Sen. Paul Bettencourt

Maddy summarySB 2539 amends Texas tax law to establish new requirements for municipalities issuing tax increment bonds within designated tax increment reinvestment zones. It requires municipalities to provide written notice to all property owners in the zone about a public hearing and obtain a majority vote from the governing body before adopting such an ordinance. The bill does not change the bond issuance process itself but adds transparency and local approval steps. It directly affects municipalities with reinvestment zones and property owners within those zones. The changes apply only to ordinances adopted after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote).

Maddy summarySB 570 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt attendance policies aimed at preventing truancy. These policies must inform students and parents about attendance benefits, describe consequences like academic impacts and potential truancy court referrals, and mandate schools to notify parents about absences via email/text or mail. Schools must also hold meetings with parents when students risk truancy and provide referrals to support services for students struggling to attend. The policy takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySB 2541 amends Texas property tax code to change how local taxing units (like cities and counties) calculate their "unused increment rate," which affects how they determine property tax revenue limits. The bill updates the calculation formula to include three years of historical revenue data instead of two, using the previous three tax years' "foregone revenue" amounts divided by current property values. This change applies only to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, with prior years governed by the old rules. The bill directly affects local governments' property tax calculations but does not create new taxes or revenue.

Maddy summarySB 875 prohibits school board members, superintendents, and campus administrators in Texas independent school districts from using district resources - like email, phones, or mailing lists - for political campaigning. It also bans political signs on school campuses for more than 48 hours outside early voting periods or election day. Violations are classified as Class A misdemeanors for board members/superintendents and Class B misdemeanors for campus administrators. The law directly affects school district officials and campus operations, aiming to keep educational facilities neutral during elections.

Maddy summarySB 2681 amends Texas Election Code Section 16.092 to require anyone challenging a voter's registration to submit a written, sworn statement detailing specific reasons for the challenge. The statement must identify the voter and state a clear, verifiable qualification the voter failed to meet - either based on the challenger's personal knowledge or a fact from a reliable source (like public records). This directly affects voters whose registrations are challenged and the third parties (such as other voters or organizations) attempting to challenge them. The bill aims to prevent vague or unsubstantiated challenges by mandating specific, factual grounds. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1024 restricts local governments from using temporary borrowing (anticipation notes or certificates of obligation) to cover costs if a similar bond proposal was recently rejected by voters. Specifically, it generally prohibits such borrowing for five years after a bond vote fails, with exceptions for natural disaster cleanup, federal court orders, or compliance with state/federal laws after official notice. The bill amends Texas Government Code and Local Government Code sections to clarify these rules and applies only to obligations issued on or after September 1, 2025. It directly affects cities, counties, and other local entities that issue these financial instruments to manage short-term cash flow. The law aims to prevent repeated voter rejection of bond measures while allowing flexibility for urgent or legally required spending.

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 summarySB 1349 creates new criminal offenses in Texas for "transnational repression" and "unauthorized enforcement of foreign law." It targets individuals acting as agents of foreign governments or terrorist organizations who commit specific crimes (like assault or harassment) with the intent to force someone to act for a foreign entity, restrict their movement, suppress protected speech, or retaliate for exercising free expression. The law increases penalties for these offenses, making them one category higher than the underlying crime (e.g., a first-degree felony becomes a first-degree felony with a 15-year minimum sentence). This bill directly affects foreign agents operating within Texas who engage in such conduct, aiming to protect First Amendment rights and prevent foreign interference in U.S. affairs. It became effective on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1490 amends Texas Education Code Section 12.263(b) to change how attendance is calculated for adult high school charter programs. It establishes new attendance rates based on enrollment duration: 100% for students enrolled 75%+ of the year, 75% for 50-75%, 50% for 25-50%, and 25% for 10-25%. This directly affects adult education programs operating under charters by altering the attendance metrics used to determine state funding. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, replacing previous attendance thresholds for funding calculations.

Maddy summarySB 1025 requires that ballot propositions seeking voter approval for tax increases must clearly state the specific tax amount or maximum rate and include the phrase "THIS IS A TAX INCREASE" in capital letters, using the same font size as the rest of the proposition. This applies only to future tax-related ballot measures in Texas elections (effective September 1, 2025, but enacted immediately upon the governor's signature on May 24, 2025). The bill directly affects voters and election officials by standardizing the wording of tax increase proposals on ballots. It does not change tax policy but ensures voters receive clear, upfront information about tax increases before voting.