Sen. Sarah Eckhardt

Maddy summarySB 146 would require Texas county voter registrars to automatically register naturalized U.S. citizens who reside in the county to vote upon receiving a certificate of naturalization. The bill establishes a system where the Texas Department of Public Safety coordinates with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to notify registrars of new naturalizations, enabling automatic voter registration without requiring separate applications. If USCIS fails to notify the state, naturalized citizens can present their certificate directly to the registrar for registration assistance. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and aims to streamline voter access for newly naturalized citizens.

Maddy summarySB 337 establishes the Texas Tenant Readiness and Landlord Incentive Pilot Program through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. It provides up to $3,500 per household to help vulnerable individuals and families secure housing by covering costs like security deposits or first-month rent. The program directly assists those experiencing homelessness (including newly homeless individuals), fleeing domestic violence or trafficking, or at high risk of housing instability due to chronic homelessness or disability. Local governments and nonprofits selected through a competitive process will administer the program, using federal or state housing vouchers as a pathway to connect participants with landlords. The bill focuses on practical housing access rather than new housing construction.

Maddy summarySB 148 repeals Section 43.007(i) of the Texas Election Code, which governed how counties participate in the countywide polling place program. This change removes a specific provision related to county operations under that program. The bill would take effect immediately if passed by two-thirds vote, or on September 1, 2025, if not.

Maddy summarySB 485 requires landlords of multiunit housing complexes (where at least one resident is elderly, disabled, or a child) to take specific steps during disasters. Landlords must implement reasonable safety precautions, train staff to assist vulnerable residents, provide clear evacuation instructions and danger alerts, and not abandon the complex unless a mandatory evacuation order is issued. Residents who suffer harm due to a landlord’s failure to meet these duties can sue for damages. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not override existing landlord responsibilities under other laws.

Maddy summarySB 572 would provide a $10,000 annual base salary increase for full-time state employees and a proportional increase for part-time employees (based on hours worked relative to full-time) at state agencies and institutions of higher education, effective September 1, 2025. Full-time employees would receive a fixed $10,000 raise each year of the 2025-2027 biennium, while part-time employees would get a prorated amount (e.g., 50% of $10,000 for a 20-hour/week employee). The bill explicitly excludes legislators, board members, and other non-salaried officials who receive per diem payments instead of regular salaries. It applies to all state agencies and universities defined under Texas Education Code Section 61.003. The bill is currently in the Finance Committee and has not yet been voted on.

Maddy summarySB 163 amends Texas Education Code to change how full-day prekindergarten programs are funded under the Foundation School Program. It requires districts operating full-day preK to provide at least 32,400 minutes of annual instructional time to qualify for full average daily attendance credit (matching K-12 funding rules), instead of half-credit for half-day programs. This directly affects public school districts and charter schools offering preK programs by determining their state funding eligibility. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, aligning preK attendance calculations with K-12 standards for funding purposes.

Maddy summarySB 348 expands medical consent rights for certain minors under Texas law. It allows unmarried minors aged 16 or older who live independently (and manage their own finances) to consent to pregnancy-related care, including postpartum treatment, and contraception-related medical treatment (excluding abortion). The bill also permits minors who are parents to consent to medical care for their children, and minors in state custody facilities to consent to treatment (with specific exceptions). These provisions directly affect minors meeting the defined criteria, enabling them to make certain health decisions without parental involvement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas public school districts to follow health authority orders addressing communicable diseases, including mask mandates for students and staff. It mandates compliance with evidence-based health directives to reduce disease transmission, but allows school boards to choose between conflicting orders from multiple health authorities. The law applies only to public health orders issued on or after September 1, 2025. It directly affects public school districts, students, and staff by establishing a clear framework for implementing disease prevention measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new constitutional right to the Texas Constitution, guaranteeing all Texas residents the right to be free from government interference in their private lives. It would amend Article I, Section 37 to state that individuals have this right "except as otherwise provided by this constitution," while explicitly preserving existing rights to access public meetings and records. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election, with the ballot phrasing "The constitutional amendment establishing the right to be free from governmental intrusion or interference into an individual's private life." This is a procedural proposal for a constitutional change, not an immediate law.

Maddy summarySB 357 requires peace officers to report lost or stolen firearms to the Texas Department of Public Safety within 24 hours of receiving a report from the owner. The department must then forward these reports to the National Crime Information Center. The bill also creates limited liability protection: firearm owners who report the loss or theft to law enforcement within 24 hours of discovering it cannot be held legally liable for harm caused by that firearm afterward. This law applies only to incidents occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects firearm owners who must report losses/stolen weapons promptly to avoid potential liability.