Sen. César Blanco

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Texas insurance law to clarify when group health plan sponsors (like employers) must pay premiums after an employee loses coverage. Specifically, if an employer notifies the health insurer about an employee's coverage termination after the end of the month their eligibility ended, the insurer may waive the employer's obligation to pay for future premiums. This waiver applies only if no covered health services were provided to the employee after their coverage ended. The law directly affects employers managing group health plans and insurers handling premium billing.

Maddy summaryHB 2663 requires oil and gas operators applying to the Railroad Commission of Texas for an extension on plugging inactive wells to submit a written affirmation confirming specific actions. For wells inactive 5-10 years, operators must confirm they've emptied production fluids; for wells inactive 10+ years, they must remove all surface equipment and related materials (except utility-owned electric equipment). The Railroad Commission can impose a $25,000 administrative penalty per violation for false affirmations regarding electric service termination or equipment removal. This bill directly affects oil and gas operators managing inactive wells and takes immediate effect.

Maddy summarySB 1227 removes the standard registration fee for certain military specialty license plates in Texas. It specifically exempts plates issued under Sections 504.308, 504.310(b), 504.315 (excluding subsections (c) and (q)), and 504.319 from the usual registration fee requirement. This directly affects Texas military personnel and veterans applying for these designated specialty plates. The change takes effect September 1, 2025, and eliminates an additional fee for these plates without altering other existing fee structures.

Maddy summaryHB 3809 requires lease agreements for battery energy storage facilities (like large-scale battery systems) to include specific terms about removal. It mandates that the operator (called a "grantee") must remove all equipment and restore the land to its original condition when the lease ends, covering all associated costs. This directly affects landowners leasing property to battery storage operators and the operators themselves, who must now include these removal obligations in their agreements. The law creates new rules under Texas Utilities Code Chapter 303 to ensure facilities are properly decommissioned, without changing how the storage systems operate during their active use.

Maddy summarySB 3044 changes the governance structure of the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District. It increases the board of directors from five to seven members and requires the City of Marfa and City of Presidio to each appoint one director to the board. The bill also removes prior requirements for the Presidio County Commissioners Court to fill vacancies, instead aligning appointment procedures with the cities' roles. This directly affects the district's governance and the local cities' influence over water conservation decisions.

Maddy summarySB 1177 requires fire safety inspections at Texas public and private schools (including charter schools) to include checking all automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for functionality. Inspectors must verify AED pads and batteries have not expired and that the device's status light indicates it is ready for use. After inspections, inspectors must provide a written report to school principals (public schools) or directors (private schools), detailing how and when the report was delivered. The law applies to all schools subject to state or local fire safety requirements and took effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 48 creates a dedicated oilfield theft prevention unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety to investigate and prevent the theft of oil and gas equipment used in drilling, production, and transportation. The unit, headquartered in the El Paso region, will coordinate with local law enforcement, the Railroad Commission, and victims to develop specialized training for police and conduct public awareness campaigns. It will investigate specific theft offenses under Texas law related to oilfield equipment and must follow department rules for operations, including staff training and equipment procurement. The bill establishes this unit as a permanent part of DPS to address theft targeting the energy sector.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal description of Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College in the Texas Education Code by removing the term "upper-level" from its official designation. It directly affects the university's Rio Grande College campuses in Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Uvalde, which are part of Sul Ross State University. The change takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not alter course offerings, funding, or academic programs. The bill is purely procedural, adjusting how the institution is formally referenced in state law.

Maddy summaryHB 451 requires Texas child welfare and juvenile justice systems to screen children in state custody or under juvenile probation for risk of commercial sexual exploitation. It mandates this screening using validated tools within 45 days of a child entering state conservatorship or before juvenile case dispositions, if age-appropriate or concerns exist. The screening must be conducted by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit under the Texas Government Code. Implementation depends on legislative funding, with the law taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 198, known as the Wade Cannon Act, requires Texas cities and counties that employ firefighters to provide free occupational cancer screenings starting in a firefighter's fifth year of service, with annual screenings thereafter. The screenings must include specific tests: urine, pulmonary function, electrocardiogram, infectious disease screening, breast cancer screening, blood tests, and chest x-rays (limited to once every five years). Political subdivisions may exempt themselves if they already offer annual occupational medical exams meeting standards set by the National Fire Protection Association and approved by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, directly affecting all Texas firefighters employed by local governments.