Rep. Lauren Simmons

Maddy summaryHB 2142 requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to study whether specific homelessness models could work in Texas. The study focuses on partnerships with universities, private groups, and local governments, plus using small housing units and community development services from higher education programs. The department must submit a report by December 2026 with findings and recommendations for potential legislative action. This bill directly affects state agencies conducting the study but aims to inform future homelessness strategies for Texans experiencing housing instability.

Maddy summaryHB 513 requires Texas hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies using surgical smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. These systems capture and filter smoke produced by surgical tools before it contacts patients or healthcare workers. The law applies to facilities licensed under Chapters 241 or 243 of the Health and Safety Code and mandates full implementation by January 1, 2026. The bill defines surgical smoke as gaseous byproducts from energy-generating surgical devices and requires facilities to choose systems that protect both patients and staff. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4442 would require Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to offer an elective mindfulness course for all students in middle school, junior high school, and high school. The course must teach specific techniques to enhance focus, manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and build self-awareness and compassion. High school students would be able to count this course toward their elective credit requirements for graduation. The bill would take effect for the 2026-2027 school year, unless it receives a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, in which case it would take effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 178 requires Texas public school districts to include "ethnic studies, world geography, or world history" as one of the three required social studies credits for high school students, alongside existing mandates for U.S. history, government, and economics. It directly affects all Texas public school students in grades K-12 by modifying the social studies curriculum structure under the foundation high school program. The bill adds ethnic studies as a specific, mandatory option for fulfilling the social studies credit requirement, while maintaining other existing subject requirements. This change applies to all Texas public school districts offering grades K-12.

Maddy summaryHB 4279 requires telecom companies (referred to as "local exchange companies" in the bill) to redirect unclaimed money they hold - instead of sending it to the state comptroller - to scholarship funds for needy urban students attending college or technical school. The bill mandates that companies deliver this money to funds established by multiple telecom companies, with verification filed with the comptroller. Companies failing to comply face penalties: 5% of the property value for the first 31 days, an additional 5% after that, and 10% per day for ongoing non-compliance with this specific provision. This bill directly affects telecom companies handling unclaimed property in Texas, changing where funds go to support urban education access.

Maddy summaryHB 4420 requires hospitals providing inpatient mental health services in Texas to report specific data about available psychiatric beds, including bed availability broken down by patient age group (e.g., under 12, 12-17, 18+). The bill mandates hospitals to submit this information alongside patient demographics, admissions, discharges, diagnoses, and bed use details. The Health and Human Services Commission must also study current bed availability across different facility types (state hospitals vs. others) and patient categories (e.g., voluntarily admitted, civilly committed, or with intellectual disabilities). This data collection aims to improve transparency about mental health bed shortages during acute crises, directly affecting all inpatient mental health facilities in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 2186 requires occupational registration for elevator mechanics, elevator apprentices, and elevator contractors in Texas. The bill mandates that these professionals must be certified and registered with the state commission, including meeting minimum insurance requirements ($1 million for bodily injury and $500,000 for property damage for contractors). It also establishes rules for annual equipment inspections, enforcement of safety standards, and continuing education requirements. The law directly affects anyone working on elevator installation, repair, or maintenance, ensuring they meet state safety and certification standards under the Health and Safety Code.

Maddy summaryHB 573 allows Texas legislators to request unannounced inspections of concrete batch plants (those doing wet/dry batching or central mixing) by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. It directly affects residents in a legislator's district who submit written complaints about plants impacting them, as well as the plants themselves. The bill requires the Commission to prioritize these requests, maintain files per Water Code procedures, and provide complainants with inspection policies and notices. If denied, the Commission must explain the denial within 90 days. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4838 requires Texas' Health and Human Services Commission to hire a language access coordinator to assess barriers non-English speakers face when accessing state health/human services programs and 2-1-1 services through the Texas Information and Referral Network. The coordinator must complete an assessment within one year of hiring and submit a written report to the commission's executive commissioner, summarizing findings and recommending improvements to increase language access statewide. The bill mandates this process to identify gaps in service accessibility for non-English speakers. The requirement expires June 1, 2027, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 678 requires public Texas institutions of higher education to include the National Sexual Assault Hotline's contact information on student identification cards. The bill mandates that each student ID must display the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, and National Sexual Assault Hotline details. Optional information, such as campus police contacts or health clinic details, may also be printed. This requirement applies to student IDs issued on or after September 1, 2025.