Rep. Joanne Shofner

Maddy summaryHB 3617 would create an independent Office of Inspector General for Education within the Texas Education Agency to investigate misconduct by employees at public schools and other educational entities. The bill establishes specific qualifications for the inspector general, including certification as an investigator and expertise in areas like law or fraud, and requires appointment without political bias. It also creates a new criminal offense for certain misconduct and increases administrative penalties for violations related to public education. This office would operate separately from the Texas Education Agency to ensure impartial investigations and reporting.

Maddy summaryHCR 120 is a symbolic resolution designating Galatians 5:13 from the New Living Translation of the Bible - "For you have been called to live in freedom... use your freedom to serve one another in love" - as the official Bible verse for the Texas Legislature. This procedural measure does not create new laws or affect any policies; it is purely ceremonial, intended to establish a symbolic reference point for legislative sessions. The resolution applies only to the Texas Legislature itself and has no binding effect on citizens or government operations.

Maddy summaryHB 3456 prohibits Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools from selling drinks containing high fructose corn syrup, effective with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill specifically exempts drinks sold at sporting events or other special events organized by the school. It directly affects schools that sell beverages to students through cafeterias, vending machines, or other school-operated sales. The law requires schools to replace affected drinks with alternatives that do not contain high fructose corn syrup.

Maddy summaryHB 3522 requires that any product labeled "Texas honey" must consist exclusively of honey produced from apiaries located within Texas. This law directly affects honey producers, sellers, and manufacturers who currently use the "Texas honey" label on products. The bill prohibits labeling, selling, or offering for sale any product as "Texas honey" unless all honey in the product comes from Texas apiaries. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025, giving businesses time to comply with the new labeling standard. This is a straightforward labeling requirement with no additional provisions or exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 3465 prohibits the administration of vaccines containing mRNA material to livestock and domestic fowl raised for human consumption. The bill defines "mRNA material" as substances introducing instructions for viral proteins. The Texas Agriculture Commission must create rules banning these vaccines, directly affecting farmers raising animals for food. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 160 proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that the Texas Attorney General has the authority to prosecute election law violations alongside county or district attorneys. This change directly affects election law enforcement by establishing the Attorney General as a co-prosecutor for crimes related to election laws, such as voter fraud or ballot tampering. The amendment would require voters to approve it in the November 2025 election before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHB 3491 creates a process for specific election participants to request explanations about potential irregularities in Texas elections. It allows candidates, party chairs, election judges, or political committee heads to submit written requests to county clerks for explanations and documentation regarding issues like voting discrepancies or procedural violations. County clerks must respond within 20 days for initial requests and 10 days for follow-ups, with unresolved cases escalating to the Secretary of State for a potential audit within 30 days. The bill establishes clear timelines for addressing concerns but does not detail the civil penalty mentioned in its title.

Maddy summaryHB 3548 clarifies that open-enrollment charter schools must comply with existing education code requirements regarding health instruction on human sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It amends Section 12.104(b) of the Education Code to explicitly include charter schools under the same regulatory framework as traditional public schools for these topics. The bill ensures charter schools follow established rules for curriculum content, monitoring, and reporting related to this instruction. It does not change the content of required instruction but specifies that charter schools must adhere to the same standards as other public schools. The bill is currently in the Public Education committee for review.

Maddy summaryHB 3313 requires non-broadcast political advertisements (such as print, digital, or mailers) to display disclosure statements in text that is easily readable with a type size no smaller than 9 points. This bill directly affects political campaigns, PACs, and advertisers who produce non-broadcast political content. The requirement applies only to ads published or distributed on or after September 1, 2025, with older ads governed by previous rules. The law aims to improve readability of disclosure information for voters.

Maddy summaryHB 3392 prohibits health care providers in Texas from denying treatment, procedures, or services based on a patient's vaccination status. It applies to all licensed health care facilities and professionals, including physicians. The bill imposes a $50,000 civil penalty for each violation, allowing the Texas Attorney General to enforce it and recover legal fees. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.