Sen. José Menéndez

Maddy summarySB 1736 allows motor vehicle dealers or their agents to charge a convenience fee for processing electronic payments (like credit/debit cards) for vehicle-related transactions. The fee must be reasonable, capped at $10 or 5% of the payment amount, and dealers must offer free payment alternatives (such as cash or check) without any fee. Before a customer agrees to use electronic payment, dealers must clearly disclose the fee amount and confirm they can choose a non-electronic option. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific bridge on Loop 1604 over Military Drive West in Bexar County as the "Lieutenant Colonel Albert E. Smart Jr. Memorial Bridge." It requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the bridge displaying the new name and relevant information. The bill has no policy impact beyond this commemorative naming and marker placement, and it takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1683 requires public school educators in Texas to complete specific staff development training. The bill mandates training in technology/digital learning, evidence-based strategies for supporting students with disabilities (including autism and comorbid conditions), suicide prevention, positive student relationship-building, and bullying prevention. Crucially, it specifies that training for educators not primarily working in special education must include these topics. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1674 increases Texas' minimum required motor vehicle liability insurance coverage for bodily injury/death and property damage. Effective January 1, 2026, it raises the minimums to $50,000 per person ($100,000 for multiple people) for bodily injury/death and $40,000 for property damage. This applies only to new or renewed insurance policies delivered on or after that date, while existing policies remain under current limits. The bill directly affects all Texas drivers required to carry liability insurance under state law. It takes effect September 1, 2025, with the coverage changes beginning in 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1684 regulates "limited service pregnancy resource centers" (organizations providing pregnancy counseling but not abortions or birth control referrals). It requires these centers to disclose in writing whether they are licensed facilities or have on-site licensed practitioners, and to include specific disclaimers in all advertising and at their entrances stating they do not provide abortions, birth control, or referrals for those services. The bill prohibits deceptive advertising that implies they offer pregnancy-related health care services and creates criminal penalties for violations, along with civil penalties for non-compliance. This directly affects pregnancy resource centers operating in Texas that do not provide abortion or birth control services.

Maddy summarySB 1685 establishes minimum health and safety standards for pregnancy resource centers in Texas, which are organizations providing pregnancy counseling or information without offering abortions, birth control referrals, or medical care. The bill requires these centers to have at least one licensed obstetrician or gynecologist present during patient services and aligns their standards with existing health care facility requirements, including those for ambulatory surgical centers. The Health and Human Services Commission must adopt implementing rules by January 1, 2026, and centers violating these standards face disciplinary action under existing licensing laws. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting all pregnancy resource centers operating in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 1688 requires health insurance plans covering FDA-approved contraceptive devices to include coverage for evidence-based anxiety and pain management during insertion or removal. This includes prescription antianxiety medication, sedation, local anesthesia, topical anesthetics, and nerve blocks, with no cost-sharing (like deductibles or coinsurance) allowed for these services. The law applies only to plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, and affects insurers offering contraceptive coverage. It directly impacts individuals using prescription contraceptives and the health benefit plans providing their coverage.

Maddy summarySB 1690 requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to track and report on drugs used for executions. Specifically, it mandates TDCJ to maintain a record for each death penalty drug including its name, receipt date, expiration date, and any use date in an execution. For drugs with extended expiration dates, the record must also include the original expiration, testing results, and new expiration date. TDCJ must submit an annual report containing this information to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, and relevant legislative committees by December 1 each year. This bill focuses on transparency in tracking lethal injection drugs, directly affecting TDCJ operations and legislative oversight.

Maddy summarySB 1680 requires the Texas Capitol to provide adult changing stations in public restrooms, including a private space and adjustable-height table at each station. It mandates clear signage indicating station locations and directs the State Preservation Board to establish these facilities by September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects Capitol visitors, particularly those with disabilities or caregivers needing accessible changing facilities. This is a procedural requirement for physical infrastructure changes within state government buildings, not a policy affecting broader public programs.

Maddy summarySB 1687 designates a specific bridge on State Highway 151 over Potranco Road in Bexar County as the "Mr. Samuel E. Luna Jr. Memorial Bridge." The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the bridge bearing this name. This is a commemorative resolution with no substantive policy changes, solely honoring Mr. Samuel E. Luna Jr. by renaming the existing bridge structure.