Sen. Charles Schwertner

Maddy summaryHB 5616 establishes the Texas Presidential Library Promotion Program to support three specific presidential libraries: the LBJ Library, George H.W. Bush Library, and George W. Bush Library. The program provides funding for exhibit renovations, promotes tourism through marketing, and develops a mobile exhibit featuring historical artifacts and educational materials about these presidents. Funding comes from gifts, grants, and legislative appropriations deposited into a dedicated account managed by the Texas Historical Commission. The law aims to enhance these libraries' roles as historical resources that attract visitors and contribute to Texas' cultural and economic landscape.

Maddy summarySB 37 requires Texas public universities to review their general education curriculum and graduation requirements every five years. It mandates that these reviews ensure courses are foundational for education, prepare students for civic/professional life, and avoid teaching specific concepts like "identity politics" or theories claiming systemic racism is inherent in U.S. institutions. The bill also requires governing boards to consider student costs, including additional tuition and time to complete degrees. This law directly affects all 15 public universities in Texas and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3812 modifies Texas insurance rules for health care preauthorization. It allows physicians and providers to bypass preauthorization requirements for specific services if, over a six-month period, their requests for that service were approved at least 90% of the time and they provided it at least five times. Insurance companies must automatically exempt qualifying providers from preauthorization for those services. The law applies directly to health insurers and health maintenance organizations, reducing administrative burdens for providers who consistently demonstrate medical necessity for certain treatments.

Maddy summaryHB 1584 requires Texas electric utilities to create and maintain a list of "priority facilities," including hospitals, police/fire stations, critical water/wastewater facilities, and certain correctional facilities. Utilities must provide an online tool for facilities to request inclusion (only if they qualify) and confirm within 14 days whether a facility is on the list. During declared emergencies, utilities must share this confidential list with Texas emergency management, and the list cannot be disclosed under public records laws. The law took effect September 1, 2025, directly impacting utilities and the named facilities.

Maddy summarySB 20 creates a new criminal offense for possessing, accessing with intent to view, or promoting obscene visual material that appears to depict a child under 18, including AI-generated images, animations, or digital representations. The law applies to any material seeming to show a child in sexual activity (per Section 43.21(a)(1)(B)), regardless of whether the depiction is real or computer-created. A first offense is classified as a state jail felony, with repeat offenses potentially increasing penalties to third-degree (for one prior conviction) or second-degree (for two or more prior convictions) felonies. This bill directly affects individuals who share or view such material, with no exceptions for digital or AI-generated content.

Maddy summarySB 527 requires health insurance plans in Texas to cover medically necessary general anesthesia for pediatric dental services for children under 13 years old who cannot undergo treatment without anesthesia due to documented physical, mental, or medical conditions. The law applies to all health benefit plans offered by insurance companies, HMOs, health maintenance organizations, and other covered entities under Texas insurance law. It prohibits plans from excluding this specific anesthesia coverage when the medical criteria are met, ensuring access to necessary dental care for vulnerable young patients. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 11 would allow Texas public school districts or charter schools (not affiliated with religious organizations) to adopt a policy requiring daily voluntary prayer and Bible/religious text reading periods on school campuses. To participate, students or employees must provide written consent from a parent/guardian or the employee themselves, acknowledging the choice to participate and waiving legal claims related to the policy. The bill prohibits mandatory participation, using public address systems for these activities, or substituting this time for instruction, and requires physical separation for those who opt out. School districts must also follow specific guidelines to accommodate non-participants, and the Texas Attorney General would provide legal guidance and defend districts in related lawsuits.

Maddy summarySB 24 requires Texas public schools to include specific instruction about communist regimes and ideologies in social studies curricula for students in grades 4 through 12. The bill mandates age-appropriate lessons covering historical events like the Holodomor, Cultural Revolution, and Cambodian genocide under the Khmer Rouge, as well as comparative analysis of communist ideologies versus U.S. democratic principles. It also requires teaching modern threats from communist regimes and methods used to spread such ideologies, including propaganda and censorship. This policy directly affects all public school students in the specified grades across Texas. The law became effective immediately upon the Governor's signature on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 293 updates Texas judicial oversight by requiring public notice of certain judicial reprimands and clarifying misconduct standards. It directly affects judges (including retired judges), the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, and the public by mandating transparency in disciplinary actions. Key provisions include defining "official misconduct" to cover failures to meet court deadlines, violations of judicial conduct rules, and incompetence, while requiring the Commission to maintain public complaint files. The bill also authorizes administrative penalties for misconduct but does not change judicial compensation or retirement benefits. This law, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025, takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1789 establishes new reliability standards for Texas electric utilities, directly affecting companies providing power to residential and commercial customers. The bill requires utilities to meet specific service interruption metrics (measuring frequency and duration of outages) for feeders serving 10+ customers, with penalties including reduced profit margins if standards are violated. It also mandates regular inspections, maintenance, and record-keeping for transmission and distribution poles to ensure structural integrity, accounting for Texas weather conditions. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies to all electric utilities, cooperatives, and municipally owned providers.