Sen. Brandon Creighton

Maddy summarySB 2630 prohibits local taxing entities (like counties or school districts) from foreclosing on a homeowner’s primary residence if the property has no mortgage, lien, or loan from a lender and the overdue taxes total less than $25,000. For delinquent taxes exceeding $25,000, the taxing entity must first offer the homeowner a five-year payment plan before pursuing foreclosure. Unpaid property taxes under $25,000 become a non-enforceable lien that must be settled before the property can be sold, transferred, or inherited. The bill directly affects homeowners who own their primary residence outright without any financial institution debt.

Maddy summarySB 2618 establishes a Texas education savings account program administered by the comptroller. It provides state funding for approved education expenses (like tuition or materials) for participating students and families. The program would begin either immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2025, if not. This bill directly affects eligible Texas students and families seeking alternative educational funding options.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution (SR 352) recognizing April 2, 2025, as Texas Food Bank Day at the Texas State Capitol. It honors the Feeding Texas network, which operates 20 food banks serving all 254 Texas counties through partnerships with agencies like the Texas Department of Agriculture. The resolution specifically acknowledges their work distributing over 500 million pounds of surplus produce and providing nutrition assistance to low-income families. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally commends Feeding Texas for its hunger-relief efforts.

Maddy summarySB 1337 amends Texas tax code provisions to change how penalties and interest are calculated for tax delinquencies and overpayments. The bill requires that when calculating penalties (Section 111.061) and interest (Sections 111.060, 111.064), the amount used must first subtract any overpayments made by the taxpayer for the same tax period or any prior period. This change directly affects taxpayers who have paid more than owed for specific tax periods, potentially reducing their penalty or interest charges. The bill does not alter tax rates or create new obligations but adjusts the computation method for existing penalties and interest.

Maddy summarySB 508 amends Texas election law to increase penalties for failure to properly handle precinct election records. It upgrades the offense under Section 65.014(e) from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor for officials who don't deliver required records on time. The bill also clarifies procedures for when records are delayed, allowing a district judge to order their "impoundment" (legal seizure) and supervise completion of the count. This directly affects election officials and precinct workers responsible for processing vote counts, with changes taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1565 prohibits Texas public school districts from assigning or requiring employees, contractors, or volunteers to engage in "diversity, equity, and inclusion duties," defined as actions based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation - except where required by law. It mandates school districts to adopt disciplinary policies for staff violating this prohibition and bans requirements for diversity statements or preferential consideration based on such statements. The bill directly affects all public K-12 school districts, their employees, and contractors, restricting how schools address DEI topics in instruction and hiring. It does not prohibit teaching about historical holidays or events that align with state curriculum standards. The bill remains pending in committee with no votes recorded.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution (SR 329) recognizes March 26, 2025, as "REALTOR Day" in Texas. It honors Texas REALTORS, a professional association with over 140,000 members, for their role in protecting property rights, contributing to the state's economy (accounting for 17.8% of Texas' GDP in 2024), and upholding ethical standards in real estate. The resolution extends a formal welcome to REALTORS visiting the State Capitol during legislative sessions and acknowledges their community involvement. It has no policy or financial impact - it is purely symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 330), not a law. It formally recognizes Tim Lee, executive director of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA), for his 21 years of collaboration with the Texas Legislature. The resolution honors his work advocating for teacher pension benefits, cost-of-living adjustments, and federal policy changes like the Social Security Fairness Act. It does not create new laws or affect any policies; it is solely a symbolic gesture of appreciation from the Texas Senate.

Maddy summarySB 2362 makes it a criminal offense for public or election officials to solicit or distribute voter registration applications to people who didn’t request them, or to use public funds for unsolicited third-party distribution. It specifically prohibits completing application sections and distributing them, with exceptions for providing access via public websites, sharing general registration information, or campaign activities by candidates. Violations are classified as state jail felonies, and the law allows for injunctive relief or mandamus actions. The bill directly affects government employees, election officials, and organizations handling voter registration materials in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 2393 creates a property tax exemption for the increased value of real property resulting from installing a qualifying on-site energy generator. It directly affects property owners who install generators powered by natural gas, propane, diesel, biodiesel, or hydrogen, fully enclosed as specified, and connected to a building’s electrical system for on-site energy use. The exemption applies to the appraised value increase caused by the generator installation, reducing the property tax burden for these specific systems. This change takes effect January 1, 2026, contingent on voter approval of a related constitutional amendment.