Rep. Joanne Shofner

Maddy summaryHB 25 requires Texas public schools to provide daily physical activity for students in prekindergarten through grade 8, mandating at least 30 minutes of moderate/vigorous activity per day for younger students (pre-K-grade 5) and 135-225 minutes weekly for middle schoolers (grades 6-8), with scheduling flexibility. It directly affects all Texas public school students in these grades and prohibits school staff from withholding physical activity as punishment for academic or behavioral reasons. The bill also adds a new requirement that higher education institutions receiving certain funds must develop nutrition curricula aligned with Texas nutrition guidelines. This legislation focuses on structured physical education and activity standards, not on nutrition food policies. The bill is currently pending in committee after being favorably reported as substituted.

Maddy summaryHB 2832 requires Texas state agencies (including universities) to obtain the state comptroller's written approval before accepting any federal funds. Agencies must submit a detailed request outlining all federal conditions/limitations and estimated implementation costs, with the comptroller required to review and respond before federal deadlines. Exceptions apply for repeated requests from the same federal source with identical conditions. The comptroller must also share all submitted requests with the governor, legislative leaders, and appropriations committees. This bill aims to centralize oversight of federal fund acceptance but does not alter how agencies use the funds.

Maddy summaryHB 176 establishes requirements for future interstate compacts focused on border security between Texas and other states. It defines "illegal alien" using federal immigration terms and mandates that any new compact must include provisions for sharing law enforcement intelligence, resources for physical barriers or surveillance systems, and mutual support for personnel and infrastructure along the Texas-Mexico border. The bill specifies that compacts must aim to detect, apprehend, or deflect unauthorized border crossings and enforce federal immigration laws. It applies only to compacts entered into on or after the bill’s effective date (September 1, 2025), leaving existing compacts governed by prior law.

Maddy summaryHB 5510, titled the Women and Child Protection Act, creates civil liability for distributing abortion-inducing drugs and establishes a private civil right of action against individuals or organizations that facilitate access to elective abortions. The bill directly affects abortion assistance organizations - defined as entities providing financial support, travel arrangements, childcare, or logistical services to enable abortions - as well as those distributing abortion-inducing drugs. Key provisions include authorizing private lawsuits for damages related to these activities and creating criminal offenses for certain violations. The law harmonizes existing abortion-related provisions in Texas law while focusing on civil enforcement mechanisms rather than criminal penalties for patients.

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 3189 strengthens penalties for human trafficking by elevating certain offenses to a first-degree felony. It increases punishment when trafficking occurs within 1,000 feet of schools, school bus stops, colleges, youth shelters, juvenile facilities, or child-care centers, or during school events or on school buses. If proven, offenders face life imprisonment or 25-99 years in prison instead of lesser penalties. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025), not past actions. This change directly affects traffickers who target locations where children or vulnerable youth gather.

Maddy summarySB 14, titled the Regulatory Reform and Efficiency Act, creates the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office within the governor's office to streamline how state agencies develop and review regulations. The office will help agencies identify unnecessary rules, reduce costs for businesses and individuals, and establish a public online portal for searching regulatory information. This bill directly affects state agencies that create regulations and the public who interact with those regulations. The new office will operate until 2037 unless extended under the Sunset Act, with its work focused on improving regulatory efficiency and transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 1972 requires public medical schools in Texas to include at least three hours of mandatory nutrition coursework in their medical degree programs. The coursework must cover normal caloric intake, diet modifications for conditions like diabetes, nutrition's role in preventing diseases (e.g., obesity, hypertension), and common food additives in U.S. products. The bill prohibits pharmaceutical or food/beverage companies from developing, funding, or influencing this required curriculum. It applies to students entering medical programs after the 2026 spring semester, with the requirement expiring January 1, 2032.

Maddy summaryHB 3125 requires the Texas Workforce Commission to create a geothermal energy workforce education and training initiative. The bill directs the Commission, working with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and educational institutions (including colleges, career schools, and public technical institutes), to develop customized training programs for geothermal energy jobs. Key provisions include establishing curriculum standards for degrees/certificates, identifying funding for training programs, and promoting school-industry partnerships for apprenticeships. This initiative directly affects Texas students seeking geothermal energy careers, educational institutions offering relevant programs, and employers in the geothermal sector.

Maddy summaryHB 1907 prohibits Texas state and local government entities from entering contracts for information and communications technology (ICT) services with companies tied to the Chinese government. It defines "scrutinized companies" as those organized in China, publicly traded with Chinese government control over leadership, or privately held with Chinese government ownership. Government entities may bypass the ban only with the governor’s approval, citing necessity. Violations face civil penalties and potential criminal charges, though the bill focuses on the contractual prohibition itself.