Rep. Venton Jones

Maddy summaryHB 1738 repeals the criminal penalty for homosexual conduct (previously codified in Section 21.06 of the Penal Code). It simultaneously amends health education requirements in Texas schools to mandate that materials for minors include the statement that "homosexual conduct is not an acceptable lifestyle," while incorrectly referencing the repealed law. The bill affects public school health curricula for students under 18, requiring this specific language to be included in sexual education programs. The legislation passed the Texas legislature on May 16, 2025, and would take effect immediately if approved by a two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025, otherwise.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. It directs the transfer of $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026. The fund will provide grants for research, prevention programs, and treatment development related to dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and related disorders. The institute will oversee funding for research institutions, medical facilities, and collaborative efforts across Texas, directly benefiting residents affected by these conditions through expanded research and prevention initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 2413 allows Texas counties to destroy "sensitive media devices" (data storage devices containing information regulated by state or federal law, like personal records) that are classified as salvage or surplus property. The bill requires county commissioners courts to approve destruction only when it prevents inadvertent disclosure of protected information during disposal. It specifically amends Local Government Code Section 263.1521 to establish this process, effective September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects county governments managing data storage devices, providing a clear procedure for secure disposal without requiring new data collection or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 3695 limits copayments for physical therapy visits under certain health plans. It prohibits health maintenance organizations and preferred provider plans from charging enrollees a higher copayment for a physical therapist visit (without a referral) than for a primary care physician visit. The law applies to plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, and takes effect September 1, 2025. This directly affects Texas enrollees who use physical therapy services without needing a physician referral.

Maddy summaryHB 4442 would require Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to offer an elective mindfulness course for all students in middle school, junior high school, and high school. The course must teach specific techniques to enhance focus, manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and build self-awareness and compassion. High school students would be able to count this course toward their elective credit requirements for graduation. The bill would take effect for the 2026-2027 school year, unless it receives a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, in which case it would take effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 178 requires Texas public school districts to include "ethnic studies, world geography, or world history" as one of the three required social studies credits for high school students, alongside existing mandates for U.S. history, government, and economics. It directly affects all Texas public school students in grades K-12 by modifying the social studies curriculum structure under the foundation high school program. The bill adds ethnic studies as a specific, mandatory option for fulfilling the social studies credit requirement, while maintaining other existing subject requirements. This change applies to all Texas public school districts offering grades K-12.

Maddy summaryHB 1368 requires Texas public schools (with 10,000+ students) to notify parents in writing if they lack a full-time nurse, school counselor, or librarian for more than 30 consecutive instructional days. Schools must send this notice within 30 days of the absence starting, offering bilingual options for non-English speaking families. The law applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and allows schools to post notices on their websites if accessible via three clicks. It does not apply to schools with fewer than 10,000 students.

Maddy summaryHB 1573 would require all Texas public school districts to create and post online a policy setting specific square footage limits for custodians' workloads, categorized by elementary, middle, and high school campuses. This policy would establish measurable benchmarks for how much area each custodian can be responsible for during an eight-hour shift, covering maintenance and cleaning duties. The bill, which failed to pass in the 2025 legislative session, would have applied to the 2025-2026 school year if enacted. It directly affects school district boards of trustees and custodial staff by mandating standardized workload requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 3174 authorizes pilot programs in seven Texas counties (Bexar, Dallas, El Paso, Harris, Nueces, Travis, and Webb) and their hospital districts to reduce the spread of infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. The key provision allows anonymous needle and syringe exchange programs, where individuals can trade used equipment for sterile new supplies to prevent blood-borne disease transmission. These programs also require providing education on disease prevention and connecting participants to health and social services. The bill aims to improve public health outcomes while reducing needle-stick injuries to first responders and the public.

Maddy summaryHB 2785 requires Texas' Secretary of State website to display a mandatory confirmation message during online voter registration before the application is finalized. This message requires applicants to electronically confirm two key points: that completing the form does not equal voter registration, and that the completed application must still be submitted to a local voter registrar. The website must block further interaction until this confirmation is given, ensuring applicants understand the registration process isn't complete upon form submission. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects all Texas residents using the state's online voter registration system.