Rep. Ana Hernandez

Maddy summaryHB 2533 requires school districts under temporary management (like a conservator or board of managers) to return control to the elected school board if all affected campuses achieve acceptable performance ratings. It specifies that campuses must maintain these ratings for two consecutive school years to trigger the return of management authority. The bill directly affects school districts in Texas that have been placed under alternative management due to performance issues. This policy change creates a clear, performance-based pathway for districts to regain full local control without further state intervention. The law applies starting the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 2319 requires the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) to adjust certain retirement, disability, and death benefits annually based on inflation. Specifically, it mandates that the TRS board set a cost-of-living adjustment rate each October using the same inflation data (CPI-W) used for Social Security benefits, effective for payments starting January 1, 2026. The bill allows the board to scale back the adjustment if the system lacks sufficient funds while maintaining financial stability, but no increase can be paid without a finding of actuarial soundness. This change directly affects TRS beneficiaries who receive these specific benefits. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, with adjustments applying to benefits paid on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2222 establishes a new Energy Efficient Schools Program to help Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools adopt cleaner energy solutions. The program provides grants, partnerships, and loans for purchasing electric buses, installing solar panels on campuses, and implementing electricity storage projects (including bus-based storage). It leverages existing oil overcharge funds and federal programs like the Clean School Bus Program to support these initiatives. The Texas Energy Office will administer the program, with funding available starting September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1996 would expand eligibility for free prekindergarten programs in Texas public schools by adding a new category: children of peace officers, firefighters, or emergency medical first responders who are eligible for the Star of Texas Award (a state honor for public safety personnel). This amendment adds to existing criteria like homelessness, military family status, or foster care placement. The bill does not require children to be enrolled in special education programs, as the eligibility change applies broadly to qualifying children. It would take effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 2224 requires nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and senior independent living communities that operate elevators to install and maintain backup power sources (like emergency generators) capable of powering elevators for at least 48 hours during outages, along with sufficient fuel. It directly affects these facilities with elevators, mandating compliance to ensure continued elevator operation during power disruptions. Facilities failing to meet these requirements face administrative penalties of up to $500 per month per violation. The bill creates specific enforcement mechanisms under the Health and Safety Code, focusing on physical infrastructure standards rather than broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1995 allows vehicle owners to voluntarily indicate on their registration application that they may be transporting a person with a disability (defined as physical, intellectual, behavioral/cognitive impairments, autism, or communication-impeding health conditions). If indicated, the Texas Department of Public Safety would confidentially alert peace officers during traffic stops via the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System - without disclosing the specific disability type. The bill prohibits visible license plates for this purpose and requires strict confidentiality, ensuring no personal disability information is shared publicly or disclosed beyond authorized law enforcement use. It affects vehicle owners who choose to register this status, peace officers during traffic stops, and state agencies managing registration and law enforcement systems.

Maddy summaryHB 2218 requires nursing facilities and assisted living facilities that operate elevators to install and maintain emergency generators or backup power sources capable of running elevators for 48 hours during power outages, along with sufficient fuel to sustain that operation. The bill also applies to senior independent living communities, mandating similar backup power systems for their facilities. Facilities failing to comply face civil penalties of up to $500 per violation, with each month of noncompliance treated as a separate offense. The attorney general may enforce these penalties through legal action.

Maddy summaryHB 2219 amends Texas law to explicitly include fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) as a qualifying disability for special education services in public schools. This means students with FASD, aged 3 to 21, may now be eligible for these services if their condition prevents them from being adequately educated without specialized support. The bill adds FASD to the existing list of qualifying disabilities in the Education Code, such as autism and learning disabilities. The law will take effect on September 1, 2025, unless it receives a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers for immediate implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 2009 requires Texas fire departments to provide free annual occupational medical exams to certified firefighters starting in 2027. The exams must include specific tests: blood/urine analysis, pulmonary function testing, EKG, infectious disease screening, cancer screening, and a chest x-ray (limited to once every five years). Fire departments can avoid this requirement if they already have a physician-endorsed annual exam plan meeting National Fire Protection Association standards. The Texas Commission on Fire Protection must establish minimum exam standards based on NFPA guidelines. This bill directly affects all certified firefighters employed by Texas fire departments, focusing on preventive health monitoring for occupational risks.

Maddy summaryHB 1567 expands eligibility for Texas unemployment benefits by allowing workers to qualify if they leave their job to care for a minor child due to an unexpected illness, accident, or unforeseeable event, provided no reasonable alternative care was available. This directly affects employees who must abruptly leave work to care for sick children without other options. The bill amends Labor Code Section 207.046 to add this new exception to existing eligibility criteria. The change applies only to claims filed on or after September 1, 2025.