Rep. Gary VanDeaver

Maddy summaryThis Texas bill (HB 4901) requires app stores (like Apple App Store or Google Play) operating in Texas to verify users' ages and categorize them into four groups: child (<13), younger teen (13-15), older teen (16-17), and adult (18+). For minors (under 18), it mandates parental consent by linking accounts to a parent or guardian aged 18 or older. App stores must use reasonable methods to confirm age during account creation. The law directly affects app platforms and users under 18 in Texas, with no voting record available as the bill remains pending in committee.

Maddy summaryHB 8 reduces the maximum tax rate school districts can collect for the 2025-2026 school year by $0.0331, calculated using a new method in Section 48.2554 of the Education Code. It directly affects all Texas public school districts by adjusting how their maximum tax rates are determined, ensuring rates don’t drop below 90% of neighboring districts’ rates. The bill updates references to "maximum compressed tax rate" in multiple education funding laws to reflect this change and expires on September 1, 2027. It takes effect September 1, 2025, with no additional funding or program changes beyond the tax rate adjustment.

Maddy summaryHB 5544 requires Texas Medicaid to provide prosthetic devices to recipients of any age who need them due to congenital absence, surgical revision, or traumatic amputation of an extremity, hip, or shoulder. The bill removes previous age restrictions that may have limited coverage for older adults or children. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and includes a provision allowing state agencies to delay implementation if federal waiver approval is needed. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries with qualifying limb or joint conditions who previously faced age-based coverage limitations.

Maddy summaryHB 5325 requires developers to attach certified evidence of adequate groundwater availability for new land subdivisions where groundwater is the intended water source. This applies to all plat applications for such subdivisions and mandates certification from a licensed Texas engineer or geoscientist. Local authorities (municipalities or county commissioners courts) must disapprove applications lacking this certification or failing to demonstrate sufficient groundwater. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will establish specific rules for the certification format and acceptable evidence standards. This bill directly affects land developers and local government officials reviewing subdivision proposals in Texas.

Maddy summaryBased on the provided context, no substantive text for HB 44 is available (the bill text section states "This version is not currently available, but is coming soon"). The bill's title indicates it relates to abortion exceptions based on a physician's medical judgment, but the actual provisions, scope, and affected parties are not described in the provided materials. The bill is in early stages (read first time, pending in committee) but no concrete policy details are accessible. For an accurate summary, the full bill text or official summary would be required.

Maddy summaryHB 2665 requires Texas child protective services to notify county or district attorneys when a report of child abuse or neglect is filed, if the attorney has requested such notifications. Upon request, the department must also share the report and all investigation details - including confidential information - with the attorney. This information cannot be disclosed publicly under Texas open records laws and is restricted to use in prosecuting child abuse cases under specific criminal procedure codes. The bill directly affects how child protective services and prosecutors coordinate on abuse investigations, streamlining information sharing while protecting legal confidentiality.

Maddy summaryHB 2429 modifies Texas law to expand eligibility for state funding for commercial airports. It allows airports in counties along the Texas-Mexico border with populations under 300,000, or airports jointly managed with another state agency serving a border county, to qualify for financial assistance and inclusion in the aviation facilities capital improvement program. The bill requires that funding aligns with federal restrictions but removes previous barriers for these specific border airports. This directly affects airport authorities in eligible border counties seeking state support for infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryHB 4058 creates new rules for self-settled asset protection trusts in Texas property law. It allows trusts where the creator (settlor) is also a beneficiary to shield assets from creditors, provided the trust meets specific requirements. Key provisions require the trust to be irrevocable, not mandate distributions to the settlor, avoid defrauding creditors, and have at least one Texas-based trustee (resident, trust company, or financial institution with a Texas office). This directly affects Texas residents establishing such trusts, as it clarifies when creditors can access trust assets. The bill does not change existing state law but adds new protections under defined conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 3485 requires Texas public schools and certain private schools to maintain at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) on every campus, placed for quick access within three minutes of any location - especially during athletic events. It mandates that specific school staff, including nurses, coaches, physical education instructors, and athletic trainers, obtain and maintain AED certification through organizations like the American Heart Association. Schools must also develop a cardiac emergency response plan that includes a dedicated response team, procedures for cardiac arrest emergencies, and coordination with local emergency services. The plan must follow evidence-based practices, such as those from the American Heart Association, to ensure rapid, effective care during cardiac incidents.

Maddy summaryHB 2620 requires regional water planning groups in Texas to meet three specific conditions before including water sources that require eminent domain (government land seizure) in another planning area. These conditions are: (1) proving all other water sources within their own area are insufficient, (2) confirming all feasible water management strategies have been used, and (3) submitting a report analyzing negative ecological, economic, and educational impacts on the affected area plus a mitigation plan. The bill directly affects regional water planning groups when considering cross-area water projects. It aims to prevent planning groups from bypassing local concerns by requiring thorough analysis and mitigation before pursuing such projects.