Sen. Paul Bettencourt

Maddy summarySB 1540 requires Texas to maintain the confidentiality of personal information for election officials and their employees, preventing public disclosure of details like home addresses and phone numbers. The bill amends Texas Government Code Section 552.1175 to explicitly protect this information from public records requests. It applies directly to current and former election officials and their staff across Texas, aiming to enhance their privacy and safety. The law was signed by the governor on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5666 creates the Fenske Road Municipal Utility District in Harris County to provide essential infrastructure services. The district will have limited authority to acquire private property through eminent domain for utility projects, issue bonds for financing, and impose taxes, fees, and assessments on properties within its boundaries. It directly affects residents and businesses in the designated district area by enabling the construction and maintenance of roads, storm drainage, and utility systems. The bill establishes governance through a board of directors elected by district residents, as required by Texas law.

Maddy summarySB 33 prohibits Texas governmental entities from using taxpayer funds to pay for or facilitate abortion-related services. It bans transactions with "abortion assistance entities" (organizations providing financial help, travel, childcare, or abortion drugs) or abortion providers for abortion procurement. The law specifically prevents government spending on logistical support like travel, lodging, childcare, or food to help individuals access abortion services. This applies to all state and local government entities and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 510 requires Texas voter registrars (county election officials) to timely complete specific voter registration duties, such as processing registration changes or scheduling hearings. If a registrar fails to meet these deadlines, the Secretary of State may withhold state funds distributed under Chapters 19 or 31. Registrars can regain funds by completing the required duty within 30 days of the funds being withheld. The bill directly affects county election offices and aims to ensure timely voter registration processing. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2514 establishes a "hostile foreign organizations unit" within the Texas Department of Public Safety to identify, investigate, and track foreign influence operations conducted by foreign governments through covert means. It requires all state employees to complete annual training on recognizing and reporting such operations - including those linked to foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department - and mandates new reporting requirements for suspected activities. The bill also creates a criminal offense for violations of its prohibitions and requires the unit to develop a strategy for combating foreign influence in collaboration with federal and local agencies. This affects all state employees through training obligations and the new DPS unit’s operations.

Maddy summaryHB 33, titled the "Uvalde Strong Act," requires Texas public and charter schools to comply with additional safety and operational requirements related to active shooter incidents and emergencies. It amends the Education Code to mandate adherence to existing rules covering student data systems, criminal background checks, discipline practices, health/safety protocols, bullying prevention, and staff reporting obligations. The bill directly affects all public and charter schools by expanding their compliance obligations under current safety frameworks. It does not create new rules but requires schools to follow more existing provisions related to emergency preparedness and student safety. The law took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 851 requires Texas property appraisers to count and report the number of homestead properties receiving specific tax benefits, including those with tax deferrals or abatements for delinquent taxes. Appraisers must submit these counts to the comptroller when filing annual tax rolls, and the comptroller must then share statewide totals (broken down by school district) with state leaders by November 1 each year. The bill directly affects property owners who qualify for these tax benefits but places the reporting duty on local government officials. It creates new transparency requirements for tracking how many homes benefit from these specific tax provisions, without changing the tax policies themselves.

Maddy summarySB 3059 creates the Alamo Commission to oversee preservation, maintenance, and restoration of the Alamo complex and surrounding area. The bill places the commission under the administrative oversight of the State Preservation Board and requires coordination with the City of San Antonio on development plans. It establishes the commission's legal framework, including definitions and sunset provisions, but does not allocate new funding or change preservation standards. The bill was signed into law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 103 requires Texas comptroller to create and maintain a public database containing detailed information about bonds, taxes, and related projects for all taxing units (like cities, counties, and school districts) in Texas. The database must include bond ballot language, projected tax rates, election results, project uses of funds, and comparisons between adopted and voter-approved tax rates. It also mandates specific data for school district maintenance taxes. The bill includes civil penalties for noncompliance, aiming to increase transparency around local government financial decisions.

Maddy summarySB 1567 prohibits Texas home-rule municipalities from adopting zoning rules that limit the number of people occupying a dwelling unit based on age, familial status, occupation, relationship status, or family relationships. It directly affects homeowners, renters, and local governments in cities with home-rule authority by restricting certain occupancy regulations. The bill allows municipalities to still enforce occupancy limits based on health and safety standards from building codes, fire codes, health department rules, or affordable housing guidelines. Property owners can sue municipalities for violating this law and recover damages and attorney fees. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.