Sen. Kevin Sparks

Maddy summarySB 1805 modifies Texas early voting procedures for counties with populations of 10,000 or more (down from 55,000). It requires the main early voting location to operate for at least 12 consecutive hours on each weekday during the final week of early voting, plus 12 hours on the last Saturday (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and six hours on the last Sunday (9 a.m. to 10 p.m.). These extended hours apply to primary and general elections for state and county offices. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, affecting voters in most Texas counties during their final early voting days.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 258 is a commemorative measure honoring the late U.S. Congressman Sylvester Turner of Houston, who died on March 5, 2025. The resolution recognizes his career as a Texas state legislator, mayor of Houston, and U.S. Congressman, highlighting his dedication to public service in Houston's Acres Homes neighborhood and his work on health care, education, and community resilience. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups, as it is a symbolic tribute to his legacy.

Maddy summarySB 1834 adopts the revised Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children into Texas law, updating the Family Code to align with the national standard. This bill directly affects Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services (as the "public child placing agency") and the Health and Human Services Commission, requiring them to follow standardized procedures for interstate child placements. Key provisions include establishing uniform processes for placing children safely across state lines, ensuring ongoing supervision and service coordination between states, and facilitating data sharing. The compact aims to streamline placements while maintaining each state's legal responsibility for children's care, without creating new obligations for Texas.

Maddy summarySB 1223 prohibits Texas state agencies from collecting biometric information (such as fingerprints) from applicants seeking occupational licenses, unless another law specifically authorizes such collection. This bill directly affects individuals applying for professional licenses (e.g., cosmetology, contracting, healthcare) by preventing agencies from requiring biometric data as part of the application process. The law adds a new section to the Occupations Code, explicitly banning this collection practice while allowing exceptions where other statutes permit it. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 1696 requires that birth certificates issued in Texas include a person's biological sex - determined by sex organs, chromosomes, or endogenous profile - listed as either male or female. It directly affects all newborns in Texas and parents/guardians who file birth certificates, mandating that biological sex be recorded unless a physician determines a child has atypical or ambiguous sex characteristics at birth. The bill allows for later amendments to birth certificates once a child's sex is determined, but prohibits changing the recorded sex except for correcting clerical errors or completing initial omissions. This legislation specifically targets birth certificate documentation under Texas Health and Safety Code sections 192.002, 192.003, and 192.011.

Maddy summarySB 1692 limits wind and solar energy capacity in Texas' ERCOT power grid. It requires the Texas utility commission to review, by January 2029, whether wind/solar facilities (with grid agreements signed before September 1, 2025) contribute more than 35% of available generation capacity. If the threshold is exceeded, the commission must establish a program to disconnect qualifying pre-2025 facilities to reduce their share to 35% or less. New wind/solar projects can still connect after 2025 if they comply with the bill's requirements. The bill applies only to facilities exclusively using wind or solar power.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Texas government entities from using public funds to pay for or facilitate abortion-related services. It bans taxpayer money for childcare, travel, lodging, food, or counseling specifically intended to help people obtain abortions, including payments to "abortion assistance entities" that provide financial aid, travel coordination, or logistical support. The law applies to all government transactions and spending, targeting both direct payments to abortion providers and indirect support like transportation or childcare. It does not restrict abortion access itself but limits how public funds can be used to support such services.

Maddy summaryThis bill would impose a tax on electricity generated from sources other than natural gas or coal. The tax applies to electric generators, including utilities, cooperatives, and power companies, based on the number of kilowatt hours they produce. The tax rate is calculated annually by the comptroller using natural gas revenue and usage data. All revenue collected would fund teacher pay raises, as specified in the bill's title.

Maddy summarySJR 66 proposes a constitutional amendment to dedicate specific tax revenues to Texas' water fund. It would require the state comptroller to deposit excess sales tax revenue (above $46.5 billion annually, capped at $500 million) and the first $500 million of insurance premium tax revenue into the Texas Water Fund each year. The amendment mandates that 25% of initial fund allocations and 80% of pre-2043 deposits go exclusively to the "New Water Supply for Texas Fund," which supports water infrastructure projects. This proposal expires August 31, 2043, and requires voter approval in the November 2025 election. It directly affects how Texas allocates tax revenue for water infrastructure planning and development.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution designates the "Texas strip steak" as the official State Steak of Texas, recognizing the state's prominence in beef production and culinary heritage. It directs the Texas Department of Agriculture to promote the Texas strip steak as part of efforts supporting Texas beef and agricultural products. The resolution primarily affects Texas residents, restaurants, chefs, and the state's agricultural industry by symbolically honoring Texas-raised beef. It does not change the cut's name in commerce but encourages adoption of the term to reflect Texas' role in the beef industry. (Note: This is a ceremonial resolution, not a binding law.)