Sen. Angela Paxton

Maddy summarySB 2403 requires campaign finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission to be submitted electronically (via software meeting commission standards) instead of by fax or hand delivery. Reports must be received electronically by midnight of the first business day after a contribution or expenditure, or by 5 p.m. the next business day if filed by fax or hand. The bill removes the requirement for most reports to include a signature affidavit and adjusts late-filing penalties, including a $500 flat fee for most late reports and tiered daily penalties for others. This directly affects campaign committees and candidates submitting financial reports under Texas election law.

Maddy summarySJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the homestead exemption for school district property taxes in Texas from $100,000 to $140,000. This change would directly reduce the taxable value of a primary residence for school taxes, lowering property tax bills for homeowners. The amendment requires voter approval in a November 2025 election to take effect for the 2025 tax year. If passed, it would provide an additional $40,000 in tax relief on primary homes for school funding purposes.

Maddy summarySB 3075 allows local units (like cities or counties) within regional transportation authorities to use up to 25% of their annual sales and use tax revenue for "general mobility programs." These programs fund specific infrastructure projects including sidewalks, bike trails, streetlights, traffic signals, and drainage improvements on local roads and pathways. The bill requires units to submit annual project lists to the subregional board and mandates that 50% of funds be available at the start of the fiscal year, with the remaining 50% reimbursed later. Unused funds must be used to reduce the authority's debt secured by a 1% sales tax rate. This bill directly affects local units participating in regional transportation authorities governed by subregional boards under Texas Transportation Code.

Maddy summaryHB 610 limits severance payments to school superintendents in Texas school districts to no more than six months' salary and benefits. It requires school boards to report such payments to the state commissioner and mandates that any amount exceeding this cap reduces the district's state education funding. The law applies only to severance agreements entered into on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025), leaving pre-existing agreements unaffected. This bill directly affects school districts and superintendents by setting a clear financial boundary for termination payments and linking them to state funding.

Maddy summarySB 2231 requires Texas public colleges and universities to waive application fees during the second full week of October each year, designated as "Free College Application Week." This policy directly affects Texas students applying for undergraduate admission to any public higher education institution in the state. The bill mandates the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish this annual fee waiver period, with implementation beginning for the 2025-2026 academic year. The provision applies to all public institutions of higher education in Texas and removes a financial barrier during the designated week. The law took effect immediately after Governor's signature on May 21, 2025.

Maddy summarySJR 34 proposes adding Section 37 to the Texas Constitution to affirm parents' inherent right to make decisions about their children's upbringing, including care, custody, and control. It states the state cannot interfere with these parental rights unless the interference is essential for a compelling government interest and narrowly tailored to achieve that interest. If passed, this constitutional amendment would require voter approval in the November 2025 election, with the ballot phrased as supporting "parents as the primary decision-makers for their children." The bill directly affects parents' legal authority over child-rearing decisions and sets new constitutional limits on state intervention.

Maddy summarySB 1316 prohibits e-cigarette advertising on signs located within 1,000 feet of schools or churches in Texas. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to require this distance, measured from the nearest property line of the institution to the sign. It includes an exception for signs already advertising e-cigarettes within 500-1,000 feet of such institutions before September 1, 1997. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting businesses that advertise e-cigarettes near schools or churches.

Maddy summarySB 3064 creates the Colmena Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1 in Collin County, Texas, to promote economic development and public welfare in the area. The bill grants the district limited authority to exercise eminent domain for public projects, issue bonds to fund improvements, and impose assessments, fees, and taxes on property within the district. It explicitly states the district is intended to supplement, not replace, existing county services like public safety and infrastructure. This procedural bill establishes a framework for local economic growth and community development in the Colmena Ranch area.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Texas law to establish a presumption that courts should order retroactive child support beginning on the date of a child's conception, rather than the child's birth. It specifies that courts must determine the earliest conception date using medical evidence (per Health and Safety Code standards) or parental testimony. The bill also allows courts to order obligors to pay an equitable share of prenatal/postnatal health care costs for the mother and child. These changes apply only to paternity orders or acknowledgments of paternity executed on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas lawmakers to exempt up to $125,000 of the market value of business-used tangible personal property (like equipment or vehicles) from property tax. It would directly affect business owners who hold such property for income generation, such as small business operators or farmers. The amendment would revise the state constitution to authorize this specific exemption amount, replacing the current exemption structure. If approved by voters in November 2025, this would become a permanent constitutional provision enabling future legislation to implement the tax break. The bill is now headed to the November ballot after passing both legislative chambers.