Senator Molly Cook Announces “Nurse First” Legislative Agenda

The Senate of the State of Texas
The Honorable Molly Cook
State Senator, District 15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Daphne Alcala (512) 463-0115 March 14, 2025
Senator Molly Cook Announces “Nurse First” Legislative Agenda
AUSTIN, TX – Today, Senator Molly Cook (D-Houston) held a press conference at the State
Capitol to announce policy priorities shaped by her public health training, experiences in the
emergency room, and the advocacy of constituents from Senate District 15. Senator Cook’s agenda
focuses on the following six core pillars that prevent suffering, help neighbors heal, and support
community wellness:
Access to Healthcare: Access to affordable, quality medical care is a fundamental
right for every Texan. Our healthcare systems must be data driven and
economically sound to produce the best possible outcomes for each patient and for
public health.
Safe Homes and Infrastructure: In the ER, I see the devastating impacts of
homelessness, housing insecurities, and unsafe housing every single day. Housing
Texans is a fundamental priority for the health and safety of our communities.
Every Texan deserves access to safe and affordable housing and quality
infrastructure that offers freedom and choice.
Clean Environment: Clean air, water, and soil are essential for public health. A
neighborhood’s largest employer should not also be its biggest polluter. It is the
responsibility of all neighbors to maintain and care for the environment, with the
government serving as the mechanism through which we achieve that vision.
Opportunity: Free, high-quality public education is the bedrock of a healthy,
Democratic society. Public education is our most powerful tool to create for every
child. Every Texan has a constitutional right to quality education.
Belonging and Connection: From the young to our seniors, Texas is facing a
loneliness epidemic. Good policy should remove barriers and create opportunities
for connection and community.
Healthy and Fair Systems: It is our job as your elected representatives to stamp
out corruption and guarantee that public dollars serve the public good. Texans

deserve good government that they can trust. Texas’ government systems, whether
local or statewide, should be held to the highest standards and must be responsible,
transparent, and honest.
Legislative Packages & Constituent Support
This agenda includes several targeted legislative packages:
Expanding CPR and AED Access Package
• SB 1550: Relating to instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation in public schools.
• SB 1551: Requires that AEDs in schools must be clearly marked, easily accessible, and
maintained in unlocked cases during school hours, removing barriers to emergency access.
Dr. Lisa Weiss, a constituent, Houston anesthesiologist, and HISD parent, shared the following
comments on the package: “Even if you know CPR, in a crisis, it can be hard to think straight.
Training young people to respond with confidence will save lives. It’s always better to start CPR
and use an AED when in doubt because it can mean the difference between life and death for a
classmate, teacher, or stranger.”
Transportation Safety & Health Package
• SB 1768: Relating to a health impact assessment for certain transportation projects of the
Texas Department of Transportation.
• SB 2092: Relating to establishing a highway construction mitigation program for certain
highway construction projects.
• SB 1770: Relating to the accommodation of pedestrians, bicyclists, persons with
disabilities, children, senior citizens, users of public transportation, movers of commercial
goods, and motorists on streets and highways.
Michael Moritz, a constituent and community organizer, shared the following comments on the
package: “Good transportation planning prioritizes people’s health and safety. For decades
urban freeways have brought negative outcomes to the fabric of urban Texas. We need to shift
toward community and public health-centered transportation planning to benefit Texans’ quality
of life without needlessly displacing or harming them.”
Housing Package
• SB 882: Relating to certain rights and duties of residential tenants and landlords; increasing
the amount of civil penalties.
• SB 759: Relating to the disclosure of certain fees by a landlord.

