Sen. Charles Schwertner

Maddy summaryHB 1690 would have required groundwater conservation districts in Texas to adopt rules mandating specific notice procedures for applicants seeking permits to transfer groundwater out of their district. The bill required applicants to pay for certified mail notices to adjacent districts, county commissioners courts in affected areas, and publish notices in local newspapers. This directly affected entities applying for groundwater transfer permits and the districts reviewing those applications. The bill was introduced in the Texas Legislature, passed both chambers, but was vetoed by the Governor on June 22, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 1252 prohibits municipalities in Texas from regulating the installation or inspection of residential energy backup systems that provide no more than 50 kilowatts of electricity or have a storage capacity of 100 kilowatt hours. The bill amends the Local Government Code (Sections 214.214 and 229.102) to state that cities cannot adopt or enforce ordinances, rules, or measures governing these systems. It directly affects homeowners installing qualifying backup systems and local governments seeking to impose their own inspection or installation rules. The law applies only to installations initiated on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHCR 150 is a symbolic resolution recognizing May 2025 as National Water Safety Month in Texas. It does not create new laws or directly affect any group, but formally acknowledges the annual observance to raise public awareness about water safety. The resolution highlights drowning statistics for Texas children and references existing safety initiatives promoted by organizations like the American Red Cross and National Drowning Prevention Alliance. It serves solely as an official state recognition of the month-long awareness effort.

Maddy summarySB 260 increases funding for school safety in Texas public schools under the Foundation School Program. It raises the per-student allotment from $10 to $20 per student in average daily attendance and doubles the campus safety allotment from $15,000 to $30,000 per school campus. These changes apply to all Texas public school districts and take effect September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects school funding formulas by increasing state support for safety resources at both the student and campus levels. The policy change provides additional state funds specifically designated for school safety measures.

Maddy summarySB 815 requires health insurers and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to disclose in written explanations of benefits whether artificial intelligence (AI) was used in processing claims or making coverage decisions. If AI was used, the disclosure must include a plain-language description of how the AI system operated. The bill directly affects insurers/HMOs by mandating these transparency requirements for patients and healthcare providers, specifically addressing "adverse determinations" like denied coverage. It does not restrict AI use but ensures consumers and doctors understand when automated systems influence their health benefit decisions.

Maddy summarySB 1318 restricts non-compete agreements for physicians and certain healthcare practitioners in Texas. It requires such agreements to allow physicians access to patient lists (from the prior year) and medical records upon patient authorization, include a buyout option at no more than the physician's annual salary, and prohibit restrictions during acute illness treatment. The bill mandates that non-compete terms expire within one year of contract termination and limit geographic restrictions to a five-mile radius. These provisions directly affect healthcare providers entering employment or partnership agreements in Texas. The law became effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5695 creates the Sayers Ranch Municipal Utility District to provide essential services like water, sewer, and road maintenance to a specific area in Texas. The district will have the authority to use limited eminent domain (to acquire land for infrastructure), issue bonds to fund projects, and impose assessments, fees, and taxes on properties within its boundaries. Property owners in the district will be subject to these financial obligations to support utility operations and infrastructure improvements. The district will be governed by an elected board of directors, requiring consent from local municipalities before holding its initial election.

Maddy summarySB 7 requires the Texas Water Development Board to coordinate planning for water infrastructure projects to maximize use of existing utility corridors and minimize land acquisition through eminent domain. It mandates the Board to develop standardized specifications for water infrastructure, ensure different water systems can connect and operate together, and recommend building extra capacity during construction to accommodate future projects. The bill directly affects water project developers, utilities, and local governments working with the Board on infrastructure planning and financing. Key provisions include creating interconnectivity standards and facilitating collaboration between project sponsors and transportation/utility entities.

Maddy summaryHB 3815 creates two new specialty license plates for Texas drivers: one for all U.S. Army Rangers (active or former unit members or Ranger School graduates) and another specifically for members of the 75th Ranger Regiment. The plates must feature designated insignia - such as the Ranger tab or 75th Regiment insignia - along with the words "U.S. Army Ranger" or "75th Army Ranger Regiment." This bill amends Texas Transportation Code to add these plate options, effective September 1, 2025. It directly affects eligible Army Rangers and their families who wish to display these plates.

Maddy summaryHB 120 amends Texas education law to prioritize college, career, and military readiness for high school students. It adds two new academic goals: requiring graduates to have immediate workforce skills (Goal 5) and ensuring college readiness without remediation (Goal 6). The bill mandates public schools to report de-identified student outcomes - including college enrollment, remedial coursework, and employment data - disaggregated by school district and campus. These reports will inform school accountability ratings and guide funding for career programs like the FAST and R-PEP initiatives. The law directly affects all Texas public high schools, students, and district administrators through updated accountability measures.