Sen. Paul Bettencourt

Maddy summarySJR 12 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish a parent's right to direct their child's education in Texas. It would add Section 37 to the Texas Constitution, defining "parent" broadly to include natural parents, stepparents, adoptive parents, guardians, and legal custodians. The amendment guarantees specific rights: choosing public school options, selecting alternatives like private or homeschool, accessing school materials and records (including health records), and attending school meetings - without restriction based on disability. This is a procedural bill requiring voter approval in the November 2025 election.

Maddy summarySJR 81 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas lawmakers to exempt up to $25,000 of the market value of tangible personal property (like business equipment or vehicles) from property taxes when the property is used to generate income. This would directly affect business owners and individuals who use such property for income-producing activities, such as rental properties or commercial operations. If approved by voters, the amendment would amend the Texas Constitution to authorize this specific tax exemption, requiring legislative action to implement. The bill must be voted on by Texas voters in November 2025 to take effect.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 414) formally recognizes April 16, 2025, as "St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Day" in Texas. It honors the Houston church's history and community impact by designating a day for the church to be celebrated at the State Capitol, with an official copy of the resolution provided to the church. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any policies or individuals beyond this ceremonial recognition. It is a commemorative measure, not a substantive legislative action.

Maddy summarySB 1961 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Texas Workforce Commission to publicly report detailed, de-identified data on college graduates and students who leave programs. This includes employment status, wages, locations, and program completion for graduates, plus program enrollment status and remaining credits for non-graduates. The bill also mandates a biennial statewide assessment of regional workforce needs, analyzing job markets by industry, occupation, wage levels, and location over 10 years to identify "self-sufficient wage" jobs. These reporting requirements directly affect public junior colleges (through performance funding tied to the data) and workforce agencies, aiming to align education programs with local job market demands.

Maddy summarySB 2382 requires Texas counties to use the statewide computerized voter registration list developed under state law for election-related voter lists, rather than contracting with private vendors. It mandates that counties must contract directly with the Secretary of State for this service, eliminating the previous option to use independently approved private systems. This bill affects all Texas county election offices responsible for maintaining voter registration data. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to new contracts entered after that date.

Maddy summarySB 1975 prevents contracts for property improvements in Texas from requiring lawsuits to be filed outside the state. It voids any venue clause forcing such cases to be heard in another state, making it invalid as a matter of public policy. If a venue clause is void, lawsuits must be filed in Texas within the county where: the defendant resides, the issue arose, or the property is located. The law only applies to contracts signed on or after September 1, 2025. It directly affects Texas-based contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers working on property improvements.

Maddy summarySB 26 establishes new requirements for Texas public school districts and charter schools regarding teacher evaluation, compensation, and support. It creates an "enhanced teacher incentive allotment" designation for schools implementing performance-based evaluation systems, requiring them to use appraisals to determine teacher designations, offer performance-linked pay (without automatic raises), and place effective teachers at high-need campuses. The bill also creates a grant program to help districts expand local teacher designation systems and provides free liability insurance and rights assistance for classroom teachers through a contracted third party. These provisions directly affect school districts, charter schools, principals, instructional staff, and all public school teachers in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 270 requires the Texas Public Utility Commission to study the costs and benefits of burying overhead power lines underground in four major metropolitan areas: Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. The study will examine potential costs (including impacts on utility rates), maintenance expenses, outage-related savings, and environmental and safety effects for electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, and municipal utilities in those regions. The commission must submit a final report with findings and recommendations to state leaders by December 31, 2026. This bill does not change current laws or require any immediate action; it solely mandates a cost-benefit analysis to inform future decisions. The study expires January 31, 2027, with a required implementation date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a binding law) expressing Texas's support for strengthening economic ties with Israel. It urges the creation of a Texas Trade and Investment Office in Jerusalem to foster business connections, particularly with countries in the Abraham Accords or peace agreements with Israel. The resolution reaffirms Texas's existing trade relationship with Israel - where Texas ranks among top U.S. states for exports - and directs officials to share the resolution with state, federal, and Israeli leaders. It does not create new programs or allocate funding, serving only as a formal statement of support.

Maddy summarySB 371 requires Texas public school districts to obtain written parental consent before providing human sexuality instruction to students. The bill mandates that schools must separately notify parents at least 14 days before instruction begins, with this request not bundled with other communications. It directly affects parents of students in Texas public schools and applies starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The law does not change existing curriculum content but adds a consent requirement for this specific instruction.