Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

Maddy summarySB 1871 requires each public school campus to designate a behavior coordinator responsible for discipline management and ensuring access to telehealth mental health services. It creates legal immunity for school staff who report safety concerns or remove students from class under specific safety protocols. The bill also clarifies that school districts cannot exempt themselves from core education requirements like curriculum standards or accountability measures. These changes directly affect school staff, students, and campus administrators in Texas public schools. The bill aims to standardize discipline procedures while improving mental health service access without altering existing accountability frameworks.

Maddy summarySB 388 sets a goal that 50% of new electric generation capacity in Texas (after 2026) must come from natural gas power plants, which provide reliable on-demand electricity. It directly affects utilities, power companies, and electric cooperatives operating in the ERCOT grid region. The bill creates a credit system where companies that don’t meet the natural gas requirement can buy credits from others who do, with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality responsible for setting rules on how credits are calculated and used. The law also requires new natural gas projects to meet reliability standards and prioritize sites with economic potential for natural gas development. This is a substantive policy change affecting future energy investments, not a procedural measure.

Maddy summarySB 1067 prohibits Texas public universities and their employees from soliciting or accepting gifts, grants, donations, or investments from certain foreign entities. It specifically bans these actions with governments, political parties, or companies headquartered in countries identified by U.S. intelligence as posing national security risks. The bill requires institutions or employees to return any money or valuables received in violation to the foreign source. This law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies to all public higher education institutions and their employees in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 423 allows workers' compensation dispute hearings in Texas to be held remotely (via phone or videoconference) when both parties agree. It directly affects workers, employers, and the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission by changing how these hearings are conducted. The bill requires the Commission to create rules for remote hearings, including updated notices, technical requirements, and multilingual guides in English and Spanish for submitting evidence. These changes apply only to hearings requested on or after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate effect).

Maddy summarySB 883, known as the "Right to Treat Act," allows Texas physicians to prescribe FDA-approved prescription drugs for off-label use (meaning a purpose not approved by the FDA) in treating patients diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19, without state interference. The bill prohibits state officials from restricting such prescriptions and prevents the Texas Medical Board from taking disciplinary action against a physician’s license based solely on off-label prescribing for COVID-19, provided the treatment meets the medical standard of care. It also clarifies that the law does not create legal liability for drug manufacturers or physicians if harm occurs from off-label use in treating COVID-19. The bill directly affects physicians, patients with COVID-19, and state licensing authorities.

Maddy summarySB 32 would create a $25,000 property tax exemption for businesses owning or leasing tangible personal property (like equipment or tools) used to generate income. This exemption applies to each business location within a taxing unit, with property at the same location being combined to determine eligibility. Businesses leasing equipment would receive the same exemption as if they owned it. The bill affects Texas businesses that use physical assets to produce income, reducing their local property tax burden on those assets.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 819 establishes a new permit requirement for renewable energy facilities (wind or solar) with a capacity of 10 megawatts or more that connect to the power grid. It directly affects developers and operators of large-scale wind and solar projects, requiring them to apply for a commission permit before construction or significant expansion. Key provisions include submitting facility details, conducting environmental reviews with the Parks and Wildlife Department, holding public meetings within 25 miles of the site, and publishing meeting notices online. The bill does not apply to solar facilities within home-rule municipalities, and permits must be obtained before September 1, 2025, for existing facilities that expand or relocate significantly.

Maddy summarySB 1873 limits out-of-school suspensions for Texas public school students to a maximum of three school days, while allowing in-school suspensions to continue without a time limit. It requires schools to establish a placement review committee that must evaluate a student's educational progress and determine if continued in-school suspension is appropriate at least once every fifteen school days. The bill directly affects students in Texas public schools who face suspensions, aiming to ensure ongoing educational engagement during suspensions. It would take effect for the 2025-2026 school year if passed.

Maddy summarySB 707 would allow the Texas legislature to declare certain federal directives (like laws, executive orders, or agency rules) unconstitutional if they infringe on state powers under the Tenth Amendment or block Texas from protecting public health, safety, or welfare. If declared unconstitutional, the bill would prohibit state government officers and employees (including local officials and school staff) from enforcing or assisting in enforcing those directives. The process requires a concurrent resolution approved by legislative leadership (speaker or lieutenant governor) before a declaration can be made. This bill does not apply to federal directives activating Texas state military forces.

Maddy summarySB 1741 requires all Texas public universities to report foreign funding received from entities outside the U.S. annually, beginning September 2024. It prohibits institutions from accepting gifts, grants, or donations from the Chinese government or entities controlled by it. The bill also mandates that all university researchers complete annual training on identifying espionage risks, protecting intellectual property, and reporting suspicious activity. Universities must establish internal systems for staff and students to report potential espionage or theft. These requirements apply directly to every public institution of higher education in Texas.