Sen. Royce West

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 1919 changes the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) authority to settle certain claims. It lowers the financial threshold from $100,000 to $10,000 for TxDOT to settle claims where it might be liable under state law, without requiring additional approvals. The bill requires TxDOT’s director to determine that a settlement is in the department’s best interest. This directly affects TxDOT and individuals or entities filing smaller claims against the agency. The change takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1232 proposes new rules for "facility fees" charged by healthcare providers, which are separate from fees for medical services. It defines these fees broadly to include administrative costs like membership or subscription fees charged by hospitals, clinics, and physician groups (including those owned by private equity or corporations), but excludes direct primary care fees. The bill establishes administrative penalties for providers who violate these rules. It directly affects healthcare facilities and their billing practices by creating new regulatory requirements under Texas Health and Safety Code.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 2721 establishes new licensing and regulatory requirements for entities handling human bodies or anatomical specimens for educational or research purposes. It creates definitions for "human body acquisition services," "non-transplant anatomical donation organizations," and "willed body programs," requiring these entities to obtain licenses, maintain secure electronic records with unique identifiers for body parts, and update a commission database tracking each specimen’s location. The bill directly affects institutions of higher education operating body donation programs, research facilities, and organizations that collect, process, or distribute bodies or body parts for medical training. Violations of the law are classified as state jail felonies, with the Texas Funeral Service Commission authorized to enforce these rules and revoke licenses for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 241 requires cities and counties to actively enforce public camping bans by implementing complaint systems for violations and reporting data to the attorney general annually. It prohibits local governments from discouraging enforcement of camping bans and mandates that they resolve complaints within 90 days, or face a state declaration of non-compliance. Non-compliant localities lose state tax funds until they act, with the attorney general or state police recovering enforcement costs from them. The bill also specifies that personal property must be preserved during arrests for camping violations, except for permanent structures like tents. These provisions apply specifically to public camping bans affecting homeless individuals on public property.

Maddy summarySB 1380 would require health insurers to skip prior approval (preauthorization) for certain urgent medical treatments. Specifically, it exempts "intervention-necessary care" - like treatment for acute injuries or illnesses that could cause irreversible harm or severe pain if delayed - from needing insurer approval before a doctor can provide it. This applies to health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and specific insurance plans, but excludes Medicaid programs and child health plans. The bill defines clear criteria for when preauthorization is waived, aiming to reduce delays for time-sensitive care.

Maddy summarySB 2607 establishes the Cross-Agency Employment Resource Initiative to coordinate employment services across three state agencies: the Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and Texas Workforce Commission. It directly affects clients who use multiple programs, including those receiving workforce services, financial assistance under Chapter 31 of the Human Resources Code, or reentry services from the Department of Criminal Justice. The bill requires agencies to share client data, office space, and resources through interagency agreements, hold quarterly meetings to align goals like employment retention and recidivism reduction, and accept grants or donations to support the initiative. The first coordination meeting must occur by October 1, 2025, with the law taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 586 creates a program to recognize historic Texas cemeteries that are at least 50 years old (or exceptionally significant). It requires cemetery owners or applicants to submit applications proving the cemetery's existence, then notifies adjacent landowners and county historical commissions. If approved, the cemetery receives a declaration to file with the county clerk and may display an Official Texas Historical Marker, for which a fee is authorized. The program aims to alert the public and nearby landowners about historic cemeteries' existence without imposing new regulations on property use.

Maddy summarySB 621 prohibits Texas cities, counties, and school districts (political subdivisions) from establishing, operating, or owning any public bank. The law bans local governments from creating entities that engage in banking activities as defined by Texas Finance Code Section 31.002. This applies to all local government entities and takes effect September 1, 2025. The bill directly prevents local governments from creating public banking institutions under state law.

Maddy summarySB 2246 amends Texas Transportation Code to clarify requirements for salvage vehicle dealers. It requires dealers who acquire nonrepairable or salvage vehicles for dismantling, scrapping, or destruction to submit a report within 31 days of acquisition, along with proof of ownership (such as a title, auction receipt, or comparable document). The bill also mandates that the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles notify dealers if a vehicle lacks a printed title but has a digital title record in their system. These changes aim to streamline title processing for salvage vehicles and take effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends emissions inspections for eligible vehicles to every three years (instead of annually or biennially) if approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It creates a new 24-month registration period for new passenger cars or light trucks sold in Texas or purchased by commercial fleets meeting specific criteria. Vehicle owners must pay all registration fees, inspection fees, and optional fees upfront at the time of registration. These changes apply to most passenger vehicles but require EPA approval for the extended inspection period.