Rep. Joanne Shofner

Maddy summarySB 1230 designates Farm-to-Market Road 10 in Panola County as the "Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson Memorial Highway" under Texas Transportation Code. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the highway and at appropriate intermediate locations along the route. This is a ceremonial designation with no new funding, regulations, or policy changes; it solely honors Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after receiving approval from both legislative chambers and the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 4099 changes Texas law to allow physical therapists to treat patients without a referral for up to 10 consecutive business days, reducing the previous 30-day limit. After this initial period, therapists must obtain a referral from a licensed practitioner to continue treatment. The bill directly affects physical therapists and their patients by modifying practice requirements. It repeals an existing subsection and requires the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners to adopt implementing rules by December 1, 2025, with the law taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 229 defines key terms like "boy," "father," "female," and "woman" based on biological sex for government data collection. It specifies that individuals with intersex conditions or disorders of sex development are not considered a third sex and must receive accommodations under existing law. The bill amends the Government Code to require state agencies to use these biological sex definitions when gathering information. It directly affects how Texas government entities collect and categorize personal data in records, programs, and services. The law became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 4429 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 281 in Blanco and Burnet Counties - between State Highway 71 and Ranch Road 962 - as the Muckleroy Family Memorial Highway. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the designated segment and at appropriate intermediate locations along the highway. This is a commemorative designation with no new policy or funding requirements; it solely names the highway segment for recognition. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after receiving gubernatorial approval.

Maddy summaryHB 2 amends Texas education law to change how public school districts and charter schools compensate teachers. It requires schools to implement performance-based pay systems where teacher salaries differentiate based on appraisals, prohibits routine across-the-board raises, and mandates that all teachers be eligible for designations like "master" or "exemplary" based on evaluations. The bill also establishes criteria for districts to qualify for enhanced teacher incentive funding, including strategic evaluation systems for principals and placing highly effective teachers at high-need campuses. This directly affects school districts, charter schools, and classroom teachers by restructuring compensation and evaluation practices.

Maddy summaryHB 3629 prohibits individuals required to register as sex offenders under Texas law from serving on the board of trustees of an independent school district. It directly affects sex offenders who might seek or hold such board positions. The bill amends the Education Code to add explicit ineligibility language (Section 11.061(b-1)), requiring candidates to acknowledge this restriction and banning service for those on the sex offender registry. The law took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 549 requires Texas public school districts to make at least one airway clearance device available at each campus by the 2025-2026 school year. These devices, defined as noninvasive tools for removing foreign-body airway obstructions, must be stored where students eat and accessible when students are present. Each school must also ensure at least one trained employee is available at all times during student activity. The law applies to all public school campuses and specifies districts may obtain devices through donations or purchased funds, while clarifying it does not create new liability for schools.

Maddy summaryHB 2560 creates the "Adopt-a-County Road" program, allowing Texas county commissioners courts to partner with donors who fund repairs and maintenance for specific county road sections. Donors receive public recognition through signs installed by the county, and the program requires counties to set minimum donation amounts for recognition. Funds collected under this program must be used exclusively for the designated road section, including maintenance activities outlined in existing transportation codes. The law took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3284 creates the Texas Commission on Marriage and Family, composed of seven members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and House speaker. The commission must study ways to promote strong marriages and healthy families, identify state policies that discourage marriage or parenting, and make recommendations to the legislature. It requires members to have specific expertise in family law, counseling, child development, or community work supporting families. This procedural bill establishes a study group with no immediate policy changes, focusing instead on research and recommendations to foster an environment supportive of marriage and family formation.

Maddy summarySB 23 increases the school district homestead tax exemption for elderly (65+) or disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000 of their home's appraised value. This directly affects eligible homeowners who qualify for the exemption and school districts that may lose local tax revenue due to the change. The bill requires the state to provide additional aid to school districts to offset revenue losses from the higher exemption, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The state aid calculation compares current revenue to what would have been collected under the previous exemption amount. The bill was signed into law on June 16, 2025, and is now effective.