Rep. Dennis Paul

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 summarySB 269 requires physicians to report certain serious adverse reactions to federal systems (VAERS for vaccines, MedWatch for drugs) when patients receive experimental/investigational vaccines or drugs approved for emergency use by the FDA. It defines "serious adverse events" as those causing death, life-threatening conditions, hospitalization, or significant disability. Physicians must report within one year of vaccination/drug administration if they diagnose the condition and know the patient received a covered vaccine or drug. Violations may result in non-disciplinary corrective action for first offenses or disciplinary measures by the Texas Medical Board for repeat failures. The law applies only to non-routine vaccines/drugs, excluding standard vaccines and clinical trial uses.

Maddy summaryHB 1586 creates a standardized affidavit form for parents or guardians seeking immunization exemptions for school enrollment. The form must include a statement explaining the benefits and risks of both immunizations and not being immunized. The health department must provide this form online or by mail without collecting personal information, and can only track how many times the form is accessed (not who uses it). This change applies starting the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 3441 creates legal liability for vaccine manufacturers who advertise a harmful vaccine within Texas. It defines "advertise" broadly to include paid promotions across media (TV, internet, influencers), but excludes doctor-patient discussions or clinic materials. If a manufacturer's advertised vaccine causes injury, victims can sue within three years for actual damages, attorney fees, and court costs. The law applies only to cases where harm occurs on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 20 establishes Texas' Applied Sciences Pathway program, allowing high school students to earn both diplomas and industry certificates through school-college partnerships. It requires courses in 20 specific high-wage, high-growth fields like plumbing, welding, IT, and oil/gas exploration, with a focus on successful job placement rates. Partnerships must offer non-duplicative, progressive coursework leading to both diplomas and certificates in these sectors. The program begins for the 2027-2028 school year, with industries reviewed every five years to match labor market needs.

Maddy summarySB 17 restricts certain foreign governments and entities from purchasing or acquiring title to specific types of real property in Texas if such ownership poses a risk to public health, safety, or welfare. It prohibits purchases of agricultural land, commercial, industrial, residential property, mines, minerals, or timber by organizations or governments from "designated countries" (identified by U.S. intelligence as national security risks). Exceptions include U.S. citizens/permanent residents, entities owned by them, homestead properties, and leaseholds under 100 years. The law creates a new Property Code Subchapter H (Sections 5.251-5.254) to implement these restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 4413 defines "renewable biomass" as waste materials from farms, forests, and processing (like crop residue, animal waste, or invasive species removal) and "renewable chemicals" as products made from these materials. It requires companies producing renewable chemicals to track and account for the renewable biomass used in their production through a "mass balance" system. This policy directly affects renewable chemical manufacturers in Texas, mandating they document their feedstock sources to meet state requirements. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to establish these definitions and a certification process, effective September 1, 2025.

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 summaryHB 3388 requires insurers offering group property and casualty insurance policies to clearly disclose whether a policy has a shared aggregate limit during the application process. It mandates that insurers deliver a copy of the policy and certificate of insurance to each policyholder within 30 days of issuance or renewal. The bill defines "permitted groups" as 10 or more members with preexisting relationships (e.g., trade associations or affiliations) and allows incidental casualty/liability coverage under these policies. Surplus lines insurers must file group policies collectively rather than individually for each member, streamlining reporting requirements. These changes apply to all group policies issued under Section 2171.002 of the Texas Insurance Code.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires vision insurance companies to create online applications for optometrists and therapeutic optometrists to join their plans. It mandates that insurers provide contracts within 10 business days of receiving a complete application and make credentialing decisions within 30 days. The bill ensures all applicants face identical application requirements and processing timelines, prohibiting insurers from considering extra information beyond the submitted application. It also requires insurers to include approved providers in their plans within 20 business days of contract acceptance. The law applies to all vision care plans serving Texas residents.