Sen. José Menéndez

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 522) formally recognizes the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Latina Leadership Institute (LLI), which trains Hispanic women for political leadership. It commends the program for developing future leaders through a six-month curriculum that prepares participants for elected or appointed roles. The Senate resolution, adopted by the Texas Senate in 2025, expresses "high regard" by formally extending commendation to the LLI and providing the chamber with an official copy. It does not create new laws or affect policy, as it is a ceremonial acknowledgment of the program's work.

Maddy summarySB 1536 requires guardians appointed for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer's disease to complete specific training. Before appointment, proposed guardians must finish a free online course covering guardianship responsibilities and dementia basics. After appointment, guardians must complete an annual one-hour training on communication strategies, warning signs, and supporting individuals with dementia. The training must be provided free by the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct and confirmed to the court before hearings. This applies directly to court-appointed guardians managing care for people with dementia-related conditions.

Maddy summarySB 155 increases penalties for dog attacks causing injury or death when the attack occurs off the owner's property (not on their land, vehicle, or boat). It classifies offenses as a Class B misdemeanor for bodily injury, a third-degree felony for serious injury, or a second-degree felony for death. The bill also creates a new process for municipalities with over 70% of a large county's population to formally determine a dog is "dangerous" after an incident, requiring animal control to investigate and notify owners. This law directly affects dog owners in qualifying municipalities and applies to incidents occurring on or after its September 1, 2025 effective date.

Maddy summarySB 608 requires Texas law enforcement agencies and response teams to submit annual and biennial reports tracking evidence collection kits used in sexual assault cases. The bill mandates that the Department of Public Safety report annually (by December 1) on kits not yet analyzed or not taken possession of within required timeframes, with the report titled "Statewide Electronic Tracking System Report" and posted online. Response teams must also provide biennial reports (by December 1 of odd-numbered years) to county commissioners courts, including either detailed statistics on sexual assault cases and kit handling or an explanation for missing data. These requirements directly affect law enforcement agencies, the Department of Public Safety, and local sexual assault response teams, aiming to improve transparency in evidence management. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2310 requires Texas public colleges and universities to clearly display certificate and degree program requirements online. It mandates institutions to make all program details - including course prerequisites, non-course requirements, and transfer criteria - uniformly accessible on their student websites, general websites, and department websites. The bill affects all public higher education institutions in Texas, directly benefiting students by providing transparent, consistent information about program demands. Institutions must comply by the 2026-2027 academic year, following rules adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1697 requires the Texas Public Utility Commission to create and maintain a plain-language guide for homeowners considering solar energy installations. The guide must cover key topics like utility services (net metering, rebates), roof suitability factors (orientation, shade), financial details (tax credits, maintenance costs), and contact information for the Commission. It directly affects homeowners researching solar options and electric utilities, which must link to the guide on their websites and include it with customer bills starting September 2025. The bill mandates the guide be updated periodically and published online, providing standardized information to help consumers make informed decisions about home solar systems.

Maddy summarySB 2959 designates August as "Firearm Safety Awareness Month" in Texas, aiming to increase public awareness about responsible firearm ownership, storage, and use for recreational and defensive purposes. The bill encourages communities to hold voluntary activities and programs, such as animated videos, activity books, and instructional materials for all ages, to promote safe firearm practices. It does not mandate specific actions but supports collaborative, community-driven safety education. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1679 establishes the "Building Better Futures Program" to provide educational and occupational skills training with support services for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities at Texas public and private colleges. Eligible institutions must have U.S. Department of Education approval for transition programs and follow specific admissions criteria to participate, while students must be Texas residents with a diagnosed disability. The program exempts participating courses from certain existing education code requirements (Sections 61.0512 and 61.822) and requires institutions to award certificates upon program completion. This directly supports students with disabilities in accessing inclusive higher education opportunities at participating institutions.

Maddy summarySB 1525 would limit insurance companies in Texas from requiring more than one annual prior authorization for prescription drugs treating neurodegenerative diseases (like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's), autoimmune diseases, hemophilia, or Von Willebrand disease. It specifically allows insurers to require a prior authorization for a *new* prescription drug for a neurodegenerative disease, but not for ongoing treatment. The law would apply only to health plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. This bill directly affects patients with these conditions who rely on prescription medications for treatment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Texas public universities to disregard undergraduate applicants' academic records older than 10 years when evaluating admission, but requires them to retain the most recent 5 years of grades and credits. Colleges must publicly post their specific policies on this practice and cannot selectively ignore only parts of the 10-year window - they must disregard all records from that period if they choose to apply the policy. The law applies to admissions for the 2025 fall semester and affects how institutions count credits toward degree requirements for students using this "academic fresh start" option. It also ties state funding for relevant credits to this policy starting in 2025.