Rep. Ana Hernandez

Maddy summaryHB 3727 creates a state grant program to fund railroad grade separation projects at non-state highway intersections and pedestrian crossings. It directly affects local governments and railroad companies by providing grants for projects that improve safety and reduce traffic. Key requirements include a 10% non-state funding match (from other sources or as matching funds) and restrictions on using state highway funds. The program can only use state appropriations, federal grants, or donations, and the Transportation Commission must adopt rules by October 2025.

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 2229 amends Texas law to allow statutory county courts to expunge arrest records and files under specific conditions. It directly affects individuals who were arrested but not convicted (e.g., acquitted or had charges dismissed before trial), enabling them to clear their records through these courts. The key change specifies that statutory county courts may only expunge records for offenses within their jurisdiction, such as misdemeanor cases. This streamlines the process by clarifying which courts can handle expungement requests, replacing prior restrictions that limited this authority. The bill passed in May 2025 and applies to cases meeting eligibility criteria under existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 1768 updates permit requirements for concrete plants in Texas. It requires operators building, expanding, or modifying facilities to submit detailed plot plans showing property lines, emission points, and setback distances from nearby structures. If the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality amends the standard permit, operators who haven’t started construction must update their plans to match the new rules. The bill directly affects concrete plant operators seeking permits for new construction or modifications. It focuses on administrative clarity and safety compliance, not substantive environmental changes.

Maddy summarySB 1299 prohibits public agencies (like state or local government offices) from requiring or sharing personal lists identifying members, supporters, volunteers, or donors of certain nonprofits. It bans agencies from releasing "personal affiliation information" - defined as any list that directly or indirectly identifies such individuals - except in limited cases like voluntary disclosures or court orders. Violating this law could result in criminal penalties. The bill specifically covers nonprofits exempt under IRS 501(c) or organized under Texas law, affecting how government entities handle sensitive supporter data.

Maddy summaryHB 2892 prohibits Texas public agencies from requiring or disclosing personal information identifying individuals who are members, supporters, volunteers, or donors to certain nonprofits (specifically 501(c) organizations or Texas nonprofit corporations). It bans agencies from compiling, sharing, or publicly releasing such "personal affiliation information," including lists of donors or supporters provided to contractors or grantees. Exceptions apply only if the information was voluntarily shared by the individual or nonprofit. Violations would constitute a criminal offense under the law.

Maddy summaryHB 1160 increases criminal penalties for assaults against specific public service workers, upgrading certain offenses from misdemeanors to felonies. It directly affects utility employees, emergency personnel, security officers, process servers, hospital staff, and pregnant individuals when assaults occur during work duties or as retaliation for performing those duties. Key provisions include making it a felony to assault a utility employee while they are performing services, harass a security officer during duty, or assault a pregnant person to force an abortion. The bill applies when the actor knows the victim is performing a protected duty.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas licensing authorities to issue provisional occupational licenses for six months to applicants with criminal convictions who are otherwise qualified for the license, unless they have specific serious convictions listed in the Occupations Code. The provisional license begins upon the applicant's release from incarceration if they were imprisoned. It applies to most occupational licensing fields (like healthcare or trades) but excludes applicants convicted of offenses under Section 53.021(a). The bill provides a pathway for certain applicants to obtain licenses without full revocation of eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 1499 creates a grant program administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to reimburse ready-mixed concrete manufacturers for costs associated with obtaining environmental product declarations (EPDs). EPDs are independently verified, environmentally focused labels showing a product's life-cycle impact. The program requires manufacturers receiving grants to commit to using EPDs for their concrete products, with TCEQ setting eligibility rules, application processes, and monitoring procedures. This policy directly affects concrete manufacturers by reducing their costs for environmental labeling compliance, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2777 would prohibit the death penalty for defendants found to have had "severe mental illness" (defined as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder with active psychotic symptoms impairing judgment or understanding of wrongfulness) at the time of a capital offense. The bill requires defendants to file a 30-day notice before trial to present evidence of this condition, which they must prove by "clear and convincing evidence." If notice is not filed, such evidence becomes inadmissible unless the court finds "good cause" for the delay. The law would directly affect defendants in Texas capital cases who qualify under this mental health definition, altering sentencing eligibility.