Sen. Brent Hagenbuch

Maddy summaryHB 120 amends Texas education law to prioritize college, career, and military readiness for high school students. It adds two new academic goals: requiring graduates to have immediate workforce skills (Goal 5) and ensuring college readiness without remediation (Goal 6). The bill mandates public schools to report de-identified student outcomes - including college enrollment, remedial coursework, and employment data - disaggregated by school district and campus. These reports will inform school accountability ratings and guide funding for career programs like the FAST and R-PEP initiatives. The law directly affects all Texas public high schools, students, and district administrators through updated accountability measures.

Maddy summarySB 1405 defines minimum broadband speed standards (100 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload, 100ms latency) for "broadband service" in Texas. It requires the state to map and classify locations as "unserved" (no access to these speeds) or "underserved" (access below standards) and publish annual data on broadband program applications, reimbursements, and funding. The bill directly affects broadband providers, local governments, and residents in areas lacking high-speed internet access. It became law on June 20, 2025, after being signed by the governor. Note: The bill focuses on defining standards and transparency, not tax changes as implied in the title.

Maddy summaryHB 581 requires websites and apps that let users create AI-generated sexual content resembling real people (e.g., using facial features or birthmarks) to verify users are 18+ before access. It directly affects commercial platforms offering these tools, such as AI content generators. The law mandates age verification using government ID, digital ID, or approved commercial systems, but prohibits retaining personal user data. These rules apply to platforms enabling creation of material defined as "harmful to minors" under Texas law, effective September 1, 2025.

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.

Maddy summarySB 1596 amends Texas Penal Code Section 46.05(a) to explicitly prohibit the possession, manufacture, transportation, repair, or sale of short-barrel firearms without proper registration or classification as a curio/antique. The bill directly affects individuals and businesses handling such firearms, adding them to existing prohibitions alongside machine guns and explosive devices. Key provisions include defining short-barrel firearms as illegal under the law (effective September 1, 2025) and establishing limited exceptions for antique/curio items or specific organizations. The bill repeals a prior Penal Code section (46.01(10)) and clarifies that new restrictions apply only to offenses occurring on or after the effective date.

Maddy summarySB 835, known as Trey's Law, invalidates any nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement that prevents someone from disclosing an act of sexual abuse. The law directly affects survivors of sexual abuse who may have signed such agreements, making those specific clauses unenforceable. Key provisions state that agreements cannot prohibit disclosure of sexual abuse details (defined using existing Texas Penal Code and Family Code offenses), though other settlement terms like payment amounts remain valid. This change applies to all agreements entered into before, on, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4157 creates legal protections for commercial space flight companies by establishing requirements for liability waivers. It defines "space flight participant" as non-crew individuals aboard spacecraft and mandates that waivers must be in writing, printed in 10-point bold type, and signed by participants (including heirs and representatives). The bill also recognizes federal waivers under 14 C.F.R. § 440.17 as enforceable in Texas, covering contractors and customers. This law applies only to incidents occurring on or after its September 1, 2025 effective date.

Maddy summarySB 15 limits zoning restrictions for small residential lots (4,000 sq ft or less) in certain large Texas municipalities (population over 90,000 in counties over 300,000). It prohibits municipalities from requiring lots larger than 1,400 sq ft, wider than 20 feet, or deeper than 60 feet, and mandates a minimum density of 31.1 units per acre. The bill also bans restrictions on covered parking, parking space limits, building height (requiring at least 3 stories), and excessive open space requirements for small lots. Municipalities may still charge permitting fees equivalent to single-family lot fees but cannot impose other zoning rules inconsistent with these provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1105 exempts paramedics employed by Texas cities, counties, or other local governments from tuition and laboratory fees at public colleges when enrolled in emergency medical services courses. This applies only to students maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate, and does not cover security deposits, additional fees for residents, or graduate-level surcharges. The exemption excludes distance education courses where more than 20% of enrollment exceeds the institution's designated limit. The bill, signed into law by the governor on June 20, 2025, became effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 2128 directs the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to study disparities between rural and urban firefighting and technical rescue capabilities. The study will examine funding gaps, staffing shortages, access to affordable training, and other relevant factors. The service must submit findings and recommendations to state leaders by December 1, 2026, with the bill expiring September 1, 2027. This procedural bill does not change existing services but aims to inform future policy based on identified gaps.