Rep. Toni Rose

Maddy summaryHB 2071 requires child protective services to refer suspected abuse or neglect cases involving medical consultations to specific, independent physicians who weren’t previously involved in the case. It mandates that parents or guardians receive all medical records - including imaging and test results - before referrals and ensures independent medical reviews resolve disagreements about injury causes. The bill also prohibits barriers to parents obtaining records for second opinions or additional testing. This directly affects parents, child welfare departments, hospitals, and healthcare providers involved in abuse investigations. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 26 allows Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) in Texas to offer nutrition counseling and instruction services instead of certain mental health or substance use disorder services covered under the state Medicaid plan. The bill requires contracts between the state and MCOs to include this option, with the state Medicaid advisory committee approving which nutrition services may be substituted (excluding home-delivered meals, food prescriptions, or grocery support). MCOs must provide these nutrition services as an alternative, and the state must annually report on their usage and consider their costs when setting MCO payment rates. This policy directly affects Texas Medicaid beneficiaries who may receive nutrition services in place of other covered services and the MCOs managing their care.

Maddy summaryHB 2854 requires parole officers to approve non-medical hospital visits for certain parolees convicted of specific offenses (listed in Texas law). Releasees must submit advance requests specifying visit details, and parole officers must notify hospitals of approved visits. The bill shields hospitals from liability for damages related to these visits, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. It applies only to parolees released on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect those released earlier.

Maddy summarySB 1494 allows certain local governments - specifically non-county political subdivisions and non-municipal utility districts - to switch their general election dates to the statewide November election date by December 31, 2026. It amends the Election Code to grant these entities the authority to align their election schedules with the uniform statewide election cycle. The bill does not apply to counties or municipal utility districts, which already follow the November election date. This change takes effect immediately after receiving the required two-thirds legislative vote, as confirmed by the bill's passage and gubernatorial signing on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 300 increases the maximum Texas Armed Services Scholarship to $30,000 per academic year (up from $15,000), capping at the average cost of attendance at Texas colleges. It expands appointment authority, allowing the governor and lieutenant governor to each appoint two students annually, and each state senator or representative to appoint one student, with deadlines set for September 30. The bill directly affects Texas students enrolled in ROTC or similar military commissioning programs at Texas colleges, requiring proof of program enrollment or acceptance into the Texas State Guard. These changes are effective immediately after the bill was signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 109 designates the Waco Center for Youth as a state residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed juveniles under state custody. It requires the Department of Family and Protective Services to provide free education services at this facility, with non-local students needing school district approval for services. The bill also allows one-time state grants for constructing or expanding specific inpatient mental health facilities, funded through legislative appropriations. This affects juveniles admitted to state facilities under certain conditions and impacts how education services are delivered at designated treatment centers.

Maddy summaryHB 102 requires Texas public universities to offer early registration for courses and programs to students in military-related programs who are in good standing. Specifically, it mandates this for students enrolled in ROTC programs, cadet corps (including at senior military colleges), or maritime academies. The law, effective for the 2026 spring semester, obligates institutions to provide this early registration opportunity on the same basis as other designated student groups. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will develop rules to implement this requirement.

Maddy summarySB 227 modifies Texas' delayed birth certificate process to make it easier for applicants to prove identity and birthplace. It prevents state registrars from rejecting applications solely due to inconsistent supporting evidence, requiring them instead to weigh specific factors like valid ID (e.g., driver's license), evidence questioning birthplace, and verified affidavits from knowledgeable individuals. For individuals born before January 1, 1959, the bill mandates registration of a delayed birth certificate using only the established parent’s name if that parent’s identity is verified with non-contradictory information. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting residents seeking delayed birth certificates, particularly those with complex documentation.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 67 in Dallas and Ellis Counties - between U.S. Highway 287 and Interstate 20 - as the "Eddie Bernice Johnson Memorial Highway." It requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at each end of the highway and at intermediate sites along the route, in addition to any existing designations. The bill has no policy or operational changes beyond this ceremonial naming, which honors the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. It became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1137 requires group home operators to obtain criminal history records for all applicants and employees, prohibiting hiring for individuals convicted of specific offenses under the Penal Code (e.g., violence, sexual offenses, or certain felonies). It creates a new criminal offense under Section 767.004 for group home consultants who refer potential residents to homes employing individuals banned under these rules. The bill directly affects group home operators, their employees, and consultants who facilitate resident placements. Violations are punishable as Class A misdemeanors, with key provisions targeting background checks and referral practices to protect vulnerable residents.