Sen. Brandon Creighton

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas navigation districts to cover costs if they need to move dredged material (sediment removed during waterway maintenance) from another district's authorized disposal site. If relocation reduces another district's capacity at that site, the requesting district must replace the lost capacity in a new location and pay for any extra transportation costs. The law applies specifically to districts managing dredged material placement areas and mandates compliance with federal Corps of Engineers rules. It became effective immediately upon the governor's signature on May 19, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 536) honors Mark Garcia for his 25 years of service as Texas Senate auditor. It formally recognizes his professional contributions, dedication, and personal involvement with Senate colleagues and community activities like the Senate Christmas band and the Texas MS 150 fundraiser. The resolution directs the Senate to present Garcia with an official copy as a gesture of appreciation for his service. No new laws or policy changes are created by this resolution.

Maddy summarySB 2629 updates Texas law governing condominium and property owners' associations. It requires associations to be organized as formal corporations (profit or nonprofit) before units can be sold, and mandates that all unit owners automatically become members. The bill allows virtual meetings via electronic or phone means with specific safeguards - ensuring all directors can communicate directly and preventing immediate voting on fines or suspensions without giving members a chance to speak. It also clarifies that boards can act via written consent without a meeting for non-sensitive issues, provided proper records are kept. This directly affects all Texas condominium and property owners' associations and their members.

Maddy summarySB 1008 clarifies that Texas counties, municipalities, and public health districts can only require permits for food businesses (like restaurants, food trucks, and mobile vendors) if state law already mandates them. It prevents local governments from charging duplicate fees for alcohol permits if businesses already paid fees to operate locally, and requires them to post all fee schedules online. The bill directly affects food service operators and local governments by standardizing permit and fee rules to align with state law. Businesses can now legally challenge local ordinances that violate specific state codes (e.g., Health & Safety Code sections 437.001-437.012). This aims to reduce conflicting regulations for food service businesses across Texas.

Maddy summarySB 1963 allows Texas electric utilities to recover costs from major weather events or natural disasters by issuing special bonds. It applies to utilities with system restoration costs totaling $50 million or more in a single year. The bill creates a process where utilities must apply to the Public Utility Commission for approval within 150 days, authorizing bond issuance and new "system restoration charges" on customer bills. Actual costs are reconciled later, with bill adjustments based on final expenses. This law took effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2314 creates "My Texas Future," an electronic platform (MyTexasFuture.org) to help Texas public high school students apply to colleges using a common application. It requires students to opt-in to share their data with colleges for direct admissions programs, with specific opt-out options for parents, emancipated students, or with counselor authorization. The platform must include links to the common application, direct admission listings, financial aid information, and post-secondary value assessments. Schools must annually notify students about creating profiles during registration, and colleges must prominently link to the platform on their admissions websites. This affects all Texas public high school students and institutions of higher education.

Maddy summarySB 870 allows uniformed school marshals in Texas public schools, charter schools, private schools, and public junior colleges to openly carry handguns on school premises when wearing a uniform identifying them as marshals. The bill amends existing law to replace previous restrictions on "concealed" carry with this open-carry option, while maintaining requirements that marshals must follow written school board regulations and use only frangible duty ammunition approved by Texas law enforcement. It applies to all school marshals appointed by governing bodies and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill does not change who can serve as a school marshal or alter the requirement for firearms to be stored securely when not in use.

Maddy summaryTexas school districts can only use unspent funds from voter-approved general obligation bonds for the original project or to pay off the bonds. The bill prohibits redirecting leftover funds to other purposes (like new buildings or programs), even with board approval, which was previously allowed. This change applies only to bonds authorized after September 1, 2025, and repeals prior exceptions allowing flexible fund use. It restricts how districts manage bond proceeds without altering bond issuance rules.

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.