Sen. Charles Perry

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 353) recognizing Poka Lambro Telephone Cooperative's 75th anniversary in 2025. It commemorates the rural West Texas telecommunications cooperative, which has provided phone and internet service across 4,200 square miles since 1950 and supports local agriculture, petroleum businesses, and community initiatives. The resolution expresses the Texas Senate's appreciation for the company's long-term service and community impact but contains no new laws or binding requirements. It has no legal effect on the company or its operations.

Maddy summarySB 287 prohibits the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises of businesses that provide live nude entertainment to groups of two or more people (defined as "sexually oriented businesses"). This law directly affects owners and operators of such venues, including certain clubs, bars, or restaurants featuring live nude performances. Violating this rule is a criminal offense: a first offense is a Class A misdemeanor, escalating to a state jail felony for repeat violations. The bill creates clear penalties for allowing alcohol use or possession at these specific establishments, without impacting other businesses or general alcohol consumption laws.

Maddy summarySB 508 amends Texas election law to increase penalties for failure to properly handle precinct election records. It upgrades the offense under Section 65.014(e) from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor for officials who don't deliver required records on time. The bill also clarifies procedures for when records are delayed, allowing a district judge to order their "impoundment" (legal seizure) and supervise completion of the count. This directly affects election officials and precinct workers responsible for processing vote counts, with changes taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2388 establishes Chapter 527 of the Texas Government Code, creating a "Managed Care Client Choice Program" for Medicaid and child health plan programs. It defines key terms like "managed care contract," "contracted managed care organization," and "health care service region" to standardize procurement processes. The bill applies specifically to Texas Medicaid programs (including STAR Medicaid, STAR+PLUS, and STAR Kids) and the child health plan program, outlining requirements for how the Health and Human Services Commission procures and manages these contracts. This legislation focuses on administrative clarity for existing managed care programs without altering service delivery or funding.

Maddy summarySB 2356 requires hospitals to establish nurse staffing committees and report staffing data to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. It bans hospitals from retaliating against nurses who report staffing violations or provide information to committees. The bill creates enforcement mechanisms, allowing the Commission to investigate complaints, issue corrective plans, and impose administrative penalties for false reporting or violations of staffing rules. This directly affects hospitals (through new reporting and committee requirements) and nurses (through protection when reporting issues).

Maddy summarySB 2358 establishes a state loan program to help specific health care facilities purchase and implement electronic health record (EHR) systems. It directly affects licensed facilities including nursing homes, assisted living centers, and mental health hospitals (excluding abortion providers and diagnostic centers). The program offers loans at 1% interest for up to 10 years, covering up to 80% of EHR costs for facilities in rural/underserved areas or serving Medicaid patients, and 50% for others. Loans must be used solely for EHR systems to improve patient record sharing between facilities.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (SR 297) passed by the Texas Senate on March 24, 2025, to honor William Patrick Tynan of Lubbock. The resolution expresses the Senate's tribute to Mr. Tynan's life, service, and contributions to his community, including his military career, work with veterans, and roles in local organizations, while extending condolences to his family. It does not create new laws or policies, but formally recognizes his legacy through Senate resolution.

Maddy summarySB 2144 clarifies the authority of reserve peace officers working under sheriffs and constables. It gives sheriffs and constables the discretion to allow reserve deputies to carry weapons or act as peace officers at all times (not just during active duty) or to limit that authority to only when they're working. The bill requires reserve officers to hold proper licenses for activities requiring them under Texas law, prohibits using police vehicles for private gain outside their county, and restricts police escorts to county-based routes. This directly affects reserve deputies for sheriffs (under Section 85.004) and reserve deputy constables (under Section 86.012). The bill focuses on defining operational boundaries for these unpaid or part-time officers.

Maddy summarySB 507 requires county election authorities to provide each precinct with ballots equal to 125% of the previous election's turnout in that precinct (capped at registered voters unless using countywide polling). It creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for intentionally failing to provide the required ballots or to supplement ballots upon polling place requests. The bill applies to election supply procurement and directly affects county election officials and polling places. Penalties increase for certain election code violations, with new misdemeanor charges for supply failures. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2142 creates a dedicated "consumable hemp products account" in Texas' general revenue fund to manage fees and penalties related to hemp products. It requires hemp manufacturers to pay a $10,000 initial license fee and $10,000 annual renewal fee per location, while retailers selling consumable hemp products (like CBD edibles) must pay a $20,000 annual registration fee per location. The account will also collect penalties for regulatory violations and accept other funds like grants, but all money must be used solely by the state department to enforce hemp product regulations. This bill directly affects businesses manufacturing or selling consumable hemp products in Texas.