Sen. Tan Parker

Maddy summarySB 1830 regulates parental reunification therapy in family court cases involving parent-child relationships. It requires both parents' consent for a child to participate in such therapy and prohibits courts from ordering practices like blocking contact with other parents or family members, overnight stays together, or unsafe transportation. The bill also mandates that therapy providers must use written contracts detailing their protocols, signed by all participants after full disclosure. These rules aim to protect children and parents from potentially harmful therapy practices while ensuring transparency in service delivery.

Maddy summarySJR 69 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the maximum amount of state bonds the Veterans' Land Board can issue for veteran housing and land programs beyond the current $6 billion cap. This would directly affect Texas veterans seeking home loans or land purchases through the Veterans' Land Fund, Veterans' Housing Assistance Fund, or Veterans' Housing Assistance Fund II. Bond proceeds must be deposited into these designated funds, with payments made from state sources as required for general obligation bonds. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election.

Maddy summarySB 1702 requires Texas public schools to notify parents each time their child checks out a library book, digital resource, or other material from a school library. This law amends the Education Code to establish a mandatory notification requirement for all school library materials. It directly affects parents of students in Texas public schools and school library staff who must implement the notice system. The bill creates a straightforward process where schools send a notice to parents for every library checkout, without specifying content restrictions.

Maddy summarySB 1740 requires Texas' electric grid operators (specifically ERCOT) to protect critical infrastructure from electromagnetic threats like solar storms or EMP attacks. It mandates that new high-capacity substations and transformers built after September 1, 2025, must be designed to withstand 50 kilovolts/meter E1 pulses and 85 volts/kilometer E3 pulses. The bill also creates a grant program to fund protective upgrades for existing vulnerable components and establishes an account to finance these resilience efforts. These requirements directly affect utilities owning or operating substations, transformers, and other key grid infrastructure in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 1828 requires healthcare facilities to post multilingual signs (in English, Spanish, and other languages spoken by 10%+ of staff) containing human trafficking prevention information, training requirements for medical assistants, and reporting resources. It mandates facilities to provide training on recognizing human trafficking to medical assistants and prohibits retaliation against employees who report suspected trafficking in good faith. The bill directly affects medical assistants, healthcare facilities, and their employees by establishing clear reporting protections and standardized prevention materials. Key provisions include specific sign size/font requirements, mandated content about anti-retaliation, and designated phone numbers for reporting. This legislation aims to improve early detection and support for trafficking victims within healthcare settings.

Maddy summarySB 1827 regulates investigational adult stem cell treatments conducted in clinical trials within Texas. It defines such treatments as adult stem cell therapies not yet approved by the FDA, requiring clinics to obtain patient consent that explicitly states the FDA status. The bill mandates that treatments must be administered by physician-certified providers, overseen by independent ethics committees meeting specific criteria (like hospital affiliation or accreditation), and provided only in approved settings such as licensed hospitals, medical schools, or outpatient facilities. These requirements aim to standardize oversight for experimental stem cell therapies while ensuring patients are informed about the unapproved nature of the treatment.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 242) symbolically recognizes March 16-22, 2025, as National Surveyors Week in Texas. It honors surveyors for their role in infrastructure, property development, and historical contributions to land mapping. The resolution is adopted by the Texas Senate to publicly acknowledge the profession's work, with no new requirements or funding. It directly affects surveyors and the public through ceremonial recognition, not policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 1638 amends Texas law to expand protections for victims of sexual assault, assault involving minors under 17, or family violence cases. It redefines "victim" to explicitly include these groups and grants them specific rights, such as timely updates on case status, safety considerations during bail hearings, and access to information about crime victim compensation. The bill ensures victims can receive details about forensic exams, medical care costs, and social services referrals related to sexual assault. These changes directly affect individuals impacted by these offenses and their families within the criminal justice system.

Maddy summarySB 1654 amends Texas law to expand the legal definition of child abuse in the Family Code. It adds specific examples to clarify what constitutes abuse, including mental/emotional injury, physical harm from non-accidental causes, sexual conduct harmful to children, failure to prevent substance use by children, and certain sexual performances. The bill directly affects mandated reporters (like teachers and healthcare workers) and child welfare agencies by establishing clearer standards for identifying and reporting abuse. These changes aim to improve consistency in how abuse is defined and reported across Texas.

Maddy summarySB 1045 requires Texas state agencies to hold a public hearing before adopting certain rules if requested by at least 10 people, a local government entity, the lieutenant governor or a legislator, or an association with 10 members (reducing the prior threshold from 25). This bill directly affects state agencies and the public by increasing opportunities for input on new regulations. The key provision amends Government Code Section 2001.029(b) to establish this lower request threshold for mandatory hearings. The law applies only to rules proposed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.