Sen. César Blanco

Maddy summarySB 1361 establishes a state-funded disaster recovery loan program for Texas small businesses (21-99 employees) and micro-businesses. It creates a dedicated "small- and micro-business recovery fund" in the general revenue fund and requires the state bank to provide zero-interest loans to community development financial institutions (CDFIs). These CDFIs would then make interest-bearing loans to qualifying businesses that struggle to access capital after disasters. The program aims to help create jobs by expanding capital access for eligible businesses across Texas.

Maddy summarySB 1245 amends Texas law to allow qualified landowners or their agents to use helicopters for managing specific wildlife under a permit. It specifically permits helicopter-assisted removal of depredating feral hogs, coyotes, and aoudad sheep west of the Pecos River. The bill establishes a permit system through the Parks and Wildlife Commission, requiring rules to be adopted for implementation. This policy change directly affects landowners in West Texas dealing with aoudad sheep populations, effective September 1, 2025. The law does not alter hunting seasons or bag limits but adds helicopter use as a tool for land management.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 524), not a law. It honors the City of Socorro's efforts to revitalize Rio Vista Farm, a National Historic Landmark designated in 2023. The resolution recognizes the site's history as a 1951-1964 Bracero Program processing center (which served hundreds of thousands of Mexican laborers) and its planned transformation into a public museum and education center through a $35 million rehabilitation project. The Texas Senate formally expresses support for this preservation work during Preservation Month 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1786 expands access to free dual credit college courses for eligible Texas high school students. It requires school districts to determine if students were educationally disadvantaged during their current or previous four school years, and to notify colleges if they qualify for no-cost enrollment in dual credit courses. The bill directly affects public high school students in grades 9-12 who meet the disadvantage criteria, with schools handling eligibility checks and college notifications. It amends Education Code sections to establish this process and clarifies definitions for public junior colleges. The policy creates a concrete pathway for qualifying students to earn college credit without tuition costs while in high school.

Maddy summarySB 1236 requires health benefit plan issuers and pharmacy benefit managers in Texas to stop denying or reducing claim payments to pharmacists or pharmacies after a claim has been processed. It limits recoupments (recovery of overpayments) only to cases of fraud, duplicate payments, or specific errors (like wrong drug/dosage), and prohibits recouping dispensing fees for simple clerical mistakes. The bill also mandates that issuers provide pharmacists with secure online access to all pharmacy benefit network contracts, including any updates. These changes directly affect pharmacists, pharmacies, and health plans by clarifying payment rules and improving transparency in contract terms. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1273 establishes the Higher Education Research Security Council to address risks of foreign espionage and interference in academic research at Texas's top research universities. The council, composed of designated security officers from participating "tier one research institutions" (as defined by the Carnegie Classification), will develop security policies, identify best practices, create an accreditation program for secure research, and offer annual training on researcher background checks and security tools. This applies specifically to Texas public and private institutions designated as R1 research universities. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on May 27, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1143 requires Texas workforce development programs to establish specific goals for individuals aged 16-24, including tracking funding allocation and participation in education or job training for this group. It mandates that government entities offering financial incentives (like grants or tax benefits) creating at least 100 new jobs must notify the Texas Workforce Commission and local workforce boards within 30 days, providing details on job estimates, start dates, and required skills. The bill also requires the Texas Workforce Commission to annually evaluate program effectiveness, focusing on youth employment outcomes, reenrollment of school dropouts (16-24), and coordination with schools, colleges, and employers. These provisions directly affect state agencies, local workforce boards, and young residents seeking job training or education opportunities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council to develop strategic plans for Texas' health care workforce, replacing two existing entities: the statewide health coordinating council and its nursing advisory committee. The new council will include representatives from key health agencies (like the Texas Health and Human Services Department, Texas Medical Board, and Texas Education Agency) and four governor-appointed members with health care workforce expertise. Its main duty is to compile and analyze workforce data from state agencies to inform strategic planning for health care systems. The bill aims to streamline coordination and improve workforce planning across Texas' health care sector.

Maddy summarySB 1098 requires Texas pharmacies to disclose the lowest cash price for a prescribed drug or biological product to patients. If the cash price is lower than the patient's insurance copayment, pharmacists must offer the option to pay the lower cash price instead of the copayment amount. This directly affects patients filling prescriptions, particularly those with insurance plans where copayments exceed cash prices. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, aiming to increase prescription price transparency and give patients cost-saving options.

Maddy summarySB 872 increases criminal penalties for burglary of a vehicle involving theft of a firearm. The bill amends Texas Penal Code Section 30.04 to classify such offenses as a third-degree felony if a firearm was stolen during the burglary, rather than a lower misdemeanor or state jail felony. This change directly affects individuals convicted of breaking into vehicles to steal firearms, imposing stricter sentencing. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies only to offenses committed on or after that date.