Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

Maddy summaryThis is a Senate Resolution (SR 416), not a bill with policy changes. It formally recognizes 19 interns who worked for Senator Judith Zaffirini's office during Texas' 89th Legislative Session (2025). The resolution commends them for their contributions to legislative research, constituent outreach, and administrative tasks, and expresses the Senate's appreciation for their dedication. It was adopted by the Texas Senate on April 22, 2025, and includes a copy of the resolution as a token of recognition. This is purely a ceremonial gesture with no legal effect or policy impact.

Maddy summarySR 441 is a ceremonial Senate resolution congratulating Bill Matthys on receiving the 2025 Larry Carter Award from the Cuero Chamber of Commerce. It recognizes his decades of community service, including 17 years on the Cuero City Council, 16 years with Cuero ISD, military service as a captain, and roles with local organizations. The resolution formally expresses the Texas Senate's esteem for his contributions to Cuero. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or affect policy.

Maddy summarySB 2365 would require Texas public school districts and charter schools to adopt policies banning students from using personal wireless devices (like smartphones, tablets, or laptops not issued by the school) during class time. The bill allows exceptions for devices needed for individualized education programs (IEPs), documented medical needs, or health/safety requirements. School boards must implement these policies starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill directly affects all public school students in Texas during instructional periods, with limited exceptions for specific educational or safety needs.

Maddy summarySB 406 requires Texas birth certificates to list a person's "biological sex" as male or female based on sex organs, chromosomes, or endogenous profile at birth, as mandated in Health and Safety Code Sections 192.002(c-1) and 192.003(f). It prohibits changing the sex marker on birth certificates except in three specific cases: correcting clerical errors, completing information when biological sex wasn’t initially listed, or for intersex individuals (those with atypical sex characteristics at birth) after medical determination. The bill directly affects parents reporting births, local registrars issuing certificates, and individuals seeking to amend birth records. It does not allow changes to reflect gender identity but permits limited updates for medical clarity or correction of errors.

Maddy summarySJR 12 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish a parent's right to direct their child's education in Texas. It would add Section 37 to the Texas Constitution, defining "parent" broadly to include natural parents, stepparents, adoptive parents, guardians, and legal custodians. The amendment guarantees specific rights: choosing public school options, selecting alternatives like private or homeschool, accessing school materials and records (including health records), and attending school meetings - without restriction based on disability. This is a procedural bill requiring voter approval in the November 2025 election.

Maddy summarySB 2510 establishes a temporary self-insurance pool for certified prescribed burn managers in Texas, administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service. The program provides liability coverage specifically for prescribed burns conducted by participating managers, excluding workers' compensation, auto liability, or professional errors. A fee will be authorized to fund the pool, with coverage limits aligned to minimum requirements under Natural Resources Code. Participation requires a written request to the program, and managers must meet eligibility and safety standards set by the service.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 393 recognizes April 16, 2025, as Texas Juvenile Justice Professional Day. The resolution honors juvenile justice professionals across Texas, including over 8,200 certified probation officers and 164 community-based probation departments that serve youth in all 254 counties. It highlights their role in handling 100% of juvenile referrals annually and supporting 99% of youth through local services. This is a symbolic gesture of recognition, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 402), not a legislative bill. It formally recognizes Deb Manley (a park volunteer) and Cathy Hoyt (a supervisory park ranger) for discovering a new plant species at Big Bend National Park in March 2024. The resolution commemorates their finding of what botanists nicknamed the "wooly devil" (scientific name: *Ovicula biradiata*), a small annual plant in the daisy family that forms a new genus. The resolution was adopted by the Texas Senate on April 15, 2025, to commend their contribution to documenting the park's biodiversity.

Maddy summarySB 1635 creates a credit for certain Texas school districts against required payments under the public school finance system. It applies only to districts in first or second tier coastal counties (as defined in Texas Insurance Code) that paid for windstorm and hail insurance in the previous school year. The bill reduces the district's required payment amount by the exact cost of that insurance. This credit is applied after other existing reductions and takes effect September 1, 2025. The policy directly benefits coastal school districts facing significant storm insurance costs.

Maddy summaryTexas SB 2036 modifies the Texas Historical Commission's authority by allowing its executive director to bypass standard competitive bidding for goods or services under specific conditions - such as when initial bids fail to produce responsive offers, resoliciting would increase costs or delay critical needs, or when a qualified vendor meets original requirements. The bill also clarifies the Commission's ability to accept gifts or grants and participate in affiliated nonprofit organizations to raise funds. Additionally, it establishes rules for preserving and maintaining Civil War and Republic of Texas centennial markers installed by predecessor commissions or the Commission itself. These changes streamline procurement processes while addressing historical marker upkeep without creating new fees or altering funding levels.