Rep. Jessica González

Maddy summaryHB 1820 allows individuals arrested for a crime but never charged to clear their arrest records under specific conditions. It directly affects people who were arrested but not prosecuted, including those where a grand jury failed to find probable cause for the alleged offense. The bill establishes timeframes for expungement: 180 days for Class C misdemeanors, one year for Class B/A misdemeanors, and three years for felonies, or if the state attorney certifies records aren't needed for investigations. If no indictment or information was filed within these periods, or if the grand jury declined to find probable cause, the person can request record removal. The law applies to offenses occurring before, during, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1730 requires the University of Houston to lead a study on how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (common in products like food packaging and firefighting gear) affect public health. The study must examine these chemicals in food and drink products, drinking water sources, and workplace materials used by firefighters and manufacturing workers. The University of Houston, working with Texas environmental agencies, must complete the study and submit a report to the legislature by December 1, 2026. The bill expires December 31, 2026, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1814 amends Texas marriage license application forms to add specific requirements for applicants. The bill requires couples to confirm they are not currently married, not related by certain family relationships (including in-laws), not divorced within 30 days, and not delinquent on child support. It also adds a new option for applicants to voluntarily contribute $5 to the Texas Home Visiting Program. These changes apply directly to individuals applying for marriage licenses in Texas. The bill standardizes the form's content without altering marriage eligibility criteria.

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 4737 sets a 100-day deadline for Texas' Board of Law Examiners to process applications for attorneys licensed in other U.S. states to practice law in Texas without taking an exam. It directly affects out-of-state attorneys seeking to practice in Texas through the "without examination" pathway. The bill requires the board to complete processing within 100 days of receiving the application, applying only to filings on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025). Applications filed before this date remain governed by prior law.

Maddy summaryHB 712 requires health insurance plans in Texas to cover specific prostate cancer screening tests without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles). The bill applies to most health benefit plans, including those offered by insurance companies, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), Medicaid, and school district health coverage. It directly affects individuals enrolled in these plans who need prostate cancer screenings, ensuring they can access these tests at no additional cost. The law amends Texas Insurance Code Section 1362.001 to mandate this coverage for certain medically necessary tests.

Maddy summaryHB 3208 requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install highway signs guiding drivers to Dallas's Koreatown District by 2026. These signs must be placed at specific exits: Royal Lane for I-35E (both directions) and Luna Road for I-635 (both directions). The bill mandates installation no later than September 1, 2026, while ensuring signs comply with state and federal traffic device standards. This directly affects drivers traveling through those Dallas interchanges who wish to access the Koreatown District.

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 813 requires Texas health benefit plans to cover treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) starting from the date of diagnosis. It applies to enrollees diagnosed with ASD, with coverage mandated only for those diagnosed before age 10. The bill prohibits plans from limiting annual coverage for applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment to more than $36,000 for enrollees aged 10 or older. This law takes effect for new or renewed health plans on or after January 1, 2026, with the bill itself effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3675 prohibits most public employers in Texas from asking about or checking an applicant's criminal history before making a conditional job offer. It allows employers to inform applicants upfront about disqualifying convictions or ask limited questions about specific offenses that would disqualify someone under law. The bill applies to state agencies, local governments, and public universities (excluding independent school districts and licensed law enforcement roles). It takes effect September 1, 2025, and only affects applications submitted after that date.