Rep. Aicha Davis

Maddy summaryHB 4345 exempts public institutions of higher education in Texas from certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements when providing services, programs, or activities specifically supporting veterans or persons with disabilities - without regard to race, sex, color, or ethnicity. This includes hiring personnel required by law for veterans/disability services and training addressing their unique needs. The bill mandates annual reports to the legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board detailing these services, any changes, and compliance efforts, while prohibiting the use of such programs to establish a DEI office unless legally required. It also requires a biennial study on how the exemption impacts student outcomes like graduation rates, disaggregated by veteran status, disability, and other demographics.

Maddy summaryHB 4330 prohibits Texas public school districts and charter schools from allowing federal immigration officers or peace officers conducting immigration enforcement onto school campuses without a judicial warrant. It also bans schools from sharing student records, family information, or employee details with these officers without a warrant. The bill directly affects schools (which must comply), students and their families (whose data is protected), and school employees. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and creates clear legal barriers to school cooperation with immigration enforcement on campus or through student data disclosure.

Maddy summaryHB 4390 requires Texas public schools to notify parents in writing when machine grading (including AI or software) scores constructed responses on student assessments. Parents may then request manual rescoring of those portions at no cost, using traditional methods without machine grading. The bill directly affects parents and students in Texas public schools, applying to assessments administered starting the 2025-2026 school year. It creates a specific process for parental notification and manual rescoring, focusing on transparency around automated scoring systems. The law does not change assessment content or standards, only the scoring notification and rescoring procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 4320 allows Texas public school districts to offer dual credit courses (courses that provide both high school and college credit) through remote instruction under existing college credit programs. This amendment to the Education Code explicitly permits remote delivery of these courses, directly affecting school districts implementing dual credit programs. The key provision adds a new subsection to Section 28.009, stating dual credit courses "may be offered through remote instruction." The change takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHR 447 is a commemorative resolution passed by the Texas House of Representatives on March 31, 2025, honoring Patrick Shaw Stallings, a Seagoville public servant who died on February 6, 2025. The resolution recognizes his 43-year career in public service, including 23 years as a Lancaster Police Department officer (rising to interim chief), his role as Seagoville Police Chief, and his later position as Seagoville city manager. It serves as an official tribute to his legacy and extends condolences to his family. This is a non-binding memorial resolution with no policy changes or direct impact on constituents.

Maddy summaryHB 4107 creates a program to help certain Texas prosecuting attorneys repay student loans. It provides eligible attorneys who work for the state's border prosecution unit for 1-4 consecutive years with 25% of their student loan balance repaid annually, up to a maximum of four years. The program covers loans from accredited institutions (including undergraduate education) but excludes defaulted loans. Attorneys must be licensed in Texas, apply through the Education Board, and receive payments either directly to lenders or split between lenders and the attorney. This is a targeted financial assistance program for legal professionals serving in border enforcement roles.

Maddy summaryHB 3702 requires school districts designated as "districts of innovation" under Texas law to follow all standard educator certification and contract rules (Chapter 21 of the Education Code), ending their previous ability to exempt themselves from these requirements. The bill directly affects innovation districts that have adopted local innovation plans under Chapter 12A, including those with plans in place before the law’s effective date. It mandates compliance by September 1, 2027, for existing plans and applies to all new or renewed plans. This policy change ensures innovation districts operate under the same teacher qualification standards as other public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 3703 clarifies that school districts designated as "districts of innovation" in Texas must comply with specific state education laws they previously could exempt themselves from. The bill requires these districts to follow all state curriculum and graduation requirements (Chapter 28), class size limits (Section 25.112), discipline rules (Chapter 37), and accountability measures (Chapters 39-39A), among other core requirements. Existing innovation plans must align with these rules by September 1, 2025, and new plans must comply from the start. The bill directly affects Texas school districts operating under the "innovation district" model, ensuring they adhere to fundamental public school standards.

Maddy summaryHB 3814 requires most health benefit plans in Texas to cover prescription medications treating perimenopause and menopause. This applies to private insurance plans, health maintenance organizations, Medicaid, and other covered health plans that provide prescription drug benefits. The law mandates this coverage for plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, with the bill taking effect September 1, 2025. It does not specify particular medications but requires coverage for any prescription drug used to treat these conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 3384 requires school districts designated as "districts of innovation" to follow state class size limits (Section 25.112) and parental notification rules about class size (Section 25.113), removing previous exemptions for these districts. The bill amends Education Code to mandate that all innovation plans - whether adopted before, during, or after the law's effective date - comply with these requirements by September 1, 2025. It specifically prohibits districts of innovation from exempting themselves from these class size provisions, while allowing some other exemptions under existing law. This affects all Texas school districts operating under the innovation district model, ensuring they adhere to standard class size and notification rules. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025.