Sen. Brandon Creighton

Maddy summarySB 2877 increases penalties for election fraud in Texas by elevating the offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a second-degree felony under the Election Code. It directly affects individuals who commit acts like altering ballots, casting votes for deceased or ineligible voters, or destroying completed ballots without consent. The bill amends Section 276.013 to specify that such offenses become felonies unless committed by an elected official in their official capacity (then a state jail felony) or as an attempted offense (third-degree felony). This change applies only to offenses committed on or after the bill’s effective date, leaving prior offenses governed by existing law.

Maddy summarySB 1924 would require students convicted of or placed on probation for school offenses (defined in Section 37.141) to complete community service and pay all fines before graduating high school. The bill amends education code to mandate that courts certify such completion to school districts before diplomas are issued. It also changes criminal procedure to allow law enforcement to issue citations for minor traffic or fine-only offenses instead of taking students into custody, while prohibiting citations for school offenses under certain conditions. This directly affects students in Texas public schools who face criminal charges for conduct on school property.

Maddy summarySB 2253 modifies Texas teacher certification rules to require most public school classroom teachers to hold state-issued certificates by the 2029-2030 school year, with limited exceptions for non-core subjects in early grades during the 2026-2027 school year. It creates a $1,000 one-time incentive payment for school districts that certify new, initially uncertified teachers (hired 2022-2023) by the end of the 2025-2026 school year. The bill establishes four new teacher certification types (standard, enhanced, and two intern categories) with specific pathways for preparation and residency programs. These changes directly affect school districts, new teachers, and the Texas Education Agency's certification and funding processes under state law.

Maddy summarySB 2626 requires physicians and nurses in Texas who treat pregnant women to complete annual continuing education on specific pregnancy-related conditions. The law mandates at least one hour of approved training every eight years covering ectopic pregnancies (defined as implantation outside the uterus or in nonviable locations), pregnancy-related medical emergencies, and cases involving a dead unborn child from spontaneous abortion. The training must include standards of care, emergency response protocols, definitions of "abortion" and "medical emergency" per existing law, and communication strategies for patient discussions. This applies to licensed physicians renewing registration permits and nurses under board-approved competency programs, directly affecting healthcare providers treating pregnant patients in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 1717 requires Texas state agencies and lawmakers to use "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico" in all new statutes, resolutions, agency rules, and official publications. It amends multiple state codes (including Government, Agriculture, and Civil Practice codes) to replace the current terminology with the new phrase in all future legal references. This is a purely procedural change affecting only new state documents, not existing laws or geographic boundaries. The bill does not alter any physical geography or policy, only the language used in official state materials.

Maddy summarySCR 42 is a non-binding Senate Concurrent Resolution passed by the Texas Senate in April 2025. It declares the state's policy to "recognize two sexes, male and female," stating that biological sex is "immutable and innate." The resolution does not create new laws or change existing policies but affirms this position in state communications and actions. It specifically references concerns about "men entering spaces designed for women," though the resolution itself has no legal effect on access to facilities or protections.

Maddy summarySB 2631 would lower the age requirement for Texas property tax deferral from 65 to 60 years old. It directly affects homeowners aged 60 or older who own and occupy their primary residence as a homestead. The bill modifies existing law to allow these individuals to defer property taxes, abate collection suits for delinquent taxes, or stop foreclosure sales on their homestead property. This change applies to taxpayers who qualify under current disability or exemption rules (Section 11.13(m) or Section 11.22).

Maddy summarySB 240, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, requires public schools, government buildings, and facilities like restrooms, locker rooms, and shelters to designate and restrict access based on biological sex as defined by birth certificate and physical characteristics. It prohibits facilities from allowing individuals to use spaces designated for a biological sex different from their own, with exceptions for young children (under 10), ADA accommodations, or emergency assistance. Violations carry civil penalties of $5,000 for first offenses and $25,000 for repeat violations, and citizens can file complaints with the attorney general after providing 3 days’ notice to the facility. The law directly affects state and local government entities managing public facilities, including schools, shelters, and correctional facilities.

Maddy summarySB 2252 amends Texas Education Code to require public charter schools to comply with specific early childhood education standards. It mandates charter schools to implement prekindergarten programs, track early literacy and numeracy skills using standardized assessments, and report data through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS). The bill also connects these requirements to funding under the Foundation School Program for eligible school districts. This directly affects public school districts and charter schools by establishing new compliance obligations for early education programs and data reporting. The bill does not create new funding but links existing Foundation School Program funding to adherence with these early learning standards.

Maddy summarySB 1906 would lower the maximum annual interest rates for unsecured consumer loans in Texas based on loan amount. Specifically, it would reduce caps to 30% for loans up to $500 (from 36%), 24% for loans between $500 and $1,050 (from 30%), and 18% for loans between $1,050 and $2,500 (from 24%). This directly affects lenders offering such loans and borrowers taking them out, particularly for smaller personal loans. The new rates would apply only to loans made on or after September 1, 2025, while existing loans remain under prior rate limits.