Rep. Mano DeAyala

Maddy summaryHB 2587 requires Texas hospitals to report costs of providing care to patients without legal immigration status. Hospitals must ask about immigration status during intake (without affecting care) and submit quarterly data on costs and financial impact to a state agency. The agency then compiles an annual report for lawmakers by November 1, detailing total costs and how these expenses affected hospitals. This applies to all Texas hospitals serving patients who were not lawfully present at the time of care, focusing on transparency about uncompensated care expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 3458 bans pet stores from selling dogs or cats, with limited exceptions for animal control agencies and nonprofit adoption organizations that meet specific criteria. These exceptions require organizations to not obtain animals for compensation, breed them, or have ties to breeders or brokers, and pet stores cannot charge fees or claim ownership for adoption showcases. Violations carry a civil penalty of up to $500 per day per animal sold. The law applies only to animals obtained by pet stores on or after the effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 2929 requires Texas peace officers to complete a mandatory two-hour training program on interacting with people with autism spectrum disorder. The training, established under new Section 1701.273 of the Occupations Code, covers evidence-based topics like recognizing autism manifestations, reducing stress during interactions, communicating effectively, locating missing individuals with autism, identifying exploitation risks, and applying custody laws. This requirement applies directly to all Texas peace officers as part of their minimum curriculum. The bill aims to improve officer preparedness when encountering individuals with autism, focusing on practical communication and safety protocols without changing existing legal standards.

Maddy summaryHB 3488 requires the Texas Board of Criminal Justice to provide free legal representation for indigent individuals facing civil commitment proceedings under the Health and Safety Code. It directly affects people with mental health conditions who cannot afford a lawyer in these specific court cases. The bill mandates the Board provide counsel unless it cannot, in which case the court must appoint another attorney. This amendment updates existing law to clarify the Board's responsibility for these cases, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4688 modifies Texas law for civil liability cases involving commercial motor vehicle accidents. It restricts when evidence of regulatory violations (like safety rules) can be used in court, requiring such evidence to directly link the violation to the injury and show the rule specifically applied to the situation. The bill also limits claims against employers for driver negligence unless the employer first admits the driver was acting within their job duties at the time of the accident. These changes apply only to cases filed or tried after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHJR 138 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to prohibit the state legislature from imposing taxes based on the carbon content of fuels or emissions of carbon dioxide from goods and services. If approved by voters, it would prevent Texas from enacting any carbon tax policy. The bill failed to pass the Texas Legislature on May 12, 2025, so it did not advance to a voter referendum. This would have directly affected all Texans by blocking a potential state-level carbon tax mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 2969 prohibits the Texas State Bar from adopting rules, policies, or penalties that restrict law license applicants or holders based on religious beliefs or burden constitutional rights. It specifically bans limitations on licensing due to sincerely held religious beliefs, or restrictions on free speech (including religious or political views), religious association, or assembly. Exceptions allow rules that serve a compelling government interest narrowly tailored to that purpose, or that address willful bias in court proceedings. The bill enables licensees to challenge violations through administrative hearings or lawsuits under Texas law, but not in cases involving sexual misconduct allegations or criminal prosecution.

Maddy summaryHB 1761 clarifies standards for disciplining Texas judges by expanding the definition of misconduct to include specific actions like failing to meet court deadlines, violating penal statutes, or not cooperating with the judicial conduct commission. It requires the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to maintain detailed complaint files, including complainant information, documentation, and reasons for closing cases without action. The bill also creates new penalties for false complaints, allowing the commission to impose administrative fines of up to $500 for a first false complaint and $2,500 for a second. These changes aim to improve transparency and accountability in judicial conduct proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 2275 requires that surplus lines insurance contracts (specialized policies for high-risk or hard-to-place coverage) containing arbitration agreements must specify that any arbitration occurs in Texas and follows Texas law. It mandates that both the arbitration process and contract interpretation be governed by Texas statutes, applying only to contracts delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. Existing contracts before that date remain subject to prior law. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects insurers writing surplus lines policies in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 298 requires Texas driver's licenses and personal ID certificates to include a clear indication that the holder is a U.S. citizen. This applies to all licenses issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The bill specifies that licenses must also display the holder's full name, date of birth, a full-face photograph, a distinguishing number, and either a residence address or, for certain federal judges or officials, the courthouse address. It does not change existing requirements for non-citizens. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.