Rep. Gary VanDeaver

Maddy summaryHB 3717 establishes a Texas grant program to fund private entities conducting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug development trials using ibogaine. The program targets organizations (for-profit, nonprofit, or public benefit corporations) that can design and execute FDA trials to seek approval of ibogaine as a medication for treating opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and other neurological or mental health conditions where ibogaine shows effectiveness. Applicants must submit detailed trial designs, team expertise, and FDA approval strategies. The grant covers costs for these trials, aiming to advance ibogaine's potential approval as a treatment option.

Maddy summaryHB 2109 requires Texas' state water agency to automatically remove proposed reservoir projects from the State Water Plan if construction hasn't begun within 50 years of their inclusion in the plan. This directly affects reservoir projects listed in the plan for 50 or more years, such as those proposed decades ago without progress. Once removed, these projects cannot be reinstated in future versions of the water plan. The law applies retroactively to projects included in the plan for 50+ years and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas licensing authorities to issue provisional occupational licenses for six months to applicants with criminal convictions who are otherwise qualified for the license, unless they have specific serious convictions listed in the Occupations Code. The provisional license begins upon the applicant's release from incarceration if they were imprisoned. It applies to most occupational licensing fields (like healthcare or trades) but excludes applicants convicted of offenses under Section 53.021(a). The bill provides a pathway for certain applicants to obtain licenses without full revocation of eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 1108 prohibits Texas peace officers from engaging in "motorcycle profiling," defined as stopping riders based solely on their motorcycle, gear, or club affiliation rather than behavior or criminal suspicion. The bill requires all Texas law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies by December 1, 2025, that define profiling, ban it, establish complaint procedures for affected individuals, and mandate corrective action for violations. These policies must cover traffic stops involving motorcycles and extend beyond the stop's necessary duration. The bill is pending in committee and would take effect September 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 1773 allows certain Texas school districts to appoint a nonvoting student trustee to their board of trustees. This position enables students to attend board meetings, participate in discussions, and provide student perspectives, but the student trustee cannot vote or count toward meeting quorums. The bill applies only to school districts not covered by existing rules (Section 11.0511 of the Education Code). It takes effect September 1, 2025, and creates a formal mechanism for student input without altering voting authority.

Maddy summaryHB 1781 establishes the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Grant Program to provide funding for educational initiatives related to livestock and rodeos. The program is administered by a newly created board appointed by the governor, requiring members to have specific experience in rodeos or county fairs and to represent different regions of Texas. Funding comes from a dedicated fund that can receive state appropriations, gifts, or interest earnings, but cannot be used for general state purposes. This bill directly affects Texas organizations like rodeo associations, county fairs, 4-H programs, and Future Farmers of America (FFA) that may apply for these grants.

Maddy summaryHB 5337 requires Texas voters to submit proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. Applicants must provide documents like a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or citizenship papers to county registrars. If proof isn't submitted, voters would only qualify for a limited federal ballot under Chapter 115. The bill creates criminal penalties for failing to provide required documentation and amends election code sections to implement these requirements. This directly affects all new voter registrants in Texas seeking full voting rights.

Maddy summaryHB 3354 designates a specific section of State Highway 11 in Morris County (between Daingerfield and Hughes Springs) as the "Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the highway and at intermediate locations along the designated stretch. This is a ceremonial designation with no funding or policy changes - its sole purpose is to honor Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle through highway naming. The bill does not affect any laws, regulations, or government programs beyond the memorial signage.

Maddy summaryHB 3484 amends Texas law to streamline agreements between border municipalities. It allows cities to formalize cooperative agreements through similar local ordinances (Section 1) and extends funding eligibility to shared infrastructure projects located within 30 miles of a border municipality (Section 2). This directly affects border cities collaborating on facilities like roads or water systems, making them eligible for state grants, loans, and bonds as if the projects were fully within Texas. The bill takes effect in 2025 if approved by a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers.

Maddy summaryHB 2431 restricts permits for vehicles transporting intermodal shipping containers to specific routes within Texas. It requires these permits to be limited to highways in the state highway system located in counties with over 90,000 residents and within 30 miles of the Texas-Arkansas border. The bill directly affects commercial trucking companies moving shipping containers across these designated routes. The amendment to the Transportation Code takes effect September 1, 2025.