Sen. José Menéndez

Maddy summaryHB 3940 requires Medicaid providers (including hospitals and health care facilities) to annually notify staff about using a mother's Medicaid ID for newborn care claims when the infant hasn't been enrolled. It also mandates that hospitals and providers give new mothers a resource pamphlet during prenatal care or delivery, covering postpartum counseling, shaken baby syndrome prevention, childhood immunization schedules, and newborn screening follow-up. The bill directly affects Medicaid-eligible mothers and newborns in Texas, aiming to simplify access to care during the early postpartum period. These requirements take effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 3070 abolishes the Texas Lottery Commission and transfers responsibility for administering the state lottery and regulating charitable bingo to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). This bill directly affects the TDLR, which will now oversee lottery operations and charitable bingo licensing previously managed by the Lottery Commission. Key provisions include amending state code to replace "Texas Lottery Commission" with "Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation" in all relevant sections and adding a limited-scope sunset review for the lottery program. The bill also creates criminal offenses related to lottery activities, though specific details of these offenses are not detailed in the provided text.

Maddy summaryHB 4623 creates new liability standards for Texas public schools and their employees regarding student sexual misconduct. It holds schools financially responsible if they act with gross negligence or intentional misconduct in hiring or supervising employees who commit sexual misconduct against students or fail to report suspected abuse. The law caps damages at $500,000 per victim in successful claims and requires the employee who committed the act to be named as a defendant. This directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and all professional school employees covered by the definition, including teachers, administrators, and even student interns. The law became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 1481 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt written policies prohibiting student use of personal communication devices (such as cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches) during the school day on school property or at school events. Exceptions allow device use for students with documented medical needs, individualized education plans (IEPs), or health/safety protocols. Schools may implement either a full device ban or a secure storage system for devices during school hours, and must return confiscated devices or dispose of them after providing parents 90 days' written notice. The law takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature.

Maddy summaryHB 367 requires Texas public school districts to create a standardized form for verifying excused absences due to students' severe or life-threatening illnesses. The form must be certified by a licensed physician and include specific details: the illness type, confirmation it is serious/life-threatening, the expected absence duration, and a statement that attendance is infeasible during that period. School districts cannot demand additional documentation beyond this form. The bill directly affects students with qualifying illnesses, their parents/guardians (who provide the form), and school districts (which must adopt the form). It standardizes the verification process without changing existing absence policies.

Maddy summaryHB 713 exempts healthcare providers (including nurses) from certain mandatory reporting requirements when they review cases for the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee. The bill adds Section 34.0085 to the Health and Safety Code, stating that providers do not need to report profession-related conduct they learn about during these committee case reviews. This applies only to information gathered specifically for the committee's review process, not to other situations. The law took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 546 requires school buses transporting children to be equipped with three-point seat belts for all passengers, including the driver. School districts may request an exception if they determine it is not feasible due to budget constraints (after a public vote), or if using buses purchased before 2017 or newer buses where budget limitations prevent compliance. The bill also allows school districts to accept gifts, grants, or donations to cover the costs of implementing these seat belt requirements. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting school districts and bus operators in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 3376 requires guardians appointed for individuals aged 60 or older (or those with dementia-related conditions) to complete specific training. Guardians must finish a free, online course within six months of appointment and annually, covering Alzheimer's/dementia symptoms, communication strategies, aging aspects, and resources for supporting a person's rights. The training must address warning signs, effective communication, and available support services. This law amends Texas Government Code Sections 155.203 and 155.204 to mandate these requirements for guardians handling cases involving dementia or related disorders.

Maddy summarySB 2786 exempts certain public safety students from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) assessment requirement. It specifically applies to students working as emergency medical technicians (EMTs) employed by local governments, firefighters defined under state law, or peace officers (like police) serving in government roles. The bill amends the Education Code to add these three categories to the existing list of exemptions, waiving the TSI assessment for them. This change directly affects students pursuing or working in these public service careers while enrolled in college. The law takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, or September 1, 2025, otherwise.

Maddy summarySB 1563 requires Texas county jailers to complete mandatory training on interacting with veterans in the criminal justice system. The bill mandates the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, in collaboration with the Texas Veterans Commission, to develop this training program. It adds this requirement to existing jailer training standards, making it part of the eight-hour mental health training program needed for appointment or renewal. All current county jailers must complete this training by August 31, 2027, and the law took effect September 1, 2025.