Sen. Sarah Eckhardt

Maddy summarySB 347 restricts former Texas legislators from engaging in registered lobbying activities for two years after their term ends, creating a Class B misdemeanor offense for violations. It directly affects former state lawmakers who seek to influence legislation or administrative actions through lobbying. The law includes an exception for former legislators who do not receive compensation beyond expense reimbursements when communicating directly with current lawmakers or executive branch officials about specific bills or actions. The bill applies only to legislators who leave office after its effective date (January 12, 2027).

Maddy summarySJR 30 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Texas cities and counties to create a property tax exemption for homeowners' primary residences. It would let local governments exempt at least $5,000 of a home's market value from annual property taxes, with the exemption permanent once adopted (meaning local governments cannot later reduce or eliminate it). The amendment requires voter approval in November 2025 and would take effect for the 2026 tax year. This directly affects homeowners in jurisdictions that choose to implement such an exemption.

Maddy summarySB 150 prohibits discrimination in Texas public accommodations (businesses serving the public) based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or military veteran status. It bans refusing service, discriminatory communications, or advertising that denies equal access to these protected groups. The bill authorizes civil penalties for violations and establishes a process for individuals to file complaints with the Texas Workforce Commission. This directly affects businesses operating as public accommodations and individuals seeking services or goods.

Maddy summarySB 257 creates an exception to Texas' abortion ban for pregnancies resulting from sexual assault as defined in specific Penal Code sections (22.011, 22.021, and 25.02). It removes requirements for victims to file police reports, provide forensic evidence, or pursue prosecution to access this exception. The bill repeals Chapter 6-1/2 of the Revised Statutes, which was the main state law prohibiting most abortions. This exception applies only to cases meeting the sexual assault criteria and does not change other abortion laws or regulations.

Maddy summarySB 350 requires Texas healthcare providers to prioritize a pregnant person's health over the fetus's health when recommending medical treatments, regardless of fetal risk. It ensures pregnant individuals retain full rights to accept or refuse care after providing informed consent. Violations could result in administrative penalties similar to other licensing violations. The bill would take effect September 1, 2025, unless passed as an immediate law with a two-thirds vote.

Maddy summarySB 573 establishes a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for specific retirement benefits paid by the Employees Retirement System of Texas, effective January 2026. It directly affects retirees and beneficiaries receiving service retirement, disability retirement, death benefits, or alternate payee annuities under certain chapters of the Texas Government Code. The COLA applies only to those eligible under specific membership classes (excluding elected class retirees) and requires eligibility based on retirement or death dates before specified cutoffs (e.g., before September 1, 2024 for service retirement). The adjustment is calculated as a percentage of the base benefit amount and begins with payments for January 2026. This is a concrete policy change to help offset inflation for qualifying retirees.

Maddy summarySB 656 repeals Section 276.016 of the Texas Election Code, which previously regulated how election officials could solicit and distribute applications for voting by mail. This change removes specific rules governing the process for obtaining mail-in ballot applications. The bill directly affects election officials who handle mail-in ballot requests and voters seeking to apply for mail-in voting. It takes effect immediately if passed by a two-thirds vote, or on September 1, 2025, if not.

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 363 changes how damages are calculated when government condemns property protected by a conservation easement. It requires special commissioners to assess damages based on the property's "highest and best use" without considering the easement's restrictions - meaning the property's value is calculated as if the conservation easement did not exist. This applies to both full condemnations of entire parcels and partial condemnations of portions of property. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and only applies to condemnation cases filed after that date.

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.