Texas's existing trade relationship with Israel - where Texas ranks among top U.S. states for exports - and directs officials to share the resolution with state, federal, and Israeli leaders. It does not create new programs or allocate funding, serving only as a formal statement of support.

Maddy summarySB 400 requires Texas public school employees to obtain written parental consent before conducting psychological or psychiatric examinations, tests, or treatment of students. The bill defines these activities broadly to include surveys, check-ins, or screenings embedded in lessons, unless mandated by special education law. Parents must sign consent forms for their child to participate, with exceptions for general well-being check-ins that don’t require written permission. The law applies starting the 2025-2026 school year and does not affect routine student wellness conversations. It directly affects all Texas public school students and their parents, changing how schools handle mental health-related student interactions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 382) recognizes the opening of the Medal of Honor Host City Museum at North Central Texas College in Gainesville, Texas, during Medal of Honor Week on April 10, 2025. It formally commends the museum's establishment and the community efforts behind it, highlighting the museum's role in preserving the legacies of Medal of Honor recipients through exhibits and educational programs. The resolution serves as a symbolic gesture of appreciation from the Texas Senate, not a policy change or funding measure. It directly honors the museum and its mission to honor military heroes and inspire future generations.

Maddy summarySB 2953 prohibits the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) from favoring bids for road construction materials based on environmental, social, or governance criteria (including carbon emissions) if those materials are less cost-effective or durable than alternatives. The bill directly affects TxDOT's contracting decisions for road projects by requiring them to prioritize cost and durability over ESG factors when comparing bids. It adds a new provision to the Transportation Code stating TxDOT may not give preference to such bids, ensuring material selection is based on practical project needs. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2848 requires Texas public universities to tie at least 15% of their state funding to performance metrics focused on students graduating on time. Starting in the 2026-27 budget cycle, the state will allocate funds using a formula that incentivizes institutions to improve graduation rates. This directly affects all public universities designated as "general academic teaching institutions" under Texas law. The bill mandates that performance-based funding under this provision must equal or exceed 15% of the total combined performance-based and formula funding distributed to these institutions.

Maddy summarySB 2803 requires Texas public schools to add specific curriculum content about communist history and ideologies to social studies classes, linking them to Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, students must analyze "Neo-Marxist roots" of CRT, discuss philosophers like Gramsci and Marcuse, and examine claims about CRT's origins in "Communist Party influence operations." The bill mandates teaching that DEI initiatives have "neo-Marxist roots" and requires comparing CRT concepts with "traditional American ideals of liberty and individual merit." This policy affects all Texas public school students in social studies courses under the revised curriculum.

Maddy summarySB 2945 allows hydrogen-fueled motor vehicles to exceed standard weight limits by the difference in weight between their hydrogen fuel system and a comparable diesel system, with a maximum gross weight cap of 82,000 pounds. It directly affects operators of hydrogen-powered trucks and commercial vehicles seeking to use heavier fuel systems. The bill only takes effect if federal law or regulation permits hydrogen vehicles to operate above current weight limits on interstate highways; otherwise, it has no impact. This change aims to accommodate the additional weight of hydrogen storage technology while maintaining safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 45) is a symbolic request by the Texas Legislature to rename a 10-mile coastal zone off the Gulf Coast as the "Gulf of Texas," which Texas already claims under its sovereignty. It does not change legal boundaries or affect any laws, people, or policies. The resolution formally asks Congress to adopt this name and requests that the Texas secretary of state submit copies to the U.S. Congress as a memorial. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding effect and is solely intended to promote the proposed name.

Maddy summarySB 643 clarifies where applications for court-ordered mental health services must be filed in Texas. It requires filings to be submitted to the county clerk in the county where the person seeking services: (1) resides, (2) is located when filing, (3) was apprehended under mental health laws, or (4) is already receiving court-ordered care. This change applies only to applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025. The bill does not alter eligibility for services or the mental health care process itself.