Sen. Borris Miles

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 536) honors Mark Garcia for his 25 years of service as Texas Senate auditor. It formally recognizes his professional contributions, dedication, and personal involvement with Senate colleagues and community activities like the Senate Christmas band and the Texas MS 150 fundraiser. The resolution directs the Senate to present Garcia with an official copy as a gesture of appreciation for his service. No new laws or policy changes are created by this resolution.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 546) formally recognizes Baylor College of Medicine's 125th anniversary. It highlights the institution's founding in 1900, its evolution into an independent research leader, its top rankings in NIH funding and medical education, and its community health contributions across Texas. The resolution serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of Baylor's historical significance and ongoing impact, with no policy changes or direct effects on individuals or regulations.

Maddy summarySB 1778 requires Texas juvenile justice facilities to contract for telemedicine services when physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants are not physically present onsite. This law directly affects juveniles in state custody and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which must provide this medical care access. The key provision mandates that facilities secure telemedicine options as a standard backup for medical treatment, ensuring continuity when in-person providers are unavailable. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025, and applies to all facilities under the department's management. It does not specify funding mechanisms or implementation details beyond the telemedicine requirement.

Maddy summarySB 3061 prohibits children of state representatives, state senators, and statewide elected officials from participating in Texas' education savings account program while their parent or guardian holds that office. The bill amends the Education Code to explicitly deny eligibility to these children during their parent's term in elected office. This restriction applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, regardless of whether the bill receives immediate effect under Texas Constitution Section 39. The provision directly affects children of specific elected officials, not other program participants.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. It directs the transfer of $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026. The fund will provide grants for research, prevention programs, and treatment development related to dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and related disorders. The institute will oversee funding for research institutions, medical facilities, and collaborative efforts across Texas, directly benefiting residents affected by these conditions through expanded research and prevention initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 13) urges the U.S. Department of State and the International Boundary and Water Commission to ensure Mexico complies with the 1944 Treaty on shared water resources. It specifically addresses Mexico's failure to deliver the required 350,000 acre-feet of water annually (averaged over five years), with a current deficit of 984,814 acre-feet. The resolution highlights how this shortfall harms Texas water users, including municipal, agricultural, and industrial sectors in the Rio Grande Valley, impacting reservoir levels and causing economic losses like the closure of Texas' only sugar mill. As a non-binding resolution, it formally requests U.S. federal agencies to take action but does not change legal obligations.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 481 requires nursing and assisted living facilities in Texas to create and maintain emergency preparedness plans focused on resident safety during crises. The bill mandates facilities to install emergency generators with 96 hours of fuel, carbon monoxide detectors, and procedures to maintain indoor temperatures between 71°F and 81°F during power outages. It also requires facilities to develop protocols for safely relocating residents if temperatures become unsafe and to communicate with families during emergencies. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission must review and approve each facility’s plan, with license revocation possible for noncompliance. This directly affects all nursing and assisted living facilities operating in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 1499 transfers the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center from the Occupations Code to Chapter 426 of the Government Code and establishes it within the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The bill defines key terms like "card fraud," "check fraud," and "payment fraud" to standardize how financial crime investigations are conducted across agencies. It requires the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules for implementing the center's operations. This legislation directly affects law enforcement agencies and financial institutions responding to fraud cases by creating a centralized hub for coordinating fraud investigations within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1534 requires Texas courts to confirm before a full court hearing that the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) properly notified parents or alleged perpetrators about specific rights. It mandates that DFPS inform individuals before interviews about their right to record the interview and request an administrative review of DFPS findings, and that DFPS provided required investigation information to parents/custodians as soon as possible after starting an investigation. If these notices weren't given, the court cannot use evidence from the interview or investigation in the hearing, unless excluding it would significantly harm the child's health or development. The law applies to cases filed on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill) congratulating 22 graduating students from the Miles Ahead Scholars Program's 2025 class. It recognizes their achievement in completing high school through a program designed to support African American and Latino male students with college preparation resources like mentorship and tutoring. The Texas Senate resolution formally extends "sincere best wishes for continued success" to these students as they transition to higher education. No new policies or funding are created by this resolution.