Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins

Maddy summaryHB 1440 requires Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to publish an annual report by February 1st each year, detailing specific child protection performance data. The report must include metrics like the number of child abuse reports received, protective actions taken, child deaths from abuse/neglect, staffing levels, permanency goals for children in foster care, and data on pregnant minors in DFPS custody. This bill directly affects DFPS (which must create and publish the report) and the public (which gains access to this transparency data). The law also authorizes penalties for DFPS if it fails to meet these reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1460 creates a 15-member task force within Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to locate relatives and individuals with significant relationships to children placed in DFPS custody. The task force must identify these individuals within 24 hours of a child's placement and locate them within 72 hours of a custody lawsuit filing, using methods like gathering information from parents, relatives, and the child (age-appropriately). This bill directly affects children entering DFPS custody, their relatives, and individuals with established relationships to those children, while requiring DFPS to follow specific procedures for notification and locating these individuals. The task force includes members from law enforcement, the Attorney General's office, and specialized investigators with experience working with children.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution designates May 8 as "Vaccination Day" in Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035. It recognizes May 8 as the anniversary of the 1980 declaration that the world was free of smallpox, highlighting the importance of immunization. The resolution serves as a ceremonial observance to honor vaccine history and public health achievements, with no direct policy or funding changes. It does not affect specific individuals or groups but encourages public awareness of vaccination's role in health.

Maddy summaryHB 1432 prevents homeowner associations (HOAs) from banning or restricting specific water- and eco-friendly landscaping practices in their rules. It directly affects HOAs and homeowners by prohibiting restrictions on composting vegetation, installing rain barrels or rainwater systems, using efficient drip irrigation, and choosing drought-resistant or water-conserving turf instead of traditional grass. The bill allows HOAs to still regulate details like composting device placement, rain barrel color, or gravel use, but not the core conservation practices themselves. This changes how HOAs can enforce landscaping rules to support water conservation.

Maddy summaryHB 5 creates the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to accelerate research on dementia and related disorders. The institute will award grants to Texas universities, medical facilities, and other eligible organizations for research into dementia causes, prevention strategies, treatments, and symptom mitigation. It establishes oversight committees to manage grants, ensure compliance, and requires annual public reports detailing funded projects and recipients. The institute is set to expire on September 1, 2035, unless extended under Texas Sunset Act procedures.

Maddy summaryHJR 3 proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. The bill would transfer $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026, for research, prevention, and treatment of dementia and related disorders. The institute would award grants to Texas research institutions, medical facilities, and collaboratives to develop treatments, prevention programs, and address access to care. This initiative directly affects Texans living with dementia and their families, as well as researchers and healthcare providers in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1137 requires Texas school board trustees to complete annual training on parental rights in education and mandates the Texas Education Agency to create a publicly accessible handbook explaining these rights. The handbook must be written in plain language, updated yearly, and available online in a searchable format. This bill directly affects school board members (who must complete the training) and parents (who gain clearer access to their educational rights). Key deadlines include developing the training by January 1, 2026, and creating the handbook by the same date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Texas law to clarify the University Interscholastic League's (UIL) duties regarding academic, music, and athletic competitions for public schools. It requires UIL to create contest rules, form local committees, and follow open meeting laws (Government Code Chapters 551-552) for all its committees. The changes apply to meetings held on or after September 1, 2025, directly affecting how UIL administers statewide contests for Texas public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 785 requires all Texas public school districts to adopt a "healthy and safe school water plan" to address lead contamination in drinking water sources. The bill mandates schools to test water sources (like taps used for drinking or food) for lead regularly, restrict access to contaminated sources within 48 hours of detection, and maintain records of test results. Districts must publicly post test results on their websites, notify parents and staff within 24 hours of test results, and designate a point of contact for water safety inquiries. These requirements aim to protect students and staff by ensuring timely testing, transparency, and mitigation of lead exposure in school water systems.

Maddy summaryHB 832 establishes new procedures for hearings and meetings involving the University Interscholastic League (UIL), which oversees Texas school academic and athletic competitions. The bill requires the UIL's legislative council to update its rules to ensure clear hearing processes, including holding hearings in school districts where the involved student or campus does not compete and resolving conflict-of-interest objections before proceedings. It mandates that district committees give the highest weight to a student's parent's stated reason for changing schools, limits consideration of minor factors like coach dissatisfaction, and caps penalties for athletic eligibility violations at one year of varsity competition. This directly affects students, schools, and UIL committees involved in rule disputes over athletic eligibility or competition decisions.