Sen. Royce West

Maddy summaryHB 3575 clarifies where candidates for appraisal district board positions must file campaign treasurer appointments and ballot applications. It requires these filings to be submitted to the county clerk or county elections administrator (not the state commission) for candidates running for an appraisal district board position. The bill specifically updates Election Code and Tax Code provisions to align filing requirements for these local offices with standard procedures for other county-level positions. This is a procedural change affecting only candidates seeking seats on appraisal district boards.

Maddy summarySB 213 prohibits Texas insurers from requiring customers to purchase multiple personal insurance policies (like home and auto) from the same company or bundling them as a condition for coverage. It directly affects consumers who buy residential property or auto insurance, ensuring they can choose insurers separately for each policy type. The key provision bans insurers from using "unfair methods of competition" by forcing policy bundling, making it illegal to require multiple policies from one provider or tie one policy to another. This creates a clear rule for insurers to follow, promoting consumer choice without restricting how insurers offer policies. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3376 requires guardians appointed for individuals aged 60 or older (or those with dementia-related conditions) to complete specific training. Guardians must finish a free, online course within six months of appointment and annually, covering Alzheimer's/dementia symptoms, communication strategies, aging aspects, and resources for supporting a person's rights. The training must address warning signs, effective communication, and available support services. This law amends Texas Government Code Sections 155.203 and 155.204 to mandate these requirements for guardians handling cases involving dementia or related disorders.

Maddy summarySB 493 protects pharmacists and pharmacies from contractual restrictions that prevent them from sharing key cost information with patients and discussing service details with health insurance plans. Specifically, it prohibits contracts from blocking pharmacists from: (1) informing patients about differences between their out-of-pocket costs with and without submitting a claim under their health plan, and (2) communicating with insurers about prescription drug benefits, pharmacy services, network access, or reimbursement. The law applies only to contracts entered into or amended on or after September 1, 2025, directly affecting pharmacists, pharmacies, and patients covered by health benefit plans. It creates a clear legal right for pharmacists to discuss cost and service matters without penalty.

Maddy summarySB 2544 creates a mandatory mediation process for disputes over out-of-network health care billing between providers and insurance companies. It requires that requests for mediation must be filed within 90 days of an initial payment for services provided on or after the bill's effective date (June 20, 2025). For disputes involving services provided before this date, mediation eligibility is limited to requests made within 120 days of the effective date under the previous law. The bill applies only to new disputes after its effective date, with no impact on pre-existing disputes that miss the 120-day window.

Maddy summaryHB 2187 requires Texas hospitals to establish nurse staffing committees and submit accurate staffing reports, which must be verified by the chief nursing officer. The bill prohibits hospitals from retaliating against nurses who report staffing violations or file complaints, and creates a formal process for resolving complaints through the Health and Human Services Commission. Hospitals must provide timely written responses to complaints, including details about investigations and resolutions, while keeping all complaint-related information confidential. This law directly affects nurses, hospital management, and the Health and Human Services Commission, with all provisions taking effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1207 requires Texas public schools to include specific adoption information in their existing parenting and paternity awareness program for high school health classes, with optional use in middle/junior high schools. The bill mandates teaching three key adoption topics: differences between private adoption and foster care, processes for private/state adoption, and adoption as an alternative to parenthood. This policy change applies to all Texas public school districts beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on June 20, 2025, and took effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 4238 prevents creditors and debt collectors from attempting to collect debts from individuals who are victims of identity theft, as verified by a court order. It requires these entities to stop collection efforts within seven business days of receiving proof of identity theft, stop reporting the debt to credit bureaus, and not sell the debt to third parties. The law does not apply to home loans or existing court judgments. This directly affects identity theft victims (who can halt debt collection) and debt collectors (who must comply with these restrictions), effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1191 requires the Texas commissioner of education to develop a standardized method for calculating high school grade point averages (GPAs). This method must give equal additional weight to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), OnRamps dual enrollment, and dual credit courses. Texas public school districts must use this standard method when calculating students' GPAs, affecting all high school students in the state. The bill became effective immediately on June 20, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 1494 allows certain local governments - specifically non-county political subdivisions and non-municipal utility districts - to switch their general election dates to the statewide November election date by December 31, 2026. It amends the Election Code to grant these entities the authority to align their election schedules with the uniform statewide election cycle. The bill does not apply to counties or municipal utility districts, which already follow the November election date. This change takes effect immediately after receiving the required two-thirds legislative vote, as confirmed by the bill's passage and gubernatorial signing on June 20, 2025.