Sen. Charles Schwertner

Maddy summarySB 617 requires Texas municipalities to hold a public hearing at least 90 days before converting public property for permanent homeless housing, with notice mailed to all nearby residents and businesses 36 hours in advance. It applies to permanent conversions (excluding temporary disaster shelters) and allows affected residents to seek court injunctions if notice requirements are violated. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, for conversions beginning after that date, ensuring local governments follow specific procedural steps before repurposing properties for homeless housing.

Maddy summarySB 552 amends Texas law to explicitly disqualify individuals classified as "illegal aliens" from receiving community supervision, including deferred adjudication. It defines "illegal alien" as someone who entered the U.S. without inspection or failed to maintain nonimmigrant status. The bill adds this as a new eligibility barrier in multiple sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure (e.g., Article 42A.053(c), 42A.056, 42A.102(b), and 42A.551). This change directly affects non-citizens convicted of crimes who meet the defined "illegal alien" criteria. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after the bill’s effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 146 requires the State Preservation Board to approve certain traffic changes near the Texas State Capitol. It directly affects municipalities (like Austin) managing traffic on Congress Avenue between the Congress Avenue Bridge and 11th Street (the "covered segment"). The bill prohibits permanent lane reductions or lane closures exceeding 14 consecutive days without approval from four State Preservation Board members, with exceptions for special events (50+ attendees), adjacent construction, or pedestrian safety plans. This amendment to the Government Code aims to preserve traffic flow and safety in the Capitol area.

Maddy summarySB 961 requires the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to conduct regular electronic data matches to verify Medicaid recipients' eligibility, directly affecting Medicaid beneficiaries. Key provisions mandate monthly checks for lottery winnings, death records, and out-of-state benefit transactions, plus quarterly reviews of voter registration cancellations to detect potential residency changes. The bill prohibits waiving these verification requirements and bans accepting self-attested income, residency, or citizenship details for Medicaid eligibility. These measures aim to prevent fraud by ensuring ongoing accuracy in benefit eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 1798 prohibits public Texas universities from using state funds - including scholarships, grants, or other financial aid - to support students who are not lawfully present in the United States under federal law. The bill requires university governing boards to certify annual compliance with this rule to the legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and mandates state audits to ensure institutions aren’t violating the restriction. It also establishes penalties, including loss of future funding increases, if violations aren’t corrected within 180 days. The law directly affects undocumented students seeking state-funded financial support at public colleges and universities. The bill does not change tuition rates but targets the use of state money for non-eligible students.

Maddy summaryHB 3204 amends Texas Education Code to formally recognize the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State University as an eligible institution for state programs previously limited to public state colleges. It updates definitions to replace outdated references to the "Josey School of Vocational Education" with the current name and clarifies the college provides career-focused training in fields like auto mechanics, plumbing, and electrical work through short-term certificate programs. The bill ensures the college receives funding "in the same manner as a public state college" under Section 61.003, aligning it with similar institutions. This change directly affects Sam Houston State University's Polytechnic College and its students seeking vocational training.

Maddy summaryHB 517 prohibits property owners' associations from fining homeowners for discolored or brown grass/turf during official residential water restrictions. It specifically applies when a municipality or water supplier mandates drought-related watering limits, and the fine ban lasts through the restriction period plus 60 days after it ends. The law directly affects homeowners in communities with property associations and prevents associations from enforcing landscaping fines during water shortages. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025, and is limited to mandatory drought restrictions, not voluntary conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative Senate Resolution (SR 580), not a substantive bill. It formally honors Carlotta Young, a Georgetown educator who died in March 2025, by extending the Texas Senate's condolences to her family. The resolution memorializes her life, including her 40-year teaching career in Georgetown, her marriage, family, and service at Saint Helen's Catholic Church. It does not create new laws or affect any policies; it is a ceremonial expression of respect from the Texas Senate.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires individuals to submit proof of United States citizenship when registering to vote. Applicants must provide a copy of specific documents, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, with their voter registration application. If initial proof is not provided, voter registrars must attempt to verify citizenship using various databases. If citizenship cannot be verified or proof is not ultimately provided, the applicant will only be eligible to vote a limited federal ballot. The bill also creates a state jail felony offense for registrars who knowingly fail to reject applications that do not meet these new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 104 creates the Texas Future Fund, a state investment fund designed to support innovation and economic diversification. It establishes a Texas Future Fund Investment Review Board to manage the fund and authorizes investments in frontier technology infrastructure, defense-critical industries, and other innovative technologies. The bill requires public disclosure of all fund investments, including recipient details, investment amounts, performance metrics, and board meeting records. This directly affects Texas state government (as fund manager) and technology/defense companies seeking state investment.