Rep. Senfronia Thompson

Maddy summarySB 2167 requires massage therapy businesses and schools to obtain a new license if they change locations, preventing unlicensed operations at new sites. It allows the licensing commission to delay approving or denying licenses for up to 90 days if there's reasonable suspicion of criminal activity at the proposed location or if the applicant is subject to a public health emergency order. The bill also clarifies that entities (like businesses) are subject to delays if any owner or operator faces such orders. These changes take effect September 1, 2025, and require the licensing commission to update rules to implement the law.

Maddy summarySB 1760 amends Texas Estates Code provisions to streamline guardianship transfers between counties when a person's residence changes. It requires courts to transfer guardianship proceedings to the proper county within 10 working days of a transfer order, with clerks sending all necessary documents electronically via the state's filing system. The bill standardizes the transfer process by mandating specific documents (like court orders, case records, and a bill of costs) be sent to the new county clerk. This directly affects courts, guardians, and individuals under guardianship whose cases move across county lines, ensuring smoother administrative handling without changing the guardianship fee itself.

Maddy summaryHB 4099 changes Texas law to allow physical therapists to treat patients without a referral for up to 10 consecutive business days, reducing the previous 30-day limit. After this initial period, therapists must obtain a referral from a licensed practitioner to continue treatment. The bill directly affects physical therapists and their patients by modifying practice requirements. It repeals an existing subsection and requires the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners to adopt implementing rules by December 1, 2025, with the law taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 742 requires first responders, including firefighters and emergency medical personnel (but excluding volunteers and law enforcement officers), to complete approved human trafficking prevention training on identifying, assisting, and reporting victims. It mandates hospitals to display a specific 11x17 inch sign in emergency departments with human trafficking information, using a 16-point font as defined by the attorney general. The bill also provides legal protection for health care employees who report suspected trafficking incidents. The Health and Human Services Commission must approve training courses (including at least one free option) and maintain an online list of approved courses.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 958) allows certain victims of human trafficking or compelling prostitution to petition courts for an order sealing their criminal history records. It applies specifically to individuals convicted of offenses like prostitution (Penal Code § 43.02) or drug-related crimes (Health and Safety Code § 481.120/121) that they committed "solely as a victim" of trafficking under Penal Code §§ 20A.02, 20A.03, or 43.05. To qualify, petitioners must prove they assisted law enforcement in trafficking investigations (or were unable to due to age/disability) and meet other court requirements. If approved, courts prohibit public disclosure of related criminal records, aiding victims' reintegration without criminal history barriers.

Maddy summaryHB 1778 requires Texas district courts to report monthly on cases involving human trafficking, prostitution, and child pornography offenses to the Office of Court Administration. It creates a new council to coordinate state agency efforts, including the Attorney General, Department of Family and Protective Services, and other key agencies like the Texas Workforce Commission. The bill harmonizes statute of limitations for prosecuting sexual assault and failure-to-report offenses, aligning time limits across related crimes. These changes aim to improve data collection and interagency collaboration for addressing trafficking, prostitution, and child exploitation. The law became effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 746 amends the Estates Code to clarify and strengthen guardianship procedures, primarily affecting incapacitated persons and their court-appointed guardians. Key provisions include requiring guardians of the estate to preserve a ward’s existing estate plan (like wills or beneficiary designations) when consistent with the ward’s best interests, and restricting individuals with adverse interests (e.g., potential financial beneficiaries) from filing guardianship applications or contesting appointments. The bill also establishes liability protection for guardians ad litem (court-appointed advocates for incapacitated persons) who make recommendations in proceedings, and updates reporting requirements for guardians to file annual accounts with court approval. These changes aim to streamline guardianship processes while prioritizing the ward’s autonomy and financial planning.

Maddy summaryHB 451 requires Texas child welfare and juvenile justice systems to screen children in state custody or under juvenile probation for risk of commercial sexual exploitation. It mandates this screening using validated tools within 45 days of a child entering state conservatorship or before juvenile case dispositions, if age-appropriate or concerns exist. The screening must be conducted by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit under the Texas Government Code. Implementation depends on legislative funding, with the law taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2809 requires the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to annually publish a detailed report on youth in its conservatorship, including data on children with severe emotional disturbances (point 10), pregnant or parenting youth in care (point 11), and children missing from substitute care (point 12). The report must be published electronically by December 1 each year and made publicly accessible. This affects the department (which must collect and report this data) and the public (which gains transparency into foster care outcomes). The bill, signed into law May 28, 2025, takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a memorial resolution (HR 247), not a policy bill. It honors the late U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston following her death on July 19, 2024. The resolution recognizes her decades of service in Congress, including her work as a champion for social justice, her authorship of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, and her leadership roles in the House. It was adopted by the House on May 23, 2025, and reported enrolled on May 28, 2025, as a formal tribute to her legacy.