Sen. José Menéndez

Maddy summarySB 26 establishes new requirements for Texas public school districts and charter schools regarding teacher evaluation, compensation, and support. It creates an "enhanced teacher incentive allotment" designation for schools implementing performance-based evaluation systems, requiring them to use appraisals to determine teacher designations, offer performance-linked pay (without automatic raises), and place effective teachers at high-need campuses. The bill also creates a grant program to help districts expand local teacher designation systems and provides free liability insurance and rights assistance for classroom teachers through a contracted third party. These provisions directly affect school districts, charter schools, principals, instructional staff, and all public school teachers in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 270 requires the Texas Public Utility Commission to study the costs and benefits of burying overhead power lines underground in four major metropolitan areas: Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. The study will examine potential costs (including impacts on utility rates), maintenance expenses, outage-related savings, and environmental and safety effects for electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, and municipal utilities in those regions. The commission must submit a final report with findings and recommendations to state leaders by December 31, 2026. This bill does not change current laws or require any immediate action; it solely mandates a cost-benefit analysis to inform future decisions. The study expires January 31, 2027, with a required implementation date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1006 requires Texas insurers to provide written explanations for declining insurance applications, canceling policies, or refusing to renew coverage. This applies to applicants and policyholders for liability and commercial property insurance, as well as other policies covered under the Texas Insurance Code. Insurers must send a clear written notice stating the specific reason for the decision, following rules set by the insurance commissioner. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and only applies to policies delivered or renewed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a binding law) expressing Texas's support for strengthening economic ties with Israel. It urges the creation of a Texas Trade and Investment Office in Jerusalem to foster business connections, particularly with countries in the Abraham Accords or peace agreements with Israel. The resolution reaffirms Texas's existing trade relationship with Israel - where Texas ranks among top U.S. states for exports - and directs officials to share the resolution with state, federal, and Israeli leaders. It does not create new programs or allocate funding, serving only as a formal statement of support.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas insurers to offer the same Medicare supplement benefit plans (Medigap) to people under 65 who qualify for Medicare due to disability or end-stage renal disease as they do to those 65 or older. It mandates equal premium rates, prohibits medical underwriting or health-based price discrimination, and creates special enrollment periods (including a 60-day annual window tied to birthdays). The law applies to plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after September 1, 2025. It directly affects disabled or ESRD patients under 65 enrolled in Medicare Part B who previously faced limited access to supplemental coverage.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate Resolution (SR 374) commemorating Clyde Vance Dunnam of Waco, Texas, who passed away on May 3, 2024, at age 94. The resolution honors his life, career as a trial attorney at Dunnam & Dunnam, LLP for seven decades, family, community service (including roles in the Scottish Rite and Waco Jaycees), and dedication to his wife, children, and grandchildren. It does not create any new laws or policies; it is a symbolic tribute passed by the Texas Senate to express sympathy to his family and memorialize his contributions. The resolution formally extends the Senate's condolences to his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family.

Maddy summarySB 2958 would reclassify certain military separations as honorable discharges under Texas state law for veterans who were discharged solely due to their sexual orientation. It directly affects individuals whose military discharge records (specifically DD Form 214) show separation codes like BLC, BRA, or GRC - codes tied to "don't ask, don't tell" era discharges. The bill establishes that if a veteran’s discharge was based on sexual orientation and would have otherwise qualified for a more favorable discharge rating, Texas will recognize them as honorably discharged veterans. This change would grant these veterans access to state benefits and privileges available to honorably discharged veterans under Texas law. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Maddy summarySB 3020 requires Texas state agencies to produce a biennial report on suicide prevalence and prevention efforts. The report must include disaggregated data by county and risk category, longitudinal trends since 2000, and specific information on suicide rates among military personnel, veterans, first responders, and youth. It also mandates listing all relevant state laws, agency initiatives, funding sources (federal grants or state appropriations), and program details. State agencies must provide this data to the commission, which will submit the final report to the governor and legislative committees every even-numbered year. This bill creates a reporting mechanism but does not change existing suicide prevention policies or funding.

Maddy summarySB 2849 requires county jails and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to provide depression screenings for pregnant women and women who have given birth in the past year while they are in custody. Screenings must occur once per trimester during pregnancy, within six weeks after birth, and at six and twelve months postpartum. The law directly affects all women meeting these criteria in state or county correctional facilities. This policy mandates regular mental health assessments to address depression during pregnancy and the critical postpartum period.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the Comptroller's role in collecting and administering fees from insurers under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 1006. It grants the Comptroller authority to adopt rules, set report deadlines, and manage fee collections, while requiring the transportation authority to reimburse the Comptroller for related expenses. The Comptroller must certify annual costs to the legislature, and the authority must transfer funds to cover these expenses. The bill directly affects the Comptroller's office, insurance companies paying fees, and the transportation authority responsible for funding.