Maddy summarySB 3016 establishes state control over certain local regulations in Texas, preventing cities and counties from enacting rules on land use, business operations, structures, or municipal boundaries that conflict with state law. It allows the Attorney General to sue local governments for violations, with potential consequences including withheld state funds, restrictions on tax rates, and penalties from suspended revenue accounts. The bill explicitly preserves local authority for road maintenance, taxation, home-rule city services, public awareness campaigns, and revising ordinances that violate the law. It aims to create statewide regulatory consistency, citing concerns about conflicting local rules creating a "patchwork" of regulations. The law does not affect general tax authority or prohibit municipalities from providing services authorized by existing statutes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 511 prohibits state and local government employees from distributing voter registration forms to people who did not request them. It also bans using public funds to help others distribute such forms. Political parties and candidates may still distribute these forms unsolicited, but government employees violating these rules face a Class A misdemeanor charge. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 2880, titled the Women and Child Protection Act, creates a new legal framework for regulating abortion-inducing drugs in Texas. It authorizes private civil lawsuits against individuals or entities that distribute abortion-inducing drugs for elective abortions, while explicitly exempting internet service providers, search engines, and cloud service providers from liability. The bill defines key terms like "elective abortion" (an abortion not performed in response to a medical emergency) and "abortion-inducing drug" to clarify the scope of liability. It establishes Chapter 171A in the Health and Safety Code to enforce these provisions and harmonize related laws. The legislation directly affects distributors of abortion-inducing drugs and those providing information about them online, with potential civil liability for violating its provisions.
Maddy summarySB 2743 creates a process for disqualifying local prosecutors who consistently refuse to prosecute election law violations. It allows judges to declare a district or county attorney disqualified if they follow a policy of declining to prosecute election offenses, and requires judges to appoint an assistant attorney general to handle those cases instead. Residents who have lived in a county for at least six months can file petitions seeking disqualification if they believe a prosecutor has a pattern of not prosecuting election violations. The bill specifically targets election-related prosecutions and mandates that the attorney general's office handles these cases without additional state funding. This bill aims to ensure consistent enforcement of election laws by local prosecutors.
Maddy summarySB 2138 prohibits Texas public universities and related funds (including the permanent university fund and Texas University Fund) from investing money with financial companies that boycott specific energy companies. The bill applies existing state investment rules (Chapter 809 of the Government Code) to these university funds, requiring them to avoid financial institutions engaging in such boycotts. It directly affects Texas public higher education institutions and their investment decisions. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, with no specified energy companies named in the bill text.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Texas education code to establish the earliest start date for the school year. It generally prohibits school districts from beginning instruction before the fourth Monday in August, with three specific exceptions: year-round schools, large districts (190,000+ students) meeting enrollment and funding conditions, and districts designated as "districts of innovation" starting with the 2026-2027 school year. The bill directly affects all Texas public school districts by changing scheduling requirements under Section 25.0811(a) of the Education Code. It does not alter curriculum, funding, or other educational policies, only the timing of the first day of school. The changes apply to new or renewed "districts of innovation" plans adopted on or after the bill's effective date.
Maddy summarySJR 85 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase Texas school district property tax exemptions for elderly or disabled homeowners. Currently, the exemption for these residents is $10,000; this bill would raise it to $60,000 of a home's market value. The amendment would allow the legislature to adjust this exemption amount, with provisions ensuring eligible individuals (65+ or disabled) cannot receive both the basic exemption and this enhanced benefit. It directly affects Texas homeowners aged 65 or older or with disabilities who own their primary residence. The bill requires voter approval after legislative passage to take effect.
Maddy summarySB 383 prohibits Texas' Public Utility Commission from approving interconnection of offshore wind power facilities to the ERCOT grid under specific conditions. The bill requires the Commission to deny approvals if a facility might negatively impact shipping routes, tourism, fishing, wildlife, migratory patterns, or public safety in disaster-prone areas, or if existing services are sufficient. It directly affects offshore wind developers and the Commission's approval process for grid connections. The law takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, or September 1, 2025, otherwise.
Maddy summarySJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the homestead exemption for school district property taxes in Texas from $100,000 to $140,000. This change would directly reduce the taxable value of a primary residence for school taxes, lowering property tax bills for homeowners. The amendment requires voter approval in a November 2025 election to take effect for the 2025 tax year. If passed, it would provide an additional $40,000 in tax relief on primary homes for school funding purposes.
Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 2617) requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt policies mandating the use of "Anno Domini (AD)" and "Before Christ (BC)" when expressing dates during student instruction. It prohibits schools from purchasing or selecting curriculum materials that use alternative date formats (like "CE" or "BCE"). The policy applies to all instructional materials and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation. The law directly affects school districts, charter schools, and curriculum developers by standardizing date terminology in educational settings.