Sen. Borris Miles

Maddy summarySB 275 standardizes how the Health and Human Services Commission's ombudsman office handles complaints against Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). It requires a statewide process for the public to file complaints (via forms, phone, or online), including clear information about complaint rights and appeal procedures. The bill mandates a centralized tracking system to log all complaints with specific details (date, subject, resolution), regular status updates for complainants, and quarterly reports to agency leadership. These changes apply to complaints filed on or after January 1, 2026, and aim to improve transparency and consistency in resolving issues with DFPS services.

Maddy summarySB 490 requires Texas hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt and implement a policy using surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures likely to generate surgical smoke. The bill defines "surgical smoke" as the gaseous by-product from energy-generating surgical devices and mandates facilities to use systems that capture and filter this smoke before it contacts patients or healthcare providers. This policy must be fully implemented by January 1, 2026, affecting all covered facilities statewide. The law aims to reduce exposure to potentially harmful surgical smoke during procedures, directly impacting healthcare workers and patients in operating rooms.

Maddy summarySB 561 creates an Office of Environmental Justice within Texas' Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to address pollution concerns in vulnerable communities. It defines "environmental justice communities" as areas where 30%+ of residents live below 200% of the federal poverty level or 50%+ are racial/ethnic minorities. The office must review permit applications for facilities within three miles of such communities, assessing cumulative pollution impacts and existing vulnerabilities like high asthma rates, cancer prevalence, limited healthcare access, and current pollution levels. This requirement applies to permits for facilities regulated under specific health and safety codes.

Maddy summarySB 489 requires businesses seeking property tax relief for school district maintenance to provide child care benefits for employees. Specifically, it mandates that applicants must either offer on-site licensed child care or pay at least 50% of employee child care costs for full-time workers at the project site. This requirement applies to businesses eligible for a property tax limitation under Texas law, directly affecting employers pursuing this tax benefit. The bill amends existing law to add this child care provision while maintaining other existing requirements like health benefits and wage standards.

Maddy summarySB 376 requires Texas law enforcement agencies to include the ethnicity of arrestees in incident-based crime reports submitted to the FBI under the Uniform Crime Reporting Program. This applies to all local police departments and the Texas Department of Public Safety that use such reporting systems. The bill updates current reporting standards to collect demographic data on arrests, improving the detail of crime statistics. The requirement will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 258 allows Texas voters with an unexpired driver’s license or state ID card to register to vote online through the state’s official website starting September 1, 2025. It requires applicants to verify their information, consent to using their license signature, and match details against Department of Public Safety records. If the information matches, the application is sent to the applicant’s county registrar; if not, the system directs them to submit a paper form. The bill directly affects Texas voters who hold valid driver’s licenses or state IDs, making voter registration more accessible while requiring security checks against state records.

Maddy summarySB 374 requires Texas Medicaid to cover and reimburse emergency outpatient dialysis treatments for individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who qualify under federal eligibility rules. It specifically ensures reimbursement for such treatments provided at hospitals or specialized facilities when necessary to address an emergency medical condition. The bill aligns Texas Medicaid coverage with existing federal requirements under Section 1903(v) of the Social Security Act. This applies only to emergency dialysis cases, not routine care, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames the "Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities" to the "Office for Health Equity" within the Texas Health and Safety Commission. The office will lead efforts to reduce health disparities among women, racial/ethnic minorities, disadvantaged groups, and other populations across age, language, and regional lines. Key duties include coordinating with state/federal agencies to develop health initiatives, monitoring health trends, improving language services in care settings, and examining how social factors like housing and education contribute to disparities. The office will also serve as a central resource for data, training, and grant coordination to promote equitable health access.

Maddy summarySB 279 adds a new option for individuals to request a contested case hearing regarding the issuance, renewal, or revocation of certain standard air quality permits. It allows people to challenge these permit decisions if they believe the action conflicts with the relevant state law, but only for permit applications filed on or after September 1, 2025. Applications filed before that date continue to follow the existing rules. The bill does not change the standard permit process itself but provides a specific hearing mechanism for new applications under the new rules. This directly affects businesses or individuals seeking or challenging these air quality permits in Texas.

Maddy summarySJR 14 proposes a constitutional amendment to give Texas citizens the direct power to propose new laws or constitutional changes through petitions, known as "initiative," and to vote on those proposals, known as "referendum." It requires petitioners to submit a $2,000 filing fee (refundable if the measure reaches the ballot), include two representative voter names, and ensure proposals cover only one subject. The Texas Legislative Council would review proposals for constitutionality and fiscal impact, requiring a fiscal note if state funds are involved, before forwarding them to the Secretary of State for public petitioning. This amendment, if approved, would directly affect Texas voters by expanding their direct role in lawmaking, while adding administrative steps for state officials handling petitions. The bill is currently in the State Affairs committee for review.