Sen. Royce West

Maddy summaryHB 426 requires Texas Medicaid and the Child Health Plan to fully cover the cost of a custom head device (cranial remolding orthosis) for children with specific head shape conditions. It applies to children with premature skull fusion (craniosynostosis) or children aged 3 months to 18 months with a flat or asymmetrical head (plagiocephaly or brachycephaly) who have not improved after two months of non-surgical treatment and meet documented head measurement standards. The coverage must be at least as comprehensive as for other orthotic devices under Medicaid. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1737 clarifies and expands the definitions of "custodial officer" and "law enforcement officer" for retirement benefits under Texas' Employees Retirement System. It adds specific categories of correctional and juvenile justice positions to the "custodial officer" definition, including those with direct contact with inmates or youth in facilities. It also clarifies which law enforcement officers, including those from agencies like the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Parks and Wildlife Department, and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, qualify for retirement benefits. These changes ensure more officers in these roles can receive retirement benefits based on their service. The bill requires agencies to certify these officers to the retirement system.

Maddy summaryHB 4426 sets a maximum 10-year term for permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas to commercial surface disposal facilities (like waste management sites). It requires renewal applications to be submitted 120 days before expiration and allows the Commission to consider an applicant's compliance history - including past inspections, reports, and rule adherence - when determining permit terms for new, amended, or renewal applications. The law applies only to permits issued, amended, or renewed on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing permits governed by prior rules. This changes how long facilities can operate under a single permit and influences renewal decisions based on their regulatory track record.

Maddy summaryHB 4809 allows owners of property qualifying for historic or archaeological site tax exemptions to protest how the appraised value is split between the land and the historic improvements (like buildings or sites). This directly affects property owners who already qualify for these exemptions but disagree with how tax assessors allocate value between the land and the historic structure. The bill amends Texas tax law to add a specific protest right for owners challenging the "allocation of appraised value between the structure or site and the land" as part of their property tax review. It does not change the exemption eligibility but gives owners a new avenue to contest valuation methods that impact their tax burden.

Maddy summarySB 1137 requires group home operators to obtain criminal history records for all applicants and employees, prohibiting hiring for individuals convicted of specific offenses under the Penal Code (e.g., violence, sexual offenses, or certain felonies). It creates a new criminal offense under Section 767.004 for group home consultants who refer potential residents to homes employing individuals banned under these rules. The bill directly affects group home operators, their employees, and consultants who facilitate resident placements. Violations are punishable as Class A misdemeanors, with key provisions targeting background checks and referral practices to protect vulnerable residents.

Maddy summarySB 1379 increases criminal penalties for forgery in Texas by creating a new value-based penalty structure. It raises penalties based on the value of property or services obtained through forgery, ranging from Class B misdemeanors for under $100 to first-degree felonies for $300,000+ (Section 1, subsection e-1). The bill also specifies higher penalties for forging certain documents like wills, deeds, credit cards, government records, or instruments issued by government entities (Sections 1(d) and 1(e)). Additionally, it mandates enhanced penalties when forgery targets elderly individuals (Section 1(e-2)). The law applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025).

Maddy summarySB 2995 requires Texas public colleges and universities to provide prospective students with clear, plain-language information about how private scholarships or other factors might reduce their existing financial aid ("financial aid displacement"). The bill mandates that institutions include a mandatory advisory in admission applications or via a link, featuring a prominent warning about aid reduction, common reasons for it, and practical steps to maximize aid. This advisory must also include application timelines, specific recommendations to avoid aid reduction, and contact details for financial aid support. The law, effective September 1, 2025, aims to increase transparency for students navigating financial aid processes.

Maddy summarySB 3039 requires Texas public universities to annually report on transfer credit issues to the state legislature and education board. The bill mandates institutions to detail courses where transfer students (especially those who declared a major) don’t receive credit, identify barriers to transfer pathways, and describe actions taken through agreements with community colleges. These actions include faculty collaboration, student advising, financial aid, and aligning degree programs. The goal is to increase transparency about why credit transfers fail and improve support for students moving between public higher education institutions.

Maddy summarySB 740 allows Texas water and sewer utilities to use new rate structures called "system improvement charges" to recover infrastructure investment costs more efficiently. It requires the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to approve these charges and sets rules for applications, including documentation like receipts and invoices to verify costs. Utilities must file periodic updates with the PUC to adjust base rates based on these charges. The bill directly affects water and sewer utilities in Texas by changing how they can recover infrastructure costs through PUC-approved rate mechanisms, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 742 requires first responders, including firefighters and emergency medical personnel (but excluding volunteers and law enforcement officers), to complete approved human trafficking prevention training on identifying, assisting, and reporting victims. It mandates hospitals to display a specific 11x17 inch sign in emergency departments with human trafficking information, using a 16-point font as defined by the attorney general. The bill also provides legal protection for health care employees who report suspected trafficking incidents. The Health and Human Services Commission must approve training courses (including at least one free option) and maintain an online list of approved courses.