Sen. Sarah Eckhardt

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits licensed mental health providers from attempting to change a child's sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. It applies to professionals like counselors, psychologists, social workers, and therapists treating minors under 18. The law defines "unprofessional conduct" as any effort to alter a child's sexual orientation, behavior, gender identity, or same-sex attractions. Violations would be addressed through professional licensing disciplinary actions under Texas law. The bill does not ban therapy for LGBTQ+ youth but specifically targets practices aimed at changing their core identity.

Maddy summarySB 346 requires Texas lobbying commissions to post all lobbyist registration and reporting documents on their public website within 10 business days of filing. The bill mandates removal of individuals' home addresses from these documents before posting and requires documents to remain online for at least five years. This applies to all new filings submitted on or after September 1, 2025, directly affecting lobbyists and their organizations who must comply with these transparency requirements. The law aims to increase public access to lobbying activity while protecting personal privacy in filings.

Maddy summarySB 256 amends Texas abortion laws by creating specific medical exceptions to existing prohibitions. It allows abortions when a licensed physician determines it is medically necessary to preserve a patient's life, physical/mental health (including fertility), or due to a lethal fetal anomaly or life-limiting diagnosis. The bill explicitly states that accidental injury to an embryo/fetus during medical treatment does not violate the law, and it prohibits holding patients liable for abortions performed under these exceptions. It also repeals two specific sections of current law and Chapter 6-1/2 (which previously regulated abortion). The bill directly affects pregnant patients seeking abortions and healthcare providers performing them under these defined medical circumstances.

Maddy summarySJR 29 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the date of the next general election to vote in primary elections, provided they meet other standard voting requirements. The amendment would require the Texas legislature to pass specific laws implementing this change, but the bill itself does not create the voting rules. The proposed amendment must be approved by voters in the November 4, 2025, election, with the ballot phrased to ask: "The constitutional amendment authorizing a person who will be 18 years of age or older on the date of the general election for state and county officers to vote in the preceding primary election." This is a procedural resolution seeking voter approval for a constitutional change, not an enacted law.

Maddy summarySB 574 requires the Texas comptroller to annually adjust the monthly longevity pay for state employees based on inflation, starting in 2025. The adjustment uses a Texas-specific inflation index reflecting consumer purchasing power, increasing the base amount of $20 (paid per two years of service) by the inflation percentage each July 1, effective September 1. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the adjustment is calculated as $20 plus 20 multiplied by the inflation rate, but this method expires after that year. The bill directly affects Texas state employees who receive longevity pay tied to their years of service.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend Texas election law to allow people convicted of felonies to register and vote once they've completed all parts of their sentence (including parole or supervision) or received a pardon. Currently, they cannot register until they've fully finished their sentence. The change would directly affect Texans who have completed felony sentences but remain barred from voting under current rules. It does not impact voting rights for people currently incarcerated for felonies.

Maddy summarySB 352 requires law enforcement agencies to provide written notice to individuals arrested for Class C misdemeanors when their property (excluding money) is seized. The notice must include a property description, holding location, and a 31-day deadline to claim the item before it's disposed of. If unclaimed, the property is sold, with proceeds (minus storage costs) deposited into the local municipality or county treasury. The bill also updates procedures for other seized items like weapons or gambling equipment, requiring owners to appear before a magistrate by the 30th day to contest forfeiture. This primarily affects individuals arrested for minor offenses who have property seized during arrest.

Maddy summarySB 271 updates Texas law to define "critical care residential customers" for electricity services. It adds two specific conditions: a household must permanently house someone dependent on an electric medical device to sustain life or an elevator for home access. This directly affects Texas residential electricity customers with these medical or mobility needs. The bill amends the Utilities Code and takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, or September 1, 2025, otherwise.

Maddy summarySB 341 requires preferential voting (ranked-choice voting) for special elections to fill vacancies in offices that normally require a majority vote. Voters would rank candidates from most to least preferred, and if no candidate receives a majority initially, lower-ranked votes would be redistributed until one candidate achieves a majority. The bill eliminates primary elections and runoff elections for these specific special elections, repealing existing Election Code provisions about them. It applies to offices filled through special elections requiring majority vote, directly affecting voters and election administrators in those contests. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 366 amends Texas law to expand the definition of "economically disadvantaged person" for state contracting purposes. It adds protections for businesses owned by individuals with disabilities (as defined by federal law) or those identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual. The bill requires the comptroller to establish new, separate contracting goals for these businesses, which must be in addition to existing goals for other underutilized groups. Businesses claiming disability ownership must submit physician affidavits verifying each owner's disability to qualify for certification. This directly affects state agencies managing contracts and businesses seeking certification as historically underutilized businesses (HUBs).