Sen. Sarah Eckhardt

Maddy summarySB 992 requires the Texas Attorney General to approve or deny state agency contracts for outside legal services within 25 days of receipt. If denied, the Attorney General must provide a written explanation of the reason. State agencies affected by this rule must submit contracts to the Attorney General for review, and if approval is denied, they may select alternative legal counsel subject to the Attorney General’s subsequent approval. The law applies only to contracts submitted on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 29 requires large municipally owned water utilities (those serving over 150,000 connections) to verify their annual water loss reports through independent validation within 180 days of filing. It mandates these utilities to develop and submit a water loss mitigation plan within one year, updated every 10 years with detailed goals and projects. The bill also requires these plans to be integrated into existing water conservation reporting and includes specific guidelines for certified validation personnel. This law directly affects major municipal water providers across Texas, focusing on improving accuracy in water loss reporting and reducing waste through structured planning.

Maddy summaryHB 198, known as the Wade Cannon Act, requires Texas cities and counties that employ firefighters to provide free occupational cancer screenings starting in a firefighter's fifth year of service, with annual screenings thereafter. The screenings must include specific tests: urine, pulmonary function, electrocardiogram, infectious disease screening, breast cancer screening, blood tests, and chest x-rays (limited to once every five years). Political subdivisions may exempt themselves if they already offer annual occupational medical exams meeting standards set by the National Fire Protection Association and approved by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, directly affecting all Texas firefighters employed by local governments.

Maddy summaryHB 1261 changes how Texas law enforcement handles property seized but not claimed after 30 days (if not used as evidence in a case). It requires county or municipal officials to notify owners via certified mail or online posting within 90 days, giving them time to claim items. For property valued at $500 or more with an unknown owner, a public notice must be published in local media or online. Proceeds from sales of unclaimed property, after deducting storage and disposal costs, will go to the local government treasury.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas to create a property tax exemption for surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-connected conditions. Specifically, it would authorize the legislature to exempt all or part of the market value of a surviving spouse's primary home (homestead) from ad valorem taxes, provided the veteran died from a condition presumed service-connected under federal law and the spouse has not remarried. If a spouse moves to a new homestead, they could retain the same tax exemption amount as their previous home. The amendment requires voter approval in November 2025 and would take effect January 1, 2026, if approved.

Maddy summaryHB 3336 creates a tax credit for Texas breweries and distilleries that donate spent grain (a byproduct of brewing liquor or malt beverages) for agricultural use. Eligible taxpayers can claim a credit of $0.08 per pound of dry weight donated for purposes like animal feed or composting, within 100 miles of where the grain was used. The credit is capped at $30,000 per year or the total taxes paid under the Alcoholic Beverage Code, whichever is lower. This applies only to donations made on or after the bill's effective date for taxes due after that date.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial Senate Resolution (SR 587) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Association of Water Board Directors-Texas (AWBD-TX), which represents water district professionals across Texas. It recognizes the association's founding in 1975 and its role in supporting water district operations, education, and advocacy for over 1,000 members including utility directors, consultants, and vendors. The resolution has no legislative effect - it simply expresses the Texas Senate’s appreciation through formal congratulations and a copy for the association. This is a standard recognition resolution, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 27) authorizes the burial of Guy Herman, a former Travis County probate judge, in the Texas State Cemetery. It follows existing law (Government Code §2165.256) requiring legislative approval for such burials, contingent on the State Cemetery Committee's separate approval of Herman's application. The resolution recognizes Herman's decades of service in probate law, mental health advocacy, and his role in establishing the Judge Guy Herman Center for Mental Health Crisis Care. It does not alter cemetery rules or create new legal requirements - only formally authorizes the burial process under current procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 5606 creates a sick leave pool for Texas public school employees. It requires school districts and charter schools to establish a program where retiring employees can contribute their unused accrued sick leave to a shared pool. Current employees who exhaust their own sick leave may then use this pooled leave, subject to district policies. The bill also mandates that school district handbooks and leave request forms include information about the pool and list "assault leave" as an option. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, with existing policies adopted before that date exempt from the new requirement.

Maddy summarySB 2039 amends Texas traffic laws to require drivers to yield to sidewalk users - such as people operating bicycles, scooters, skateboards, or mobility devices - under the same right-of-way rules as pedestrians. The bill defines "sidewalk user" to include these devices and updates traffic code sections so drivers must stop for them in crosswalks and intersections at traffic signals. This affects all drivers navigating intersections and sidewalk users operating these devices across Texas. The law took effect on September 1, 2025.