Sen. Bob Hall

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 1696 requires that birth certificates issued in Texas include a person's biological sex - determined by sex organs, chromosomes, or endogenous profile - listed as either male or female. It directly affects all newborns in Texas and parents/guardians who file birth certificates, mandating that biological sex be recorded unless a physician determines a child has atypical or ambiguous sex characteristics at birth. The bill allows for later amendments to birth certificates once a child's sex is determined, but prohibits changing the recorded sex except for correcting clerical errors or completing initial omissions. This legislation specifically targets birth certificate documentation under Texas Health and Safety Code sections 192.002, 192.003, and 192.011.

Maddy summarySB 1693 amends Texas law to clarify who must report suspected child abuse or neglect and when. It defines "professional" to include teachers, doctors, nurses, day-care staff, clinic employees (including those providing reproductive services), and juvenile officers who work with children. These professionals must report suspected abuse or neglect within 48 hours of discovering it. The bill also adds a requirement for professionals to report if they believe an adult was abused as a child and disclosure is necessary for protection. This directly affects anyone in these professions who interacts with children in their work.

Maddy summarySB 1692 limits wind and solar energy capacity in Texas' ERCOT power grid. It requires the Texas utility commission to review, by January 2029, whether wind/solar facilities (with grid agreements signed before September 1, 2025) contribute more than 35% of available generation capacity. If the threshold is exceeded, the commission must establish a program to disconnect qualifying pre-2025 facilities to reduce their share to 35% or less. New wind/solar projects can still connect after 2025 if they comply with the bill's requirements. The bill applies only to facilities exclusively using wind or solar power.

Maddy summarySJR 66 proposes a constitutional amendment to dedicate specific tax revenues to Texas' water fund. It would require the state comptroller to deposit excess sales tax revenue (above $46.5 billion annually, capped at $500 million) and the first $500 million of insurance premium tax revenue into the Texas Water Fund each year. The amendment mandates that 25% of initial fund allocations and 80% of pre-2043 deposits go exclusively to the "New Water Supply for Texas Fund," which supports water infrastructure projects. This proposal expires August 31, 2043, and requires voter approval in the November 2025 election. It directly affects how Texas allocates tax revenue for water infrastructure planning and development.

Maddy summarySB 1393 requires Texas health care providers using electronic health records to document an individual's biological sex (male or female) based on observed sex at birth, and to note if a sexual development disorder is present. This applies to all health care providers in Texas who maintain electronic records, including hospitals and clinics. The law allows changing the recorded sex only for clerical errors or if a sexual development disorder diagnosis requires it, with the disorder then being documented. It does not restrict providers from including additional information about gender identity or other health details.

Maddy summarySB 1389 requires political subdivisions (like cities, counties, or school districts) to include specific details on ballots for bond elections. The bill mandates that each bond proposition must clearly describe the single project, list all structures/improvements with their estimated costs, state the total bond amount, include "THIS IS A TAX INCREASE," and confirm taxes will cover principal and interest. It also requires a separate ballot item for each project and a voter information document showing principal and interest amounts in a table. This directly affects voters and local governments holding bond elections by standardizing ballot language to improve transparency.

Maddy summarySB 1475 requires county election officers in Texas to complete 10 hours of annual training on their duties, with an initial 10-hour requirement before their first work anniversary. Each calendar year after that, officers must complete 10 additional hours, with up to five excess hours allowed to carry over to the next year. The bill also allows county clerks and assessor-collectors - who handle election-related duties - to count up to 10 hours of this election-specific training toward their own annual continuing education requirements under separate codes. This policy directly affects county election officers and indirectly impacts county clerks and assessor-collectors by aligning their training requirements with election duties.

Maddy summarySB 1473 amends Texas Election Code sections 84.002(a) and 84.011(a) to add requirements for voters applying for mail-in ballots due to absence from their county of residence. The bill requires applicants to provide either a driver’s license number, the last four digits of their Social Security number, or a statement confirming they lack such identification, along with the specific address outside their home county where the ballot should be mailed. This directly affects voters temporarily living outside their registered county who seek mail-in ballots. The changes standardize application details for this voting method while maintaining existing eligibility grounds.

Maddy summarySB 1392 requires Texas newborn screening programs to include a test for sex chromosome structure variations as part of routine screenings for heritable diseases and newborn health services. This affects all newborns in Texas by adding this specific test to existing screening protocols under the Health and Safety Code. The bill mandates the Department of State Health Services to implement this change after the law takes effect. It does not alter eligibility or create new exemptions - it simply expands the current screening menu to include this test.

Maddy summarySB 1479 shortens the maximum duration for state agency emergency rules and adds a public hearing requirement for renewals. It limits initial emergency rules to 60 days (down from 120) and allows only one renewal for up to 30 days (down from 60). The bill requires agencies to hold a public hearing with comment period before renewing any emergency rule. This directly affects Texas state agencies that issue emergency rules during declared emergencies. The changes apply only to rules proposed on or after the bill's effective date.