Sen. Sarah Eckhardt

Maddy summarySB 1916 prohibits Texas electric utilities from counting energy savings from load management programs toward their state-mandated energy efficiency goals. Load management programs typically reduce peak electricity use through customer incentives (e.g., smart thermostats or demand-response programs). The bill directly affects all investor-owned electric utilities in Texas required to meet energy efficiency targets under the Utilities Code. It amends Section 39.905 to explicitly ban these savings from being used to fulfill efficiency obligations, effective September 1, 2025. This is a concrete policy change ensuring utilities must pursue other methods to achieve their efficiency targets.

Maddy summarySB 1914 requires county commissioners courts to review and provide written consent before new conservation and reclamation districts can be created in unincorporated county areas. The bill amends Texas Water Code sections 54.0161 and 59.0061 to mandate that counties must be notified of such petitions, have 121 days to review and submit objections or recommendations, and that the district commission cannot approve a petition without county consent. This directly affects counties (through their commissioners courts), petitioners seeking to form districts, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (which reviews petitions). The key change is making county approval a formal requirement for district creation in unincorporated areas, replacing previous processes where county input was not mandatory.

Maddy summarySB 1912 repeals two chapters of the Texas Government Code (Chapter 809 and Chapter 2276) related to state contracting policies. This procedural bill directly affects state agencies and contractors by removing existing provisions that may have restricted contracts with companies boycotting certain energy firms. The bill would take immediate effect if approved by a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, otherwise it would become effective September 1, 2025. It does not create new requirements but eliminates specific code sections governing contracting rules.

Maddy summarySB 1846 repeals restrictions that previously limited funding for family planning services in Texas. It revises how state funds are distributed to providers, requiring money to go first to entities with a proven track record of achieving service goals, then to providers offering broader primary care, and finally to those focused solely on family planning. The bill also mandates that funds be distributed equitably across all regions of the state to ensure access to these services. This change takes effect September 1, 2025, replacing outdated provisions in the Government and Human Resources Codes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas public school districts and charter schools to establish paid parental leave policies for classroom teachers. Teachers with at least 12 months of service and 1,250 hours worked in the prior year receive 40 days of paid leave for a birth (or spouse's birth) or 20 days for adoption/foster care of a child under three. Teachers with less service must use all available paid leave first, then take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. School districts will receive funding to cover paid leave costs, and policies must be adopted by September 1, 2025, for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySB 1785 requires the state mental health commission to take custody of defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial within 45 days of a court order. If the commission fails to do so, it must compensate counties for the actual costs of housing these defendants in county jails beyond that deadline. The bill also establishes a process for counties to receive quarterly reimbursement from the state for providing jail-based competency restoration services to such defendants. These provisions apply only to costs incurred on or after January 1, 2026, and take effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, otherwise on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1713 allows Texas counties to donate surplus or salvage property (like equipment or vehicles) to local civic or charitable organizations instead of selling it, under specific conditions. Counties may only do this if selling would cost more than the property's value, the donation serves a public purpose, and the organization covers disposal costs or provides equivalent value. The bill amends Local Government Code Section 263.152 to add this donation option alongside existing disposal methods like auctions or destruction. This applies only to property the county is already disposing of, not new acquisitions, and affects counties managing surplus assets.

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 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain Texas counties to contract for solid waste disposal services in areas where municipalities don't provide them, specifically targeting counties with populations over 1.5 million (70% in one city) or under 1.3 million containing a city of 750,000+ residents. It also creates a criminal offense for intentionally burning household refuse outdoors in unincorporated areas meeting defined population criteria or containing large planned communities. The law applies only to counties meeting specific population thresholds and affects residents in those unincorporated areas. Key provisions include authorizing competitive bidding for waste services and establishing penalties for illegal outdoor burning. The bill focuses on streamlining waste management in specific county-municipality service gaps.