Sen. Bryan Hughes

Maddy summarySB 805 requires regional education service centers in Texas to establish advisory committees to study health coverage options for school district employees. Each committee, composed of three superintendents, three teachers, and three parent representatives from local school districts, must conduct a biennial study assessing available health plans - including costs, benefits, and potential group purchasing opportunities. Committees must submit written reports by September 15 each study year, detailing findings and recommendations to the regional service center. The bill directly affects school district employees, administrators, and parents within each regional service center's jurisdiction.

Maddy summarySB 726 requires smart device manufacturers and sellers operating in Texas to provide users with clear, mobile-app-based information about how their personal data is collected and used. It mandates disclosure of seven specific details, including the types of data collected (like usage patterns, biometrics, or audio), the purposes for collection, how data is captured, storage locations (local or remote), and security policies. The bill directly affects companies that make or sell smart home devices, wearables, or connected appliances that collect personal data. Excluded from the requirement are state agencies, local governments, and utility providers. This law aims to increase transparency around data practices for Texas consumers using smart devices.

Maddy summarySB 702 requires medical examiners or justices of the peace to order autopsies for deceased individuals with a documented history of epilepsy to determine the cause of death. If the autopsy confirms epilepsy caused the death, the medical examiner must report the finding to the North American SUDEP Registry and list epilepsy as the cause on the death certificate. This bill directly affects medical examiners, death certificate records, and the SUDEP Registry. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and creates a specific process for handling such cases under Texas law.

Maddy summarySB 712 requires Texas to contract with recovery audit contractors to identify underpayments (money owed to providers) and overpayments (excess payments) in the Medicaid managed care program. These contractors will specifically review payments to ensure providers are paid correctly and recover any overpayments made. The bill amends the Government Code to establish this process, directly affecting Medicaid managed care programs and healthcare providers receiving state Medicaid payments. It takes effect September 1, 2025, creating a formal mechanism for correcting payment errors within the Medicaid system.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that good conduct time (GCT) in Texas only affects eligibility for parole or mandatory supervision under specific statutes (Sections 508.145/508.147), not an inmate's total sentence length. It states GCT is a privilege, not a right, and requires inmates to either: (1) actively participate in approved programs (agricultural, vocational, educational, industrial, or treatment), or (2) regularly attend religious services or study religious texts. The law applies to all inmates confined in Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities starting September 1, 2025, regardless of when their offense occurred. It does not change existing GCT calculation methods but explicitly defines its limited scope and eligibility criteria.

Maddy summarySB 678 allows Texas property owners to request a reappraisal of real property (including manufactured homes used as primary residences) destroyed or at least 15% damaged by an accidental fire. Owners must submit a written request within 180 days of the fire, and property taxes for the year are adjusted by splitting the tax year into days before and after the fire using a 365-day fraction. The comptroller must develop guidelines for this process, and the law applies to fires occurring on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 683 expands tuition and fee exemptions at Texas public colleges and universities to include honorably discharged veterans who served during specific conflicts (like the Persian Gulf War, 9/11 attacks, and future emergencies) and reserve members (including Texas National Guard and Air National Guard) with at least 20 years of continuous service. Veterans must have served over 180 days on active duty during designated periods, while reserve members qualify for the exemption after 20 years of service. The exemption covers tuition, fees, and other required charges but excludes lodging, board, and clothing fees. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Texas' Health and Safety Code to clarify which substances are classified under Penalty Group 1 for controlled substances. It updates the list to explicitly include specific opioids, opium derivatives, and related chemical forms (like certain morphine compounds, heroin, and synthetic drugs) while removing some previously excluded items. The changes directly affect law enforcement, courts, and legal proceedings involving these substances by defining their precise legal classification. This is a technical revision to the definition - not a new penalty or policy change - ensuring consistent application of existing laws.

Maddy summarySB 669 requires Texas health care providers (including physicians, nurses, and hospitals) to provide patients with detailed, itemized bills for services and supplies. It mandates that providers deliver these bills either electronically through a patient portal, by mail, or in person, with a new rule requiring mailed copies if a patient hasn’t set up a portal profile. Patients can request itemized bills at any time after initial issuance, using their preferred delivery method. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, with a transition period for providers not previously subject to these rules (until January 1, 2026).

Maddy summarySB 684 requires Texas health insurers to use a single standardized form (the "uniform coordination of benefits questionnaire") to determine which insurance plan pays first when someone has multiple health coverage plans. It applies to all health benefit plans in Texas, including employer-sponsored plans, Medicaid, school district coverage, and other insurance products covered under Texas law. The Texas Insurance Commissioner must create this uniform form by January 1, 2026, and all insurers must use it starting February 1, 2026. This bill standardizes the process for determining payment order but does not change coverage benefits or costs.