Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

Maddy summarySB 2900 requires Texas' comptroller to review all advisory groups (like boards, committees, or task forces) directly under the comptroller's office by December 2026. The review assesses whether each group is necessary and promotes efficient operations of the comptroller's office. The comptroller must report to the legislature by that date any groups deemed unnecessary or inefficient. This bill streamlines government operations by evaluating existing advisory structures but does not change public policies or affect citizens directly.

Maddy summaryHB 2011 allows property owners (or their heirs) to repurchase land taken through eminent domain if the government entity that acquired it fails to pay property taxes or abandons the intended public use. The bill specifies four conditions triggering this right: the public use is canceled, no progress was made toward the use within 10 years, the property becomes unnecessary for the use, or the entity fails to pay delinquent property taxes after the second anniversary of their due date. It requires the government entity to send certified notice to the former owner within 180 days of determining eligibility, detailing the property, the reason for the repurchase right, and how to exercise it. This law directly affects property owners whose land was acquired via eminent domain but remains unused or tax-delinquent. The bill amends Texas Property Code sections 21.101 and 21.102 to establish these procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 140 abolishes the Family and Protective Services Council and creates a new Child Protective Investigations Advisory Committee to advise the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). The bill amends multiple state codes to remove references to the abolished council and add the new committee, including updating reporting requirements for the DFPS commissioner. This change directly affects DFPS's advisory structure and reporting processes, effective September 1, 2026. The bill does not alter DFPS's core functions but modifies its advisory body composition.

Maddy summarySB 213 prohibits Texas insurers from requiring customers to purchase multiple personal insurance policies (like home and auto) from the same company or bundling them as a condition for coverage. It directly affects consumers who buy residential property or auto insurance, ensuring they can choose insurers separately for each policy type. The key provision bans insurers from using "unfair methods of competition" by forcing policy bundling, making it illegal to require multiple policies from one provider or tie one policy to another. This creates a clear rule for insurers to follow, promoting consumer choice without restricting how insurers offer policies. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 493 protects pharmacists and pharmacies from contractual restrictions that prevent them from sharing key cost information with patients and discussing service details with health insurance plans. Specifically, it prohibits contracts from blocking pharmacists from: (1) informing patients about differences between their out-of-pocket costs with and without submitting a claim under their health plan, and (2) communicating with insurers about prescription drug benefits, pharmacy services, network access, or reimbursement. The law applies only to contracts entered into or amended on or after September 1, 2025, directly affecting pharmacists, pharmacies, and patients covered by health benefit plans. It creates a clear legal right for pharmacists to discuss cost and service matters without penalty.

Maddy summaryHB 1443 creates a new criminal offense in Texas for promoting or possessing a "child-like sex doll," defined as an obscene, anatomically correct doll or robot designed to look like a child and intended for sexual use. It prohibits three specific actions: promoting such dolls (felony, second degree), possessing them with intent to promote (felony, third degree), or simply possessing them (state jail felony). The law presumes intent to promote if someone possesses two or more dolls, but includes an exception for law enforcement using them for legitimate purposes. This bill directly affects individuals who manufacture, sell, or own these dolls, making the specified actions punishable under Texas Penal Code.

Maddy summarySB 843 requires Texas school districts to report detailed information about bonds, taxes, and related projects to a new Texas Education Agency database. The database must include bond election results, project lists funded by bonds, tax rate projections, and maintenance tax proposals. School districts must submit this data to the agency, which will maintain the database and allow report generation by geographic area. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting all Texas public school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 4070 requires dentists to conduct in-person examinations and review diagnostic imaging (like x-rays) before patients can receive orthodontic devices such as braces. It prohibits selling or manufacturing these devices unless a dentist has provided the required exam and issued a prescription, or the seller has written confirmation from a dentist. The law directly affects dentists, orthodontic device sellers, and patients seeking orthodontic treatment. Key provisions mandate specific medical evaluations to identify conditions like gum disease or dental fractures that could make treatment unsafe. This replaces current practices by adding mandatory dentist oversight for device sales and design.

Maddy summaryHB 128 prohibits Texas governmental entities (including cities, counties, and state agencies) from establishing, maintaining, or renewing sister-city agreements with countries designated as "foreign adversaries" (China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia) or communities within those countries. It requires existing agreements with such countries to be terminated by October 1, 2025. The law defines "sister-city agreements" as formal partnerships fostering cultural, educational, and tourism exchanges with foreign communities. The prohibition expires on January 1, 2027, making it a temporary policy change affecting all Texas local and state governments.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Texas Medicaid payment rules for nursing facilities. It requires Medicaid to pay facilities within 10 days of a clean claim submission, enforces a patient care expense ratio, and mandates reductions in preventable events and unnecessary institutionalizations. Nursing facilities must comply with these standards to maintain Medicaid participation, while Medicaid managed care organizations must provide discharge planning, assist with income collection, and offer payment incentives for cost-reducing initiatives. A new claims portal system is also established for submitting claims to Medicaid managed care organizations. The bill directly affects nursing facilities receiving Medicaid payments and the managed care organizations administering those programs.