Sen. José Menéndez

Maddy summarySB 536 expands eligibility for Texas's Homes for Texas Heroes home loan program to include licensed nurses who are not advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). The bill amends the Government Code to define "nurse" as an individual licensed under Chapter 301 of the Occupations Code, explicitly excluding APRNs. This change allows eligible nurses - meeting income limits (115% of area median family income) and residency requirements - to access low-interest home loans alongside other public safety workers, educators, and veterans. The program provides mortgage assistance to qualifying professionals who intend to reside in the purchased home as their primary residence.

Maddy summarySB 2051 establishes detailed procedures for impeaching and removing Texas state officers, including the governor, lieutenant governor, and other state officials. It requires all testimony in impeachment proceedings to be given under oath in open sessions, mandates 48-hour notice of committee materials to all legislative members before votes, and prohibits legislators from voting if they are closely related (within third degree) to the officer being impeached. The bill also requires the House and Senate to track and report all costs of impeachment proceedings - including investigative and trial expenses - to specified state officials within 60 days of conclusion. Additionally, it clarifies that state officers can only be removed for acts committed while holding office, not for actions taken before assuming the position.

Maddy summarySJR 68 proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify Texas impeachment procedures. It specifies that suspended state officers retain regular pay during impeachment, allows the Governor to make temporary appointments for vacancies caused by suspension (except for the Governor's own position), and requires the Legislature to create laws governing impeachment trials and removal processes. The amendment also clarifies that Article IV's vacancy rules apply to suspended or removed Governors. If approved by voters in the November 2025 election, these changes would become part of the Texas Constitution.

Maddy summarySB 2853 requires Texas' Health and Human Services Commission to hire a language access coordinator by September 2025. The coordinator must assess barriers non-English speakers face when accessing state health/human services programs and 2-1-1 services provided by the Texas Information and Referral Network. Within one year, the coordinator must submit a written report detailing findings and recommendations to improve language access. The bill expires June 1, 2027, and does not create new services but mandates an evaluation of current gaps.

Maddy summarySB 605 modifies Texas Education Code provisions to streamline expansion for high-performing charter schools. It removes the commissioner’s approval requirement for new campuses if a charter holder meets specific criteria: having an "accredited" status, maintaining high performance ratings (top two categories) for 75% of campuses over three of the last five years, and having no campuses in the lowest rating category. The bill also prohibits commissioner approval of expansion requests if any campus is under commissioner action under Chapter 39A. These changes apply only to new campuses or expansion requests submitted on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a Senate Resolution (SR 416), not a bill with policy changes. It formally recognizes 19 interns who worked for Senator Judith Zaffirini's office during Texas' 89th Legislative Session (2025). The resolution commends them for their contributions to legislative research, constituent outreach, and administrative tasks, and expresses the Senate's appreciation for their dedication. It was adopted by the Texas Senate on April 22, 2025, and includes a copy of the resolution as a token of recognition. This is purely a ceremonial gesture with no legal effect or policy impact.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 434) passed by the Texas Senate to commemorate Goodwill Industries of San Antonio's 80th anniversary. It recognizes the organization's history since 1945, its role in workforce development for over 80 years, and its services to residents facing employment barriers like prior incarceration or lack of education. The resolution has no policy impact - it simply expresses the Senate's appreciation and provides Goodwill with an official copy of the resolution. It directly affects Goodwill San Antonio as the recipient of this commemorative gesture.

Maddy summarySB 2365 would require Texas public school districts and charter schools to adopt policies banning students from using personal wireless devices (like smartphones, tablets, or laptops not issued by the school) during class time. The bill allows exceptions for devices needed for individualized education programs (IEPs), documented medical needs, or health/safety requirements. School boards must implement these policies starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill directly affects all public school students in Texas during instructional periods, with limited exceptions for specific educational or safety needs.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution (SR 412) designates April 16, 2025, as "Whataburger Wednesday" at the Texas State Capitol. It honors Whataburger's history - starting in 1950 in Corpus Christi - and recognizes its economic impact as a Texas-based chain operating over 1,100 restaurants nationwide and employing 51,000 people. The resolution has no legal effect; it solely expresses symbolic appreciation for the company's participation in a Capitol event. The Senate adopted it on April 16, 2025, and will provide Whataburger with an official copy.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 402), not a legislative bill. It formally recognizes Deb Manley (a park volunteer) and Cathy Hoyt (a supervisory park ranger) for discovering a new plant species at Big Bend National Park in March 2024. The resolution commemorates their finding of what botanists nicknamed the "wooly devil" (scientific name: *Ovicula biradiata*), a small annual plant in the daisy family that forms a new genus. The resolution was adopted by the Texas Senate on April 15, 2025, to commend their contribution to documenting the park's biodiversity.