Sen. Brent Hagenbuch

Maddy summarySB 1283 requires senior retirement communities in Texas (defined as residential communities with 20+ units offering shared amenities) to conduct background checks on all employees and disclose in resident contracts whether vendors must also perform such checks. The law mandates that communities maintain written safety policies addressing criminal activity risks to residents. These requirements apply to all eligible communities except healthcare facilities, boarding homes, and federally regulated housing. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1455 authorizes surcharges on workers' compensation insurance policies to fund the Texas Department of Insurance's regulation of workers' compensation programs. The bill amends the Insurance Code to establish these surcharges as a dedicated revenue source, directly affecting workers' compensation insurance providers who would pay the added fees. Key provisions include updating funding mechanisms under Title 3 of the Insurance Code to allow surcharges for regulatory costs, while specifying that these funds must support the department's oversight functions. The bill became effective January 1, 2026, after passing both legislative chambers and being filed without the governor's signature.

Maddy summarySB 2001 creates a program allowing peace officers with disabilities resulting from work-related injuries to register one personal vehicle for free (excluding license plate fees) for one year. It directly affects peace officers who were injured during employment, require a vehicle owned by them under 18,000 pounds gross weight or a motor home, and provide two certifications: one confirming their mobility impairment and another from their agency verifying the work-related injury. The bill amends Texas Transportation Code sections to establish this benefit, replacing standard registration fees for qualifying officers while maintaining requirements for disability documentation. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025, following gubernatorial approval.

Maddy summarySB 1241 amends Texas law to allow public universities to admit students who achieve a minimum SAT score of 1,500 (or equivalent ACT score) as an alternative to graduating in the top 10% of their high school class. It directly affects undergraduate applicants to Texas public institutions of higher education who do not meet the top 10% academic requirement. The bill establishes specific score thresholds (1,500 on the SAT or equivalent ACT benchmarks) that applicants must meet to qualify for admission under this new pathway. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is also directed to study how these entrance examinations impact student success and institutional admissions. The law took effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 3056 creates the Alluvium Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1 in Sherman, Texas, to provide local services and economic development within its boundaries. The district will have authority to issue bonds for infrastructure projects, impose property-based assessments and fees, and use limited eminent domain to acquire land for district purposes. This bill directly affects property owners within the designated district area, who will pay these new assessments and fees. The district is intended to supplement, not replace, existing city and county services while promoting economic development, housing, and public welfare in the area.

Maddy summarySB 38 amends Texas Property Code to clarify procedures for eviction lawsuits involving tenants who lack legal right to occupy property. It specifies that justice courts must handle eviction cases in the precinct where the property is located, with limited circumstances allowing case transfers to adjacent precincts (e.g., if service delays occur or trials cannot be scheduled within 21 days). The bill prohibits courts from charging additional filing or service fees when transferring cases and explicitly states that eviction courts cannot rule on property title disputes or allow separate claims against third parties. This affects landlords and tenants involved in eviction proceedings by streamlining court processes and limiting judicial overreach.

Maddy summaryHB 27 requires all Texas public high school students to complete at least one-half credit in personal financial literacy as part of their social studies graduation requirements under Education Code Section 28.025(b-1)(4). The bill directs the State Board of Education to develop a list of free, open-source curricula for these courses and allows Advanced Placement courses meeting specific standards to count toward the requirement. This policy change affects all public high school students in Texas, mandating practical financial education alongside traditional subjects like history and government. The law, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025, is now effective immediately for all public school districts.

Maddy summarySB 1506 sets new timelines for when Texas' Board of Pardons and Paroles must reconsider inmates for parole after a denial. It requires the board to review most inmates' cases between one and five years after denial, while extending this window to one to ten years for inmates serving sentences for certain serious offenses (like those under Section 22.021 of the Penal Code or life sentences for capital felonies). The law applies to all inmates confined in Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities on or after September 1, 2025, regardless of when their offense occurred. The bill, signed into law in June 2025, takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4506 allows Texas municipalities to deliver zoning change notices electronically to property owners, but only if recipients opt-in to receive them this way. The bill requires municipalities to send written notice (via mail or electronic delivery) at least 10 days before public hearings on zoning changes that could make current property uses nonconforming. Notices must include a bold warning that the hearing may affect the right to continue using property as it currently is. This applies to owners of properties where proposed changes affect existing uses, and to school districts for residential zoning changes, while maintaining the existing 200-foot notice zone for adjacent properties.

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.