Sen. Bryan Hughes

Maddy summarySB 2805 modifies how billing disputes for out-of-network health services are resolved through arbitration. It requires the losing party in an arbitration case (not split evenly) to pay the arbitrator’s fees and expenses within 30 days of the decision. The bill specifically applies to diagnostic imaging, emergency care, facility-based, and laboratory services provided by out-of-network providers - defined as those not contracted with a health plan. These changes take effect for services on or after January 1, 2026, with prior services governed by existing law. The bill does not alter health plan coverage but changes the financial responsibility for dispute resolution.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Texas municipal public libraries from maintaining sexually explicit materials (depicting sexual conduct) in sections accessible to minors under 18. Libraries must implement age verification for such materials and conduct annual reviews to remove prohibited content from children’s or teens’ sections within 45 days of discovery. Violations could result in loss of state funding or a $10,000 civil penalty per violation. The Texas State Library Commission will enforce these requirements, with initial library reviews due by 2027.

Maddy summarySB 760 requires nursing facilities to notify legal guardians or agents (appointed via power of attorney) within five business days if a resident requests a mail-in ballot. It directly affects residents of nursing facilities who seek mail ballots, the facilities themselves, and the Health and Human Services Commission. The bill establishes a notification chain: early voting clerks must inform the Commission about facility-based ballot requests, and the Commission must then alert facilities. Facilities must verify if a guardian or agent exists and relay the ballot request to them, with audits ensuring compliance after each election. This procedural bill streamlines ballot access for vulnerable residents while maintaining facility accountability.

Maddy summarySB 1367 clarifies the role of Texas's state prosecuting attorney, who is appointed by the Texas Supreme Court and represents the state in criminal cases. The bill requires the attorney to represent the state in all proceedings before the Court of Criminal Appeals, may represent the state in appeals court cases when necessary, and can handle criminal cases involving election law violations in district courts. It also allows the Supreme Court to remove the attorney for cause and includes a funding provision that delays mandatory implementation of new duties until appropriations are made, with this exception ending in 2029. These changes apply only to attorneys appointed on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1443 creates a new legal framework (Chapter 300C) for certain counties and hospital districts in Texas to continue operating health care provider participation districts. These districts require specific nonpublic hospitals within their boundaries to make mandatory payments, which fund the state's share of Medicaid supplemental payments for those hospitals. The bill applies only to counties meeting strict population and geographic criteria (e.g., bordering the Trinity River or Oklahoma) or hospital districts near Jim Chapman Lake. It outlines governance rules for district boards and ensures districts can transition from an older program (Chapter 300A) to this new structure.

Maddy summarySB 324 requires state contractors, local governments (political subdivisions), and private employers working with Texas state entities to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm employees' work authorization. The bill mandates that contractors must register with and maintain participation in E-Verify to secure or retain state contracts, with contracts including a certification statement about compliance. This policy directly affects businesses and government units doing work with Texas state agencies, requiring them to verify employee eligibility through the federal program rather than relying on other methods. The bill modifies Texas Government Code Chapter 2264 to enforce this requirement through contract terms and verification standards.

Maddy summarySB 2113 grants members of local governing boards (such as city council members or county commissioners) a new right to access public records maintained by their own government bodies or affiliated non-governmental entities, provided they act in their official capacity. The bill requires these records to be provided promptly and without charge, with confidential information redacted before disclosure. Officials requesting sensitive materials must sign a confidentiality agreement to protect the information, and the Attorney General can verify if records truly qualify as confidential under existing law. This procedural bill does not change disclosure requirements but clarifies access rights for specific local officials.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural Senate Resolution (SR 367), not a substantive bill. It formally recognizes student interns from four Texas A&M University System programs who are supporting the Texas Senate during the 89th Legislative Session. The resolution specifically acknowledges interns in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program, Public Policy Internship Program, Bush School Capstone Scholars Program, and Tarleton State University internship program. It commends these students for their service and dedication to public policy work, without creating any new laws or policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 313 requires Texas public school districts to allow classroom teachers to choose not to use their paid personal leave when taking unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for pregnancy, birth, or adoption. This policy change directly affects teachers who qualify for FMLA leave, giving them the option to preserve their paid leave days instead of using them concurrently with unpaid federal leave. School districts must adopt a policy implementing this choice by the 2025-2026 school year, with the bill taking effect on September 1, 2025, unless approved for immediate enactment by a two-thirds vote. The law provides a concrete administrative adjustment to leave usage without altering federal FMLA requirements.

Maddy summarySB 2877 increases penalties for election fraud in Texas by elevating the offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a second-degree felony under the Election Code. It directly affects individuals who commit acts like altering ballots, casting votes for deceased or ineligible voters, or destroying completed ballots without consent. The bill amends Section 276.013 to specify that such offenses become felonies unless committed by an elected official in their official capacity (then a state jail felony) or as an attempted offense (third-degree felony). This change applies only to offenses committed on or after the bill’s effective date, leaving prior offenses governed by existing law.