Rep. Linda Garcia

Maddy summaryHB 2558 modifies Texas law to protect incarcerated parents from being held in contempt for unpaid child support under specific conditions. It prevents courts from finding a parent in contempt if they demonstrate they were confined in jail or prison for at least 90 consecutive days (excluding confinement for family violence offenses or prior non-compliance with child support orders) and lacked resources to pay during that time. The bill applies to hearings beginning on or after September 1, 2025, and requires the parent or their attorney to present credible evidence at the hearing. This change directly affects parents serving prison sentences who face child support enforcement actions.

Maddy summaryHB 1127 protects mothers' right to breastfeed or express milk in any location where they and their child are authorized to be, such as public spaces, workplaces, or state facilities. It requires state agencies to develop "mother-friendly" worksite policies and mandates annual notifications about these rights through tax newsletters and seminars. The bill creates a civil remedy allowing mothers to sue for violations, with potential damages up to $500 per day of interference and recovery of attorney fees. This law directly affects breastfeeding mothers, businesses, state agencies, and public venues by prohibiting discrimination and ensuring access to breastfeeding support.

Maddy summaryHB 3511 allows electric vehicle owners in Texas to connect their vehicles to the power grid and sell stored electricity back to the grid, earning credits for supplying power during peak times. It requires the Texas Utility Commission to establish safety and technical standards based on existing industry codes (like UL and NEC) and create a program enabling EVs to participate in grid services through utilities. This directly affects EV owners, electric utilities, and ERCOT market operators by integrating vehicles as grid assets. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThe context provided does not include the full text or content of HB 341. The bill description only states it relates to a study by the Texas Department of Transportation on traffic collisions involving bicycles, electric bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters, but no specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties are detailed in the available information. Without access to the bill's text or a complete summary, a factual description of its policy changes cannot be provided. The bill is currently pending in committee as of April 29, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4697 allows defendants in justice or municipal court hearings to appear via telephone or videoconference instead of in person if a judge determines that in-person attendance would cause significant difficulty. It directly affects individuals facing minor criminal charges in local courts who face barriers like transportation issues or health concerns. The bill requires a judge to first assess whether appearing in person would create undue hardship before approving remote appearances. This change applies to all proceedings starting on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2798 requires virtual currency kiosk operators in Texas to provide clear, plain-language disclosures about key risks before any transaction. These disclosures must cover five specific risks: virtual currency isn't government-backed or insured, transactions may not be recorded immediately on public ledgers, value depends on market demand (risking total loss), and customers aren't obligated to accept virtual currency as payment. The bill also authorizes a fee for these kiosk operations, though the exact amount isn't specified in the provided text. This law directly affects businesses operating physical kiosks that exchange virtual currency for cash or other assets.

Maddy summaryHB 3684 modifies Texas franchise tax rules to exclude specific payments from taxable revenue for securities exchanges and their members. It requires exchanges to exclude transaction rebate payments made to members for securities transactions (buying/selling securities on an exchange), and members to exclude similar payments received from exchanges. These excluded payments are defined as compensation for providing market liquidity. The change applies only to franchise tax reports due on or after January 1, 2026, and affects entities operating as registered securities market operators.

Maddy summaryHB 1718 amends Texas law to clarify the definition of "closing" for private activity bonds, specifically affecting developers and issuers of these bonds. The bill allows "closing" to include delivery of bonds in exchange for at least 10% of the required payment for qualified residential rental project bonds, enabling incremental funding. It also explicitly excludes bond deliveries where proceeds depend on credit enhancement. This change streamlines bond issuance processes for housing projects without altering tax treatment or funding requirements. The bill takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025, if not.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HR 945), not a legislative bill with policy provisions. It formally honors Pope Francis following his death on April 21, 2025, recognizing his life, leadership as the first Latin American pope, and global efforts to serve the vulnerable. The resolution memorializes his legacy, including his work during Argentina's economic crisis, interfaith initiatives, and pandemic-era outreach. It does not create new laws or affect any specific group through policy changes. As a procedural resolution, it serves only to express collective remembrance.

Maddy summaryHB 213 amends Texas education law to include chronically absent students (those missing significant school days) in the official definition of "students at risk of dropping out." This change directly affects school districts, which must now collect and report data on chronically absent students to the state. The bill adds chronic absenteeism as a specific criterion under the existing "at-risk" definition, requiring schools to track and document students missing many days. This policy change ensures schools systematically identify and support students whose attendance patterns signal potential disengagement, with data submitted through the state's education management system.