Sen. Kevin Sparks

Maddy summarySB 390 would amend Texas law to include veteran-owned small businesses certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration as "historically underutilized businesses" (HUBs) for state contracting purposes. This change would allow veteran-owned businesses meeting SBA certification standards to qualify for state contracting programs designed to support underutilized businesses. Currently, HUB status requires ownership by economically disadvantaged persons, but this bill expands eligibility to include certified veteran-owned businesses. The bill would take effect September 1, 2025, if enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2626 requires physicians and nurses in Texas who treat pregnant women to complete annual continuing education on specific pregnancy-related conditions. The law mandates at least one hour of approved training every eight years covering ectopic pregnancies (defined as implantation outside the uterus or in nonviable locations), pregnancy-related medical emergencies, and cases involving a dead unborn child from spontaneous abortion. The training must include standards of care, emergency response protocols, definitions of "abortion" and "medical emergency" per existing law, and communication strategies for patient discussions. This applies to licensed physicians renewing registration permits and nurses under board-approved competency programs, directly affecting healthcare providers treating pregnant patients in Texas.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (SR 461) passed by the Texas Senate to honor Charles Floyd "Chuck" Cosper of Hereford, who died on April 7, 2024, at age 85. The resolution recognizes his 30-year career as a game warden, his work as a pilot, his community service (including roles with Hereford Kids Inc. and the Hereford Booster Club), and his 66-year marriage to Sue Cosper. It extends the Senate's sympathy to his wife, four children, 7 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and other relatives. As a procedural resolution, it does not create any new laws or policies.

Maddy summarySB 240, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, requires public schools, government buildings, and facilities like restrooms, locker rooms, and shelters to designate and restrict access based on biological sex as defined by birth certificate and physical characteristics. It prohibits facilities from allowing individuals to use spaces designated for a biological sex different from their own, with exceptions for young children (under 10), ADA accommodations, or emergency assistance. Violations carry civil penalties of $5,000 for first offenses and $25,000 for repeat violations, and citizens can file complaints with the attorney general after providing 3 days’ notice to the facility. The law directly affects state and local government entities managing public facilities, including schools, shelters, and correctional facilities.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 1742 mandates that public school students in grades 6 and 10 receive instruction on the "Success Sequence" - defined as earning a high school degree with additional training, securing full-time employment, and marrying before having children - beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill requires the State Board of Education to develop a curriculum based on specific academic studies cited in the legislation, including works from The Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute. This instruction must be integrated into existing courses like health or personal finance, not as a new standalone class. The policy directly affects all public school students in Texas during these grade levels, with implementation required by school districts and charter schools.

Maddy summarySB 623 gives pharmacists exclusive authority to decide whether to administer any vaccine (including COVID-19 vaccines) or dispense medications, without needing approval from a physician or other healthcare provider. This directly affects pharmacists, who gain sole decision-making power over vaccine administration, and patients seeking vaccines, who may be denied care based on a pharmacist's judgment. The bill amends Texas Occupations Code to explicitly state that pharmacists’ decisions on vaccine administration cannot be overridden by other laws. It does not change vaccine safety standards or requirements but shifts administrative control to pharmacists. The bill is pending in committee and would take effect September 1, 2025, if not approved for immediate enactment.

Maddy summarySB 14, titled the Regulatory Reform and Efficiency Act, creates the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office within the governor's office to streamline how state agencies develop and review regulations. The office will help agencies identify unnecessary rules, reduce costs for businesses and individuals, and establish a public online portal for searching regulatory information. This bill directly affects state agencies that create regulations and the public who interact with those regulations. The new office will operate until 2037 unless extended under the Sunset Act, with its work focused on improving regulatory efficiency and transparency.

Maddy summarySB 95 requires health care providers to obtain written informed consent from parents or guardians before administering vaccines to children. It prohibits providers from accepting bonuses, kickbacks, or other payments from vaccine manufacturers, as these create conflicts of interest that may undermine proper consent counseling. If consent is not obtained and a child experiences a serious side effect requiring federal reporting, providers can be sued for up to $10,000 in damages plus legal costs. The bill directly affects pediatric healthcare providers in Texas who administer vaccines.

Maddy summarySB 1871 requires each public school campus to designate a behavior coordinator responsible for discipline management and ensuring access to telehealth mental health services. It creates legal immunity for school staff who report safety concerns or remove students from class under specific safety protocols. The bill also clarifies that school districts cannot exempt themselves from core education requirements like curriculum standards or accountability measures. These changes directly affect school staff, students, and campus administrators in Texas public schools. The bill aims to standardize discipline procedures while improving mental health service access without altering existing accountability frameworks.

Maddy summarySB 620 requires Texas courts to apply an "active efforts" standard before removing children from parents under certain circumstances when the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has managing conservatorship. Specifically, it mandates that DFPS must make meaningful, individualized efforts to keep families together - including addressing parental substance use or other issues - before seeking termination of parental rights, particularly for children "born addicted" (defined as infants exposed to illegal substances or alcohol prenatally). This change directly affects parents in DFPS cases involving substance use during pregnancy and modifies the grounds for parental termination under Texas Family Code §161.001(b). The bill does not alter existing termination grounds but adds a procedural requirement for DFPS to demonstrate active efforts before seeking removal.