Rep. Lauren Simmons

Maddy summaryHB 2711 establishes a work group to study whether creating a statewide or regional registry of available acute psychiatric beds at inpatient mental health facilities would be feasible. The work group, composed of 18 members including hospital representatives (rural, urban, public, and private), medical associations, mental health professionals, technology experts, and public health specialists, must evaluate bed registry impacts and submit a report to the legislature by September 1, 2026. This bill does not implement a registry but examines its potential effectiveness for patients needing psychiatric care. It directly affects Texas hospitals, mental health facilities, and patients seeking inpatient psychiatric treatment by assessing how a registry might improve access to care. The study focuses on practical implementation, not on mandating a registry