Sen. Carol Alvarado

Maddy summarySB 654 creates a franchise tax credit for licensed child-care centers in Texas that expand their capacity to serve more children. To qualify, centers must be certified in the Texas Rising Star Program and increase their capacity by 25% or more. The credit covers 50% to 100% of additional salaries paid for the expansion, depending on the capacity increase (50% for 25-50% growth, 75% for 50-75%, and 100% for 75%+ growth). This policy directly affects licensed child-care centers seeking to grow their operations while reducing their tax burden for hiring staff needed to accommodate more children.

Maddy summarySB 259 establishes a regulatory framework for medical cannabis use in Texas by creating Chapter 487A in the Health and Safety Code. It directly affects patients seeking medical cannabis treatment, physicians recommending it, and new dispensing organizations (licensed entities that cultivate and distribute cannabis). Key provisions include requiring licenses for dispensing organizations, creating a secure medical use registry to verify patient eligibility and track cannabis dispensing, and authorizing fees to cover administrative costs. The bill does not change existing medical cannabis laws but creates a formal system for licensing, registration, and oversight under the Department of Public Safety.

Maddy summarySB 211 creates a franchise tax credit for Texas businesses that operate on-site childcare centers exclusively for their employees' children. Businesses qualify if the center is licensed, located at or near their workplace, and provides care for employees' dependents. The credit covers 30% of the center's operating costs (35% if certified in Texas Rising Star), with a one-time 20% credit for construction costs when first opening. Annual credit limits range from $100,000 to $500,000 based on the business's franchise tax liability. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 265) symbolically recognizes March 21, 2025, as World Down Syndrome Day in Texas. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or groups, as it is a ceremonial gesture acknowledging the United Nations-designated day. The resolution encourages Texans to support inclusion for people with Down syndrome, referencing medical advances and societal progress. It formally declares the Senate’s recognition of this day at the State Capitol, aligning Texas with global observances.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (SR 293) passed by the Texas Senate to honor Minnie Fisher Cunningham on the 143rd anniversary of her birth. It recognizes her pivotal role in securing women's suffrage in Texas, including leading the Texas Equal Suffrage Association, helping Texas become the first Southern state to ratify the 19th Amendment, and later championing social welfare policies. The resolution serves as a symbolic tribute to her legacy as a suffrage activist, political pioneer, and advocate for women's rights. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws or affect policy.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic Senate resolution (SR 267), not a bill with policy changes. It expresses the Texas Senate's recognition and best wishes for participants in the Holi festival on March 14, 2025. The resolution acknowledges Holi as a global Hindu spring festival celebrating harmony, renewal, and the triumph of good over evil. It has no legal effect or direct impact on any laws, policies, or individuals.

Maddy summarySB 1174 amends Texas Education Code Section 22.052 to allow school employees (including nurses) to administer over-the-counter medications to students without requiring additional written authorization from a healthcare provider. It directly affects public and private K-12 schools and students needing common nonprescription medicines like pain relievers or antihistamines. The key provision requires written parental consent, ensures medication is in its original labeled container, and mandates doses match the container’s instructions. This simplifies the process for routine nonprescription medications while maintaining safety standards for school staff.

Maddy summarySB 349 requires Texas public school districts, the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Texas School for the Deaf, and open-enrollment charter schools to provide reasonable accommodations for middle and high school students who are lactating. The bill specifically mandates schools to support students in expressing breast milk, breastfeeding infants, or addressing other breastfeeding-related needs. These accommodations must be provided beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, unless the bill receives a two-thirds vote for immediate effect. The law applies directly to lactating students enrolled in secondary education settings across Texas public schools.

Maddy summarySB 1748 requires courts to notify defendants convicted of misdemeanor family violence offenses (as defined in Texas Family Code Section 71.004) in writing and orally about the legal prohibition on firearm possession. Defendants must complete a sworn form within 48 hours detailing how they will dispose of all firearms - through lawful methods like transferring to a legally permitted owner, surrendering to law enforcement, or other compliant methods - and declare under penalty of perjury that disposal occurred. The court must then forward the completed form to the local sheriff and relevant law enforcement agencies. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will develop model policies and forms for law enforcement to implement these requirements, including separate versions for rural and urban areas.

Maddy summarySB 1747 requires health benefit plans in Texas to cover screening mammograms, diagnostic imaging, and supplemental breast examinations without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles). It directly affects health insurance plans by mandating no out-of-pocket costs for these specific breast cancer screenings. Key provisions define "diagnostic imaging" as exams to evaluate detected abnormalities (e.g., from a screening mammogram) and "supplemental breast examinations" as additional screenings for high-risk patients (e.g., those with dense breasts or family history). The bill applies to plans delivered or renewed after its effective date, aligning coverage for these services with standard radiological exam benefits.