Sen. Paul Bettencourt

Maddy summarySB 986 amends Texas public information law to address delays and abusive requests. It directly affects government agencies responding to public records requests and individuals or organizations making those requests. The bill establishes a $1,000 fee for requestors deemed to have made a "bad faith" request (one lacking legitimate purpose), and a $500 daily penalty for agencies that fail to release withheld information after being notified of bad faith by the attorney general. It also clarifies that agency response deadlines do not override other legal timeframes and strengthens the presumption that withheld information must be released if agencies don’t follow proper procedures.

Maddy summarySB 262 updates Texas's requirements for becoming a licensed public accountant (CPA). It mandates that applicants must either complete 150 academic hours with an accounting focus or earn a bachelor's degree in accounting (both meeting board standards), pass the CPA exam, fulfill work experience requirements (including two years for degree holders), and pass a professional conduct exam. The bill also revises reciprocity rules to allow Texas to accept CPA exam credits from other states if administered by standard bodies like AICPA or NASBA and if the applicant met prior state requirements. These changes take effect September 1, 2025, and apply to all new applicants seeking a Texas CPA certificate.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Texas counties and cities (taxing units) affected by declared disasters to temporarily adjust their property tax rates. It creates a special formula that factors in debris removal costs (like from hurricanes or floods) when calculating tax rates, using a "disaster debris rate" based on federal estimates. Taxing units can apply this adjustment for up to three years after a disaster declaration or until property values exceed pre-disaster levels. The change prevents tax increases solely due to disaster cleanup costs, directly affecting local government budgeting in disaster-impacted areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment (SJR 18) that would ban Texas from taxing capital gains - both when assets are sold (realized) or when their value increases without being sold (unrealized) - for individuals, families, estates, or trusts. It explicitly excludes property taxes, sales taxes on goods/services, and use taxes from this prohibition. If approved by voters in the November 2025 election, the amendment would require future Texas laws to comply with this ban on capital gains taxation. The measure directly affects taxpayers who own investments or assets subject to capital gains, but does not change existing tax types like property or sales taxes.

Maddy summarySB 569 allows Texas school districts to adjust how student attendance is calculated during emergencies (like natural disasters or pandemics) to maintain funding under the Foundation School Program. It authorizes the commissioner of education to grant waivers or modifications to average daily attendance rules during crises, preventing funding cuts that would otherwise occur if attendance dropped due to virtual learning or school closures. The bill also permits the commissioner to charge a fee for processing these attendance adjustments. This directly affects school districts relying on state funding tied to attendance metrics during emergency periods.

Maddy summarySB 1183 requires Texas electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards for recipients of financial assistance or food benefits to display the recipient's name, photograph, a fraud hotline number, and a fraud reporting website. The Department of Public Safety must provide the commission with recipient photos for card use, unless the recipient qualifies for an exemption (such as being 65+ or under 19, blind, disabled, a domestic violence victim, homeless, or issued the card in person). Exemptions also apply if the Department lacks a recipient's photo. The bill aims to deter fraud by making it easier for the public to report misuse of benefits.

Maddy summarySB 28 prohibits purchasing or facilitating the purchase of state lottery tickets via telephone, internet, or mobile applications. It specifically bans individuals from buying tickets online or through apps (a Class C misdemeanor) and bans selling or arranging such purchases for compensation (a Class A misdemeanor). The bill directly affects residents attempting to access lottery games digitally and businesses or individuals offering such services. It creates new criminal penalties under Section 466.318 of the Government Code, effective September 1, 2025. The law aims to enforce existing age and location restrictions for lottery play by closing digital loopholes.

Maddy summarySB 1434 prohibits Texas school districts from using public funds to transport students or employees to or from voting locations on election days or during early voting periods. The bill specifically bans school districts from using taxpayer money for this purpose, except when transporting students to their regular school campus or for school-sponsored activities. This law directly affects school districts by restricting how they can allocate public funds related to student and staff transportation on election days. The policy takes effect September 1, 2025, and is codified under Section 11.1691 of the Texas Education Code.

Maddy summarySB 396 amends Texas Election Code Section 15.051(a) to require voter registrars to send written confirmation notices to voters in specific situations. It directly affects voters whose registration address is a commercial post office box, who haven’t voted in 25 months after a general election, or whose residence is suspected of changing. The key mechanism is a written notice demanding voters verify their current residence address. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not alter voter eligibility or removal procedures.

Maddy summarySB 2680 modifies Texas' public information law to clarify how government agencies handle requests during emergencies and protect personal details in licensing records. It allows the attorney general to temporarily designate up to 30 nonbusiness days per year for agencies unable to respond due to disasters, requiring public posting of these designations online. The bill also strengthens privacy protections by explicitly making home addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personal details confidential in licensing authority records (like professional licenses). These changes directly affect Texas government agencies processing public information requests and the individuals whose personal data is maintained in licensing systems. The law maintains existing privacy exceptions but adds specific, clear protections for sensitive personal information.