Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 1201 creates a two-year Medicaid pilot program in Texas to cover doula services for eligible pregnant individuals. The program, launching in 2026 in the most populous county and the county with the highest maternal health needs, provides nonmedical childbirth support like emotional and physical coaching during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum. The Health and Human Services Commission must report annually on costs and birth outcomes, and submit a final evaluation by 2030 to determine if the program should continue or expand. The pilot expires September 1, 2031, after which coverage would not automatically continue.

Maddy summaryHB 1359 creates an "Income-Based Assistance Fund" to provide financial help for low-income retail electric customers in Texas. The bill establishes a trust fund financed by a fee (up to 65 cents per megawatt hour) charged to retail electric providers and collected from customers based on usage. This fund, managed by the comptroller and administered by the Health and Human Services Commission, will offer monetary assistance to eligible low-income households identified through an automatic process. The program directly affects low-income electricity users and requires electric providers to collect the fee, with the commission setting the fee amount biennially to cover administrative costs.

Maddy summaryHB 557 modifies Texas law to prevent courts from finding parents in contempt for unpaid child support if they provide evidence of two specific circumstances. It requires parents to show either current payment records (via receipts or bank statements) or proof that payment delays resulted from third-party errors (like banking issues) or situations outside their control. The bill applies only to child support enforcement hearings starting on or after September 1, 2025, leaving past cases governed by prior law. This change directly affects parents facing contempt charges for missed child support payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the duration of emergency protection orders in Texas criminal cases. Orders issued under most circumstances now remain effective for 61 to 91 days (up from 31-61 days), while certain orders (under Subsection b(2)) last 91 to 121 days (up from 61-91 days). The law requires courts to modify orders only after notice, a hearing, and finding that changes won't endanger victims or increase risk. These changes apply only to orders issued on or after September 1, 2025, affecting defendants subject to these orders and victims protected under them.

Maddy summaryHB 3339 mandates a study by Texas' Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the Department of State Health Services to examine maternal mortality and morbidity rates specifically among Black women in Texas. The study requires comparing these rates to other racial/ethnic groups, analyzing socioeconomic factors, evaluating healthcare coverage types (Medicaid, private insurance, uninsured), and assessing impacts of specific health conditions (like preeclampsia and obesity) and implicit biases in healthcare. It also requires evaluating social determinants of health and pregnancy-related complications. The committee must submit a report with recommendations to address disparities by September 1, 2026, including provider training on cultural competency and successful programs from other states. This bill directly affects Black women in Texas by focusing on data collection to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1738 repeals the criminal penalty for homosexual conduct (previously codified in Section 21.06 of the Penal Code). It simultaneously amends health education requirements in Texas schools to mandate that materials for minors include the statement that "homosexual conduct is not an acceptable lifestyle," while incorrectly referencing the repealed law. The bill affects public school health curricula for students under 18, requiring this specific language to be included in sexual education programs. The legislation passed the Texas legislature on May 16, 2025, and would take effect immediately if approved by a two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025, otherwise.

Maddy summaryHB 3977 creates Chapter 174A in the Texas Local Government Code to establish standardized employment rules for firefighters in certain political subdivisions (cities, counties, etc.). It defines key terms like "covered firefighter" and "employment agreement," requiring public employers to negotiate written agreements covering wages, hours, and working conditions with firefighters associations. The law preempts conflicting local ordinances or state agency rules on these matters and clarifies it does not affect existing benefits unless changed through a ratified agreement. This bill applies to most municipal fire departments but excludes those already covered by existing chapters or those serving exclusively within a municipality.

Maddy summaryHB 1730 requires the University of Houston to lead a study on how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (common in products like food packaging and firefighting gear) affect public health. The study must examine these chemicals in food and drink products, drinking water sources, and workplace materials used by firefighters and manufacturing workers. The University of Houston, working with Texas environmental agencies, must complete the study and submit a report to the legislature by December 1, 2026. The bill expires December 31, 2026, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2140 amends Texas law to increase the size of the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee from 23 to 25 members. The bill specifies exact membership requirements, adding two doulas (including one specializing in end-of-life care), a rural community representative, and a managed care organization representative, while maintaining core medical specialties like obstetrics, psychiatry, and epidemiology. This directly affects how the committee is structured and who participates in reviewing maternal mortality cases across Texas. The committee’s composition will now include more diverse healthcare perspectives and community representation to improve review processes. The changes take effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3554 establishes the Texas Rare Disease Advisory Council under the Health and Safety Code to advise the governor, state agencies, and healthcare providers on improving care for Texans with rare diseases. The council, composed of 23 appointed members including patients, caregivers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and industry representatives, will develop recommendations for better health outcomes. It requires the state health department to provide administrative support to the council. This bill directly affects individuals diagnosed with rare diseases (defined as conditions impacting fewer than 200,000 people nationally) by creating a formal channel for their input into healthcare policy.