Protecting Youth from E-Cigarettes Package
• SB 1313: Relating to prohibited signs, logos, and designs in advertising or marketing
cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or other tobacco products; creating a criminal offense.
• SB 1314: Relating to a prohibition on certain e-cigarette products.
• SB 1315: Relating to county and municipal authority to prohibit the sale of cigarettes, e-
cigarettes, or tobacco products near certain locations.
• SB 1316: Relating to a prohibition on e-cigarette advertising in certain locations.
• SB 1317: Relating to limitations on the age of individuals allowed to enter the premises
of a smoke shop; creating a criminal offense.
Dr. Audrey Nath, a constituent, pediatric neurologist, and HISD parent shared the following
comments on the package: “We know that targeted advertising to children works, or else no one
would be trying it. The developing brain has a special susceptibility to addictions, and research
shows adolescents have an earlier urge to use nicotine again after first use than adults do. Thank
you, Senator Cook, for listening to our concerns.”
Hurricane Beryl Recovery & Preparedness Package
• SB 1312: Relating to the disconnection of electric service by certain entities during an
extreme weather emergency.
• SB 270: Relating to a study of the costs and benefits of burying distribution power lines in
certain metropolitan areas.
• SB 271: Relating to the eligibility of certain retail electric customers for designation as
critical care residential customers.
Edna Griggs, constituent, community activist, and CEO of Acres of Angels, shared the following
comments on the package: “Hurricane Beryl showed us how unprepared we are for extreme
weather. Our seniors were trapped without power, unable to use elevators, and left in dangerous
conditions. We need better emergency planning that protects our most vulnerable residents in
times of crisis.”
Criminal Justice Reform Package
• SB 2263: Relating to certain duties regarding county jail prisoners confined in out-of-state
correctional facilities.
• SB 1306: Relating to the age of criminal responsibility and to certain substantive and
procedural matters related to that age.
Sarah Knight, a constituent of Senate District 15, shared the following comments on the package:
“My 29 year old son Jaleen Anderson was rendered invisible when he died pretrial in LaSalle
Correctional Facility in Louisiana due to medical negligence after being transferred from Harris
County jail. His in-custody death, along with the deaths of Billie Davis, Thomas Marshall and Eric
Carlson, was not counted by the state of Texas. Our loved ones who were Texans, just disappeared
without anyone taking any responsibility. I am thankful to Senator Cook for filing SB 2263 which

mandates reporting and investigations in out-of-state custody deaths. I thank her for showing us
grieving families that our loved ones mattered. This bill is the first step in holding the counties
accountable and bringing us some closure.”
LGBTQ+ Rights Package
• SB 1765: Relating to the creation of a task force to evaluate the housing needs of senior
citizens who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning.
• SB 2265: Relating to preventing discrimination in foster care.
• SB 2723: Relating to the repeal of the offense of homosexual conduct.
Austin Ruiz, constituent and President of the Houston LGBTQ+ Caucus, shared the following
comments on the package: "Our rights and culture in the LGBTQ+ community are repeatedly
attacked. Houston has a vibrant LGBTQ+ community fighting for our freedom of speech and for
safe, inclusive neighborhoods where everyone can live comfortably.”
Women’s Healthcare Package
• SB 2094: Relating to the establishment of a higher education plan for human
papillomavirus education and prevention.
• SB 2256: Relating to the definition of ectopic pregnancy.
• SB 2727: Relating to the regulation of abortion and related matters, including infant-
supportive palliative care and exceptions to and the repeal of certain laws prohibiting
abortion.
• SB 2768: Relating to certain health care services, increasing access to health care, and
repealing or replacing medically unnecessary and outdated health care restrictions.
Education and Opportunity Package
• SB 1764: Relating to accountability interventions for certain school districts with low-
performing campuses.
• SB 1767: Relating to the employment of full-time registered nurses at public schools.
Anti-Corruption Package
• SB 2261: Relating to a restriction on the authority to disburse money paid into the tax
increment fund for a tax increment financing reinvestment zone to pay certain project costs
for the zone.
• SB 2889: Relating to campaign contribution limits for certain offices.
For more information about Senator Cook’s legislative agenda or to schedule an interview, please
contact Daphne Alcala at daphne.alcala@senate.texas.gov.