Sen. Kelly Hancock

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Texas definitions for "cable service" and "video service" in the Utilities Code. It explicitly excludes internet-based streaming services (like Netflix or Hulu) from being classified as "video services" under state regulation, while maintaining definitions for traditional cable and wireline services. This primarily affects video service providers in Texas by clarifying which services fall under existing regulatory frameworks, particularly distinguishing streaming platforms from traditional cable providers. The change takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4795 requires Texas' vital statistics unit (part of the Department of State Health Services) to create an electronic system for sharing specific information in child custody or parentage cases. This system allows the Department of Family and Protective Services, courts, attorneys, and parties to request details about court jurisdiction or the absence of prior cases electronically, using existing resources. The bill mandates that electronic requests must be processed, with responses including confirmation of searches and whether required records were found. These changes apply only to requests received on or after January 1, 2026, while older requests follow previous rules. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 2508 creates a property tax exemption for the residence homestead of a surviving spouse whose veteran spouse died from a qualifying condition or disease. The exemption applies to the full appraised value of the homestead and is available to spouses who have not remarried since the veteran's death. Qualifying conditions are defined under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022. The exemption takes effect January 1 of the tax year the surviving spouse qualifies and applies regardless of when the veteran died, provided all eligibility criteria are met. This bill amends Texas Tax Code Sections 11.136, 11.42(c), and 11.43(c) to implement the change.

Maddy summarySB 10 requires all Texas public elementary and secondary schools to display a specific, standardized version of the Ten Commandments in every classroom starting September 1, 2025. The law mandates a durable poster or framed copy meeting strict size (at least 16x20 inches) and content requirements, including only the exact text listed in the bill. Schools must display this unless they accept a privately donated version meeting the same specifications, and may optionally use district funds to purchase compliant displays. This directly affects every public school classroom in Texas, requiring a physical display of the specified religious text.

Maddy summaryHB 3260 creates a Texas grant program to support industry-recognized apprenticeship programs. It provides partial reimbursement to participants for on-the-job training milestones as they complete training and secure employment. The law requires the Texas Workforce Commission to establish rules defining eligible occupations, certification standards for programs, and performance metrics like completion rates. Grant recipients must report this data annually, with aggregated results made publicly available. The program directly affects apprenticeship providers and trainees in Texas occupations requiring structured on-the-job training.

Maddy summaryHB 4281 creates a new civil legal remedy for victims of fraudulent crowdfunding campaigns in Texas. It defines "fraudulent crowdfunding" as collecting donations with the intent to keep the funds instead of giving them to the intended recipient (the "donee"). Victims can sue to recover 125% of the stolen donations plus attorney fees, but the law only applies to cases occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. This bill directly affects individuals and organizations running crowdfunding campaigns who misappropriate funds, as well as those who are defrauded by such campaigns.

Maddy summaryHB 4535 requires healthcare providers to obtain written informed consent before administering any COVID-19 vaccine to patients, including parental or guardian consent for minors or individuals lacking decision-making capacity. The law mandates that consent forms include acknowledgment of receiving a standardized information sheet developed by the state health department. This sheet must detail vaccine benefits/risks, accelerated development timeline, availability of long-term studies, manufacturer liability status, and instructions for reporting adverse reactions through the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The law, effective September 1, 2025, applies directly to healthcare providers and patients receiving COVID-19 vaccinations in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 2674 prohibits the Texas Education Agency, State Board of Education, and other educational institutions from adopting rules or policies that regulate homeschool educational programs. It directly affects homeschooling families in Texas by preventing state oversight of their curriculum, teaching methods, or operational standards. The bill adds Section 1.010 to the Education Code, explicitly banning such regulations, and takes effect September 1, 2025, for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a substantive policy change that removes potential state regulatory requirements for homeschools.

Maddy summarySB 916 strengthens consumer protections for patients receiving emergency medical services in Texas by targeting billing misconduct. It allows the state health department to revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew an emergency medical services (EMS) provider’s license if they intentionally submit incorrect billing information or repeatedly violate specific insurance billing laws. The bill also establishes limits on how much providers can adjust their billing rates annually - capping increases at either the Medicare Ambulance Inflation Factor or 10% of prior rates, whichever is lower. These provisions apply directly to EMS providers and take effect September 1, 2025, with most rate-related sections expiring in 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts child-care facilities operating under a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) certificate from certain Texas state regulations by adding them to existing exemption categories in the Human Resources Code. It specifically clarifies that facilities certified by the DoD do not need additional state licensing, as they are already regulated under federal standards. This directly affects military-connected child-care facilities that maintain DoD certification, ensuring they are not subject to redundant state oversight. The policy change removes a regulatory barrier for these facilities while maintaining alignment with federal oversight.