Sen. José Menéndez

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to conduct regular tap water tests for lead, copper, and arsenic at all Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities and county jails. It mandates that if unsafe levels of these contaminants are found, the affected facility must immediately stop using the contaminated water source until testing confirms it is safe. The TCEQ must establish testing frequency and safe contaminant levels in consultation with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and county commissioners courts, using standards consistent with federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting correctional facilities and county jails by requiring new water safety protocols.

Maddy summarySB 1915 requires Texas electric utilities to achieve a 1% annual energy savings goal by 2032, based on electricity usage in their service areas. The Public Utility Commission must establish this requirement through rules by December 31, 2025, including cost caps and exceptions for utilities unable to meet the goal cost-effectively. This applies directly to all electric utilities required to pay annual energy efficiency cost recovery fees. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, mandating utilities to reduce energy consumption through efficiency measures.

Maddy summarySB 1916 prohibits Texas electric utilities from counting energy savings from load management programs toward their state-mandated energy efficiency goals. Load management programs typically reduce peak electricity use through customer incentives (e.g., smart thermostats or demand-response programs). The bill directly affects all investor-owned electric utilities in Texas required to meet energy efficiency targets under the Utilities Code. It amends Section 39.905 to explicitly ban these savings from being used to fulfill efficiency obligations, effective September 1, 2025. This is a concrete policy change ensuring utilities must pursue other methods to achieve their efficiency targets.

Maddy summarySB 3027 allows Texas district and county attorneys to prosecute certain consumer protection violations previously handled solely by the Consumer Protection Division. It requires attorneys to notify the division before taking action (with a 90-day wait if the division is investigating) and obtain written approval from insurance regulators for cases involving insurers. Attorneys must file cases in the county where the business operates and pay 75% of penalties from specific violations (Section 17.46(b)(28)) to that county. The bill also mandates coordination between attorneys and the division, including sharing case updates and providing assistance upon request.

Maddy summarySB 752 requires public Texas colleges and universities to create emergency plans that specifically address the safety needs of students, staff, and guests with disabilities during crises. The bill mandates institutions to implement evacuation assistance devices in all multi-story campus buildings and develop plans accommodating different disabilities, including access to evacuation devices. It also directs the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish rules for these emergency plans, consulting disability advocacy groups during the process. These requirements apply to all public postsecondary institutions in Texas and aim to ensure equal access to safety during emergencies.

Maddy summarySB 349 requires Texas public school districts, the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Texas School for the Deaf, and open-enrollment charter schools to provide reasonable accommodations for middle and high school students who are lactating. The bill specifically mandates schools to support students in expressing breast milk, breastfeeding infants, or addressing other breastfeeding-related needs. These accommodations must be provided beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, unless the bill receives a two-thirds vote for immediate effect. The law applies directly to lactating students enrolled in secondary education settings across Texas public schools.

Maddy summarySB 1812 limits health insurance prior authorizations for prescription drugs treating neurodegenerative diseases (like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's) to one per year per patient. It directly affects patients with these conditions who rely on ongoing prescription drug coverage. The bill amends insurance code to prohibit insurers from requiring more than one annual prior authorization for such treatments. This applies only to health benefit plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 258 is a commemorative measure honoring the late U.S. Congressman Sylvester Turner of Houston, who died on March 5, 2025. The resolution recognizes his career as a Texas state legislator, mayor of Houston, and U.S. Congressman, highlighting his dedication to public service in Houston's Acres Homes neighborhood and his work on health care, education, and community resilience. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups, as it is a symbolic tribute to his legacy.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 1735 establishes a stipend program for real estate appraiser trainees and certified supervisory appraisers to increase the number of qualified professionals in the state. It requires appraisal management companies to verify that controlling persons hold valid licenses or complete specific training, and prohibits employment or contracting with individuals who had appraiser licenses revoked in any state. The bill also updates application requirements to include business email addresses and mandates background checks for controlling persons. Funding for the stipend program comes exclusively from existing grants and donations, not new state funds. These provisions directly affect appraiser trainees, certified appraisers, and appraisal management companies operating in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 1811 prohibits health insurers and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from using mathematical estimation ("extrapolation") to audit claims for participating physicians or providers. Instead, any payment adjustments must be based solely on actual reviewed claims, not estimates of unreviewed claims. The law applies only to contracts entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect Medicaid or child health programs. This change directly affects private insurers, HMOs, and healthcare providers who receive payments under their contracts.