Sen. Angela Paxton

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 1730 prevents civil lawsuits seeking damages for injuries or death resulting from the use of force or deadly force if the defendant was not criminally charged, had charges dismissed, or was acquitted in a criminal case. The bill requires claimants whose lawsuits are blocked under this law to pay the defendant’s court costs and reasonable attorney fees. It applies only to new cases filed on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect cases that accrued before that date. This bill directly impacts individuals seeking compensation from police or others who used force in situations where criminal proceedings did not result in charges.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 2721 establishes new licensing and regulatory requirements for entities handling human bodies or anatomical specimens for educational or research purposes. It creates definitions for "human body acquisition services," "non-transplant anatomical donation organizations," and "willed body programs," requiring these entities to obtain licenses, maintain secure electronic records with unique identifiers for body parts, and update a commission database tracking each specimen’s location. The bill directly affects institutions of higher education operating body donation programs, research facilities, and organizations that collect, process, or distribute bodies or body parts for medical training. Violations of the law are classified as state jail felonies, with the Texas Funeral Service Commission authorized to enforce these rules and revoke licenses for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryHB 4582 proposes a reimbursement program for developers who build infrastructure (like roads, water, and sewer systems) for qualifying "attainable housing developments" in specific Texas counties and municipalities. It applies only to developments meeting strict criteria: at least 7 acres with 50+ single-family homes (each 1,000+ sq ft), connected to public utilities, governed by property owner agreements, and offering units to veterans/military, first responders, or school employees. Developers must prove the infrastructure would have been built by the municipality/county otherwise, and comply with federal tenant protections. This bill, currently pending in committee, aims to reduce developer costs for housing projects in targeted high-population areas.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 551) honors Lucia Nedelcu, a Sachse, Texas resident who died on May 21, 2024, at age 89. It commemorates her life as a Romanian-born economist, devoted mother of seven children, and grandmother to 20 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. The resolution formally pays tribute to her memory and extends condolences to her family, noting her marriage of 63 years, faith-based community involvement, and interests in gardening and baking. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no policy impact and solely serves to memorialize her legacy. The Texas Senate adopted it unanimously on May 26, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1380 would require health insurers to skip prior approval (preauthorization) for certain urgent medical treatments. Specifically, it exempts "intervention-necessary care" - like treatment for acute injuries or illnesses that could cause irreversible harm or severe pain if delayed - from needing insurer approval before a doctor can provide it. This applies to health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and specific insurance plans, but excludes Medicaid programs and child health plans. The bill defines clear criteria for when preauthorization is waived, aiming to reduce delays for time-sensitive care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires digital service providers (like social media platforms) to set default privacy and usage settings for accounts of known minor users (under 18). Default settings include limiting daily usage to one hour, blocking unsolicited messages from strangers, preventing comments/reactions on minors' posts, hiding friend lists publicly, and disabling algorithmic content suggestions. Verified parents can adjust these settings using provided parental tools to control privacy, usage time, and financial transactions. The law directly affects digital services used by minors and their parents in Texas.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Wolf Creek Municipal Management District No. 1 in Hunt County, Texas, to promote economic development and public services in the area. The district will have authority to issue bonds, impose property assessments and fees, and use limited eminent domain powers to fund infrastructure like roads, parks, and utilities. It is designed to supplement, not replace, existing city and county services in the district. The district's purpose includes supporting employment, commerce, housing, tourism, and community welfare as outlined in the bill.

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 2419 clarifies that special districts (like water or fire districts) can continue exercising all their powers in areas disannexed by a city, even if they previously agreed otherwise with the city. It directly affects special districts and cities involved in disannexation (when a city returns land to unincorporated areas). The key provision overrides prior agreements between the district and city, ensuring the district maintains authority over services in the disannexed portion that remains within its boundaries. This change applies immediately upon the bill's effective date.