Sen. Paul Bettencourt

Maddy summarySB 2068 requires Texas appraisal districts to keep certain personal information confidential when property owners apply for tax exemptions. The bill specifically protects driver's license numbers, social security numbers, personal ID numbers, children's names/ages, and home addresses provided in exemption applications. This information may only be shared with authorized appraisal district employees or agents performing appraisal services, not with the public or other entities. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting property owners who file exemption applications.

Maddy summarySB 2383 allows retired commissioned officers of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to return to active duty as commissioned officers without being subject to certain employment restrictions. It specifically exempts these retired DPS officers - defined as those who retired under the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERST) from their last DPS commissioned role - from provisions in the Government Code that otherwise apply to new hires. The law applies only to individuals hired on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, and does not affect current employees or retirees hired before that date. This change streamlines the rehiring process for eligible retired DPS officers.

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 38 amends Texas Property Code to clarify procedures for eviction lawsuits involving tenants who lack legal right to occupy property. It specifies that justice courts must handle eviction cases in the precinct where the property is located, with limited circumstances allowing case transfers to adjacent precincts (e.g., if service delays occur or trials cannot be scheduled within 21 days). The bill prohibits courts from charging additional filing or service fees when transferring cases and explicitly states that eviction courts cannot rule on property title disputes or allow separate claims against third parties. This affects landlords and tenants involved in eviction proceedings by streamlining court processes and limiting judicial overreach.

Maddy summaryHB 3687 requires fire marshals and related staff (officers, inspectors, investigators) in counties with 100,000+ residents or districts wholly within such counties to obtain specific certifications from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. Within 12 months of appointment, fire marshals must hold a prevention-only fire department certification and a fire protection personnel certification, and within 24 months, a fire marshal basic certification. Additionally, those acting as peace officers must hold a permanent peace officer license, and staff conducting fire inspections must meet Texas Commission fire inspection certification standards. This bill applies to all county fire marshals and district fire marshals in qualifying areas, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 869 limits the Texas Ethics Commission's ability to delay resolving ethics complaints by restricting when its resolution deadline can be paused. Specifically, the bill states that the commission may only pause the deadline during active court litigation involving the complaint, and cannot extend the deadline for any other reason. This change applies only to complaints filed on or after September 1, 2025, with pre-existing complaints governed by prior rules. The law aims to prevent indefinite delays in resolving ethics complaints by enforcing a strict timeline.

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 1533 amends Texas property tax appraisal rules to improve notice requirements and training standards. It requires certified mail for specific property tax notices and adds electronic signature verification for agent designations. The bill mandates that at least one trainer for taxpayer education courses must be a Texas-licensed attorney with five years of property tax experience, excluding those with prior ties to appraisal districts or review boards. This ensures taxpayer representatives with direct experience lead training, while allowing limited exceptions if qualified candidates are unavailable. The changes apply to property tax appraisal systems used by counties and taxing entities across Texas.

Maddy summarySB 231 establishes rules for temporary emergency power facilities used during disasters. It requires these facilities to be mobile, capable of generating power within three hours of connection, and limited to 5 megawatts. Utilities must follow specific leasing procedures with commission approval, though emergency exceptions apply during major outages when immediate power restoration is needed. The bill also mandates the Public Utility Commission to review rates for utilities that leased such facilities but failed to deploy them during the 2024 disaster.

Maddy summaryHB 1661 requires election authorities to provide each precinct with ballots equal to 25% more than the number of voters in the last election for that precinct (capped at registered voters unless using countywide polling), aiming to prevent shortages. It creates criminal penalties for intentionally failing to meet this requirement or to promptly supplement ballots upon polling place requests, classifying these offenses as Class A misdemeanors (punishable by up to a year in jail). The bill modifies Texas Election Code sections 51.005, 51.008, 51.010, 51.011, and 61.007 to establish these specific requirements and penalties. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date.