Sen. José Menéndez

Maddy summarySB 768 directs the University of Houston to lead a study on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) and their health impacts. The study will examine PFAS in food packaging, drinking water sources, and workplace materials used by firefighters and chemical workers. It requires a report to the Texas legislature by December 1, 2026, detailing findings on public health effects. This bill is procedural - it mandates research but does not change regulations or impose new requirements. The study expires December 31, 2026, with no direct impact on specific groups beyond informing future public health decisions.

Maddy summarySB 802 sets standards for educational materials provided through Texas' Thriving Texas Families Program. It requires all materials - including curricula, lesson plans, and promotional items - to include only medically accurate, scientifically supported information presented factually without coercion. The bill also prohibits materials from promoting any religious beliefs, teachings, or practices. These requirements apply directly to the program's content creators and distributors.

Maddy summarySB 737 expands the duties of Texas' Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee to specifically study pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal complications linked to miscarriage, threatened miscarriage, or lack of access to abortion. It requires health departments to collect and share aggregated data on these cases, including deaths related to abortion access barriers. The bill explicitly allows health records related to miscarriage or abortion access issues to be collected and shared for review purposes, while prohibiting the collection of routine abortion records under this law. This affects the committee, health departments, and medical providers who handle maternal health data.

Maddy summarySB 738 redirects unclaimed Texas lottery prize money (after 180 days) to fund child-care services. It amends state law to allocate up to $5 million annually from unclaimed prizes to the Texas Workforce Commission's child-care program, after prioritizing funds for health services, border hospitals, and veterans' assistance. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to unclaimed prizes selected on or after that date. The bill creates a dedicated funding stream for child-care services without altering lottery revenue generation.

Maddy summarySB 770 proposes a program to reimburse certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients for food delivery fees. It would apply to SNAP recipients who are 65 years or older or have a disability (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act). The program would allow eligible recipients to submit applications online, by mail, or in person to get reimbursed for delivery fees paid when purchasing eligible food items through SNAP. The bill includes limits on total annual reimbursement amounts and the number of purchases eligible for reimbursement, while prohibiting reimbursement for non-eligible food items. The program would be implemented by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission using state funds, with an effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 736 requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to use compost in specific projects. It mandates that TXDOT use at least 25% compost for soil in landscaping projects, and use compost "when feasible" in capital construction and road maintenance projects. The bill defines compost as a stabilized decomposition product used as a soil amendment. This requirement applies only to contracts where TXDOT first solicits bids on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 734 expands Texas' medical cannabis program to allow licensed organizations to provide full medical cannabis (not just low-THC) for patients with qualifying medical conditions. It establishes licensing requirements for medical cannabis organizations, sets a three-month supply limit for patients (obtained only from licensed providers), and creates legal protections. Key provisions include shielding patients and providers from arrest, denial of rights (like child custody), or property seizure for authorized medical use, and preventing presumptions of child abuse based on medical cannabis use. The bill directly affects patients with qualifying conditions, their caregivers, and licensed cannabis organizations operating under the new framework.

Maddy summarySB 733 establishes a medical cannabis research program in Texas, authorizing the state to issue licenses for research into medical cannabis safety and efficacy. The bill creates an 11-member advisory board (including physicians, a pharmacist, patient representatives, and legal experts) to evaluate research proposals, study cannabis-related laws, and submit annual reports to the legislature. Research licenses permit limited activities like conducting scientific studies and developing medical guidelines, but do not allow patient access to medical cannabis. The program is strictly for research purposes, with fees authorized to support administration. It does not change Texas’s current prohibition on medical cannabis use for patients.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill) passed by the Texas Senate. It formally recognizes February 4, 2025, as "UTSA and UT Health San Antonio Day" at the State Capitol. The resolution commemorates the planned visit of representatives from The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) to the Capitol. It acknowledges their upcoming merger, which will create Texas' third-largest public research university with over 40,000 students and significant economic impact. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes - it is purely symbolic recognition.

Maddy summarySB 162 (Texas Senate Bill 162) amends the Family Code to allow relatives or designated caregivers of foster children to choose foster care payments instead of other benefits provided under the current system. Specifically, it removes a previous requirement about operating under Chapter 42 and lets verified caregivers elect foster care payments beginning in the first month they become licensed or verified by a child-placing agency. This change directly affects relatives or designated caregivers who are approved to care for foster children. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025.