Sen. Bryan Hughes

Maddy summarySB 1354 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to reimburse network pharmacists and pharmacies for prescription drugs and devices at no less than the actual cost to the pharmacy, as defined in Section 1369.374(a) of the Texas Insurance Code. It also mandates that PBMs pay a professional dispensing fee equal to the amount paid under the Medicaid fee-for-service model (Section 1369.374(d)), and prohibits PBMs from including dispensing fees in their reimbursement calculations (Section 1369.374(c)). The bill establishes a formal appeal process for pharmacies to challenge reimbursements below these minimums, requiring PBMs to provide standardized appeal procedures approved by the commissioner (Sections 1369.375-377). This applies to most health benefit plans but excludes Medicaid, TRICARE, workers’ compensation, and other specified programs (Section 1369.373).

Maddy summarySB 2458 establishes rules for Texas Medicaid recovery audit contractors who identify and recover overpayments from healthcare providers or managed care organizations. The bill requires contractors to obtain approval from the inspector general before reviewing claims and prohibits reviews within one year of claim submission without authorization. It also stops contractors from pursuing recovery if a managed care organization is already auditing a claim, and mandates that all collected information remains confidential. The bill creates an appeals process for providers disputing overpayment claims identified by contractors.

Maddy summarySR 401 is a commemorative resolution passed by the Texas Senate to honor Eva Marie Coe of Tyler, who died on February 18, 2025, at age 56. The resolution recognizes her 35+ years of ministry work, including founding churches (Just As You Are Church and Real Life Church), launching the prison outreach program "Real Talk" (later "Real Vida TV"), and serving as "Mama Eve" to incarcerated individuals across multiple states. It extends condolences to her husband, four children, six grandchildren, parents, siblings, and the broader community she impacted. This resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally commemorates her life and legacy.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 398) is a ceremonial recognition by the Texas Senate honoring CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System for its 90th anniversary in 2025. It acknowledges the health system's history since 1935, its current scale (including 40 clinics and 3 inpatient facilities), and its community impact like providing over $35 million in free/reduced-cost care in 2024. The resolution has no policy changes or direct effects on people - it simply presents an official copy to the health system as a gesture of appreciation. This was adopted by the Senate on April 14, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1122 clarifies that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) - companies that manage prescription drug benefits for insurers - must follow existing Texas prescription drug insurance laws for all health benefit plans serving Texas residents, regardless of whether specific rules were previously applied to those plans. It requires PBMs to comply with these laws for every plan they administer, even if the plan was delivered outside Texas. The law applies only to health benefit plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, with existing plans governed by prior rules. This bill expands the scope of current insurance regulations to ensure consistent oversight of PBMs managing drug benefits for Texans.

Maddy summarySB 26 establishes new requirements for Texas public school districts and charter schools regarding teacher evaluation, compensation, and support. It creates an "enhanced teacher incentive allotment" designation for schools implementing performance-based evaluation systems, requiring them to use appraisals to determine teacher designations, offer performance-linked pay (without automatic raises), and place effective teachers at high-need campuses. The bill also creates a grant program to help districts expand local teacher designation systems and provides free liability insurance and rights assistance for classroom teachers through a contracted third party. These provisions directly affect school districts, charter schools, principals, instructional staff, and all public school teachers in Texas.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a binding law) expressing Texas's support for strengthening economic ties with Israel. It urges the creation of a Texas Trade and Investment Office in Jerusalem to foster business connections, particularly with countries in the Abraham Accords or peace agreements with Israel. The resolution reaffirms Texas's existing trade relationship with Israel - where Texas ranks among top U.S. states for exports - and directs officials to share the resolution with state, federal, and Israeli leaders. It does not create new programs or allocate funding, serving only as a formal statement of support.

Maddy summarySB 371 requires Texas public school districts to obtain written parental consent before providing human sexuality instruction to students. The bill mandates that schools must separately notify parents at least 14 days before instruction begins, with this request not bundled with other communications. It directly affects parents of students in Texas public schools and applies starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The law does not change existing curriculum content but adds a consent requirement for this specific instruction.

Maddy summarySB 3042 allows certain retirees from Texas municipal jobs to return to work for their former employer and have their retirement benefits adjusted if they resume employment within 120 days of retirement. If they return within that window, they can restore their full membership and service credit, and upon final retirement, their annuity will be recomputed to include both service periods (with an adjustment for benefits already received). Retirees returning after 120 days will simply resume their original annuity amount without recomputation. The bill applies to all Texas Municipal Retirement System retirees regardless of when they retired and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2861 requires the Texas Commissioner of Insurance to mandate negotiated rulemaking procedures (under Government Code Chapter 2008) for adopting department rules, replacing previous language that only encouraged such processes. This bill directly affects the Commissioner of Insurance and the insurance industry by changing how new regulations are developed, ensuring stakeholder input through formal negotiations. The commissioner must adopt required rules by January 1, 2026, to implement this policy. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and focuses on procedural changes to insurance rulemaking, not specific policy outcomes.