Rep. Cas Garcia Hernandez

Maddy summaryHB 13 creates the Texas Interoperability Council to develop a statewide plan ensuring emergency communication systems (like those used by police, fire, and medical responders) can work together effectively during crises. The council will administer grants to help local governments (counties, cities, and special districts) purchase interoperable equipment and build necessary communication infrastructure. Key provisions require the council to create a strategic plan for statewide emergency communication coordination and establish a grant program focused on equipment that connects across different emergency services. The council is composed of seven members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and House speaker, with specific terms and governance rules. This bill directly affects local emergency response capabilities by addressing equipment compatibility gaps.

Maddy summaryThis resolution recognizes February 12, 2025, as "Texas Trial Lawyers Association Women's Caucus Lobby Day" at the Texas State Capitol. It formally welcomes members of the TTLA Women's Caucus - established in 2014 to support women trial lawyers - during their annual visit to lobby lawmakers. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of the group's work in professional development and leadership support for women in the legal field.

Maddy summaryHB 3736 prohibits Texas public school districts and charter schools from serving food or drinks containing specific artificial color additives in school meals. The bill bans nine listed additives (including red 40, yellow 5, blue 1, and caramel) and any substantially similar substitutes. This policy directly affects school nutrition programs, requiring them to remove these additives from all meals served to students starting the 2025-2026 school year. The law does not apply to food sold in vending machines or à la carte items outside of regular meals.

Maddy summaryHB 3735 requires health insurance plans in Texas to cover prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care provided in hospitals, birthing centers, or home settings. It specifically mandates coverage for nurse midwife services, prenatal visits (including ultrasounds), related blood/urine tests, childbirth in all three settings, and prescription drugs for pain management during labor. This applies to all health benefit plans offering maternity coverage, including those from traditional insurers, HMOs, health maintenance organizations, and state health exchanges. The bill aims to standardize coverage for essential pregnancy-related services regardless of where care is delivered.

Maddy summaryHB 3738 requires the Texas Department of Agriculture (with Texas Education Agency assistance) to conduct an annual study measuring PFAS levels in school lunches served through the state's school lunch program. The study must test representative samples of all foods distributed to schools under the program and other foods commonly purchased using program subsidies. Results must be reported annually to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, and all legislators by December 31 each year, with the first report due December 31, 2026. This bill directly affects Texas public school lunch programs and the agencies managing food safety compliance.

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 3194 amends Texas law to update the specific reasons the Texas Board of Nursing may deny a nursing license or take disciplinary action against a licensed nurse. It adds 15 clear grounds, including prohibiting nurses from taking patient photos without consent and sharing them on social media (new item 15), requiring action for substance abuse endangering patients (item 9), and addressing mental health or physical conditions that could harm patients (items 11-12). The bill also clarifies penalties for violations like fraud in licensing, unlicensed practice, or misconduct involving moral offenses. These changes apply only to conduct occurring on or after September 1, 2025, with past conduct governed by previous law. The bill directly affects registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses seeking or holding Texas nursing licenses.

Maddy summaryHB 2753 clarifies and expands legal protections for workers facing sexual harassment in Texas workplaces. It defines sexual harassment to include unwanted advances, requests for sexual favors, or conduct that creates a hostile work environment (such as affecting job decisions or interfering with work performance). The bill's key provision (Section 21.2545) allows individuals to directly file civil lawsuits for harassment damages without first filing a complaint with the state labor commission or waiting for its resolution. This directly affects employees who experience harassment and employers who fail to prevent it or retaliate against those reporting it.

Maddy summaryHB 2840 defines "milk" as liquid secreted by mammal mammary glands and "milk product" as any product containing milk. It prohibits businesses from labeling or advertising non-milk products as "milk" or "milk products." This bill directly affects food manufacturers and retailers selling plant-based or alternative dairy products that currently use terms like "milk" in their branding. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, requiring clear labeling that aligns with the defined terms.

Maddy summaryHB 2922 prohibits health insurance companies from using artificial intelligence algorithms as the sole basis to deny, delay, or modify health care services for plan members based on medical necessity. The bill requires that only physicians or licensed health care providers can determine if care is medically necessary or appropriate, ensuring human oversight in critical decisions. It also grants the insurance commissioner authority to audit insurers' use of AI in these reviews at any time. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting health benefit plans, insurers, and the care decisions of plan members.