Sen. César Blanco

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program allowing certain Texas municipalities to offer bill payment assistance to utility customers facing disconnection due to nonpayment. The program specifically targets low-income customers who have had their service disconnected three or more times in a year, as well as customers aged 75 or older who receive disconnection notices. Only the municipality's board of trustees has the authority to establish and manage this assistance program, and it applies only to municipalities meeting specific criteria defined in the state Government Code. The legislation would take effect immediately if approved by a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, otherwise it would begin on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution formally recognizes February 2025 as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month in Texas. It aligns with a nationally observed month that began in 2006 and expanded to cover the entire February starting in 2010, referencing existing efforts to address teen dating violence. The resolution urges Texans to learn about this issue but does not create new laws, programs, or allocate funding.

Maddy summarySB 645 amends Texas education law to explicitly include antisemitism within the state's definition of bullying for school discipline policies. It defines antisemitism as conduct based on hatred toward Jews, including acts targeting Jewish individuals, property, or community institutions, and references the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 working definition. This policy change requires Texas public schools to address antisemitic bullying under existing discipline frameworks, applying to all students affected by such conduct. The bill takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year if passed.

Maddy summarySB 225 creates an "express lane" system to streamline enrollment in Texas Medicaid and the child health plan program. It allows the state to automatically use eligibility data from existing public assistance programs (like SNAP, TANF, or school lunch programs) verified by designated "express lane agencies" to determine eligibility for Medicaid or child health coverage. Children determined eligible under this system must be automatically enrolled, removing manual review steps for those who qualify. The bill directly affects low-income children under 19 seeking health coverage and simplifies the process for families already participating in other state assistance programs.

Maddy summarySB 45 would require Texas to expand Medicaid eligibility under the federal Affordable Care Act, providing coverage to all Texans who apply and qualify for federal matching funds. It directly affects low-income adults who currently lack Medicaid access but meet federal ACA criteria. Key provisions include mandating the state to provide this coverage, requiring annual reports on coverage rates and cost impacts (including hospital charity care), and setting an effective date of January 1, 2026 - conditional on voter approval of a related constitutional amendment. The bill does not create new funding but implements existing federal Medicaid expansion rules.

Maddy summarySB 497 allows vehicles to use normally restricted dyed motor fuel on public highways during declared disasters (such as floods or hurricanes) for 30 days after the declaration ends, provided the fuel was purchased with proper documentation. It creates a new permit system for oversized or overweight vehicles transporting agricultural commodities (including crops, livestock, woodchips, and processed farm products) during disasters. The bill modifies transportation codes to permit these vehicles to operate under special conditions on roads with weight restrictions, specifically for delivering agricultural goods to disaster-affected areas. This directly affects farmers, agricultural transporters, and emergency response operations during declared state disasters.

Maddy summarySB 161 requires lobbyists in Texas to submit proof of completing two specific trainings when registering: sexual harassment prevention training and ethics training, both completed within the previous two years. This applies directly to individuals registering as lobbyists under Texas law. The bill adds new requirements to the registration form (Section 305.005(f)) and creates new sections mandating these trainings every two years (Sections 305.0052 and 305.0053). The Texas Ethics Commission must adopt implementing rules by December 1, 2025, and the new requirements take effect for registrations filed on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 190 repeals Texas statutes that previously criminalized homosexual conduct and labeled it as "unacceptable" or "a criminal offense." It directly affects LGBTQ+ individuals by removing these discriminatory legal provisions and eliminating false, harmful statements from school health education materials. The bill amends health education codes to remove language claiming homosexuality is "not an acceptable lifestyle" or a criminal act under Penal Code Section 21.06. These changes ensure educational content aligns with current public health standards and removes outdated, stigmatizing language. The bill takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, or September 1, 2025, if not.

Maddy summarySB 145 would allow any qualified Texas voter to request a ballot by mail without restrictions. It removes a prior requirement that voters in the address confidentiality program (for safety reasons) must submit mail-in voting applications in person. The bill also repeals criminal penalties for soliciting or distributing mail-in voting application forms. These changes make mail-in voting more accessible and simplify the process for voters. The bill is currently in committee referral after being filed in early 2025.

Maddy summarySB 147 requires Texas counties to establish polling places on the main campuses of public institutions of higher education within their borders if those institutions enroll at least 5,000 students. Specifically, counties must designate one polling place for campuses with 5,000-9,999 students, two places for 10,000-19,999 students, and one additional place for every 10,000 students beyond 10,000. The bill applies to all public colleges and universities meeting these enrollment thresholds located in the county. It takes effect September 1, 2025.