Rep. Joanne Shofner

Maddy summaryHB 2588, the "Food Freedom Act," expands home-based food production rules in Texas by defining "cottage food production operations" for individuals or small nonprofits operating from home. It allows these businesses to produce specific non-perishable foods like baked goods, jams, dried fruits, and nut butters, while excluding high-risk items such as meat, seafood, raw milk, CBD products, and canned goods. The bill sets an annual income cap of $100,000 (adjusted for inflation) for these operations and restricts sales to direct consumer purchases or other cottage food vendors. This primarily affects small-scale home food entrepreneurs seeking to legally sell their products without full commercial kitchen requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 256 authorizes the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to conduct rapid DNA tests using mouth swabs on individuals detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Texas-Mexico border who are suspected of falsely claiming family relationships with others detained by CBP. The program requires DPS to destroy biological samples after testing and prohibits creating a DNA database from these tests. Results must be shared with CBP for federal immigration enforcement, and the agreement with CBP must include these destruction and database restrictions. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3717 establishes a Texas grant program to fund private entities conducting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug development trials using ibogaine. The program targets organizations (for-profit, nonprofit, or public benefit corporations) that can design and execute FDA trials to seek approval of ibogaine as a medication for treating opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and other neurological or mental health conditions where ibogaine shows effectiveness. Applicants must submit detailed trial designs, team expertise, and FDA approval strategies. The grant covers costs for these trials, aiming to advance ibogaine's potential approval as a treatment option.

Maddy summaryHB 3219 would allow Texas pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a doctor's prescription by requiring the state health commissioner to issue a statewide order. The bill mandates standardized protocols for pharmacists, including providing patient instructions on proper use, and protects pharmacists from liability when acting in good faith. It also requires pharmacists to submit annual reports on dispensing volumes. This directly affects licensed pharmacists and patients seeking ivermectin, changing current requirements that typically require a prescription.

Maddy summaryHB 4688 modifies Texas law for civil liability cases involving commercial motor vehicle accidents. It restricts when evidence of regulatory violations (like safety rules) can be used in court, requiring such evidence to directly link the violation to the injury and show the rule specifically applied to the situation. The bill also limits claims against employers for driver negligence unless the employer first admits the driver was acting within their job duties at the time of the accident. These changes apply only to cases filed or tried after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHJR 138 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to prohibit the state legislature from imposing taxes based on the carbon content of fuels or emissions of carbon dioxide from goods and services. If approved by voters, it would prevent Texas from enacting any carbon tax policy. The bill failed to pass the Texas Legislature on May 12, 2025, so it did not advance to a voter referendum. This would have directly affected all Texans by blocking a potential state-level carbon tax mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 5076 requires certified health organizations (like hospitals and clinics) to adopt policies ensuring employed physicians make independent medical decisions without organizational interference. If these policies are followed and the organization doesn't interfere with a physician's judgment, the organization cannot be held liable for the physician's medical care. The bill amends the Occupations Code to create this protection, directly affecting healthcare entities that employ physicians. This change focuses on clarifying liability boundaries rather than altering patient care standards.

Maddy summaryHB 437 requires Texas juvenile detention and correctional facilities to place children based on their biological sex as shown on their official birth certificate or other government records. The bill mandates that facilities use a birth certificate entered near birth without non-clerical modifications, or alternative government records if the birth certificate is unavailable. It directly affects juvenile justice departments and facilities operating under Texas Family Code Chapter 51, requiring them to comply with this placement standard or risk losing facility registration. The law also prohibits fees for obtaining birth certificates for this purpose and directs facilities to consider safety needs under existing federal standards.

Maddy summaryHB 2969 prohibits the Texas State Bar from adopting rules, policies, or penalties that restrict law license applicants or holders based on religious beliefs or burden constitutional rights. It specifically bans limitations on licensing due to sincerely held religious beliefs, or restrictions on free speech (including religious or political views), religious association, or assembly. Exceptions allow rules that serve a compelling government interest narrowly tailored to that purpose, or that address willful bias in court proceedings. The bill enables licensees to challenge violations through administrative hearings or lawsuits under Texas law, but not in cases involving sexual misconduct allegations or criminal prosecution.

Maddy summaryHB 778 requires most health insurance plans in Texas to cover medical expenses related to complications ("adverse effects") from gender transition treatments and procedures to reverse those treatments. It applies to individual, group, and employer-sponsored health plans, including HMOs, nonprofit health plans, and certain government-sponsored coverage. The law specifically mandates coverage for medical/surgical expenses tied to complications or reversals of gender transition procedures, not for standard transition care itself. This affects insurers offering plans under Texas Insurance Code chapters 842-846, 884-885, 941-942, and 1501-1682.