Rep. Lauren Simmons

Maddy summaryHB 2402 sets new rules for how Texas Medicaid pays for medical services. It requires that fees, charges, or rates for Medicaid-covered benefits must match the "usual and customary" rates in the local community, unless federal law restricts them. The bill also explicitly excludes fees from monthly membership discount programs when determining payments. This directly affects healthcare providers who accept Medicaid by changing how they are reimbursed, and beneficiaries who receive covered services through Medicaid. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1105 exempts paramedics employed by Texas cities, counties, or other local governments from tuition and laboratory fees at public colleges when enrolled in emergency medical services courses. This applies only to students maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate, and does not cover security deposits, additional fees for residents, or graduate-level surcharges. The exemption excludes distance education courses where more than 20% of enrollment exceeds the institution's designated limit. The bill, signed into law by the governor on June 20, 2025, became effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 3161 expands the required contribution rate options for employees in Texas municipal retirement systems, changing the permitted rates from "five, six, or seven percent" to "five, six, seven, or eight percent" of employee compensation. It directly affects Texas municipalities that participate in the Texas Municipal Retirement System, requiring all departments within a municipality to use the same contribution rate unless they had pre-1991 ordinances allowing different rates for different departments. Municipalities with existing multi-rate systems can continue those arrangements until they choose to standardize rates. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1481 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt written policies prohibiting student use of personal communication devices (such as cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches) during the school day on school property or at school events. Exceptions allow device use for students with documented medical needs, individualized education plans (IEPs), or health/safety protocols. Schools may implement either a full device ban or a secure storage system for devices during school hours, and must return confiscated devices or dispose of them after providing parents 90 days' written notice. The law takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature.

Maddy summaryHB 367 requires Texas public school districts to create a standardized form for verifying excused absences due to students' severe or life-threatening illnesses. The form must be certified by a licensed physician and include specific details: the illness type, confirmation it is serious/life-threatening, the expected absence duration, and a statement that attendance is infeasible during that period. School districts cannot demand additional documentation beyond this form. The bill directly affects students with qualifying illnesses, their parents/guardians (who provide the form), and school districts (which must adopt the form). It standardizes the verification process without changing existing absence policies.

Maddy summarySB 1401 creates the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program, managed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, to help students transfer from public junior colleges to four-year institutions for mental health careers. It directly affects public junior college students and participating universities by guaranteeing they won’t lose credits when transferring, can earn a bachelor’s degree in under two years, and get automatic admission to advanced programs if they meet academic requirements. The program covers pathways to licensure for psychologists, counselors, social workers, and other mental health professionals. It requires universities to partner with junior colleges to design clear transfer pathways, ensuring seamless credit transfers and faster degree completion.

Maddy summaryHB 3745 expands emergency compensation eligibility for crime victims in Texas. It allows the attorney general to issue immediate financial relief for victims or their families affected by crimes that caused a state of emergency under Government Code Section 433.001, specifically removing prior restrictions that blocked such awards for deceased victims' families during declared emergencies. The bill applies only to crimes occurring on or after its September 1, 2025 effective date. This change directly affects family members of homicide victims and others harmed during state emergencies who previously faced barriers to urgent financial assistance.

Maddy summaryHB 4361 requires Texas public institutions of higher education to establish standardized emergency notification procedures that comply with the federal Jeanne Clery Act. It mandates that institutions, in consultation with students, faculty, and staff, adopt clear protocols for timely emergency alerts through required systems. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board must adopt these rules promptly after the bill's effective date. The law took effect immediately on June 20, 2025, after being signed by the Governor. This directly affects all public colleges and universities in Texas, ensuring consistent emergency communication practices.

Maddy summaryHB 824 requires Texas public high schools to include specific civics content in their government curriculum starting with the 2025-2026 school year. It mandates that the State Board of Education adopt standards covering the roles of elected officials (statewide, county, city), Texas voting processes and election laws, eligibility requirements for office, basic parliamentary procedures, and identifying local representatives. This directly affects all Texas public high school students and educators implementing the social studies curriculum. The bill became effective immediately upon the Governor's signature on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 163 updates Texas law regarding epinephrine auto-injector policies. It exempts schools, sports organizations, and government entities that already have policies for epinephrine systems under other laws from needing separate rules. The bill allows these entities to adopt their own policies for maintaining, administering, and disposing of epinephrine delivery systems. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and repeals prior sections of the Health and Safety Code related to this matter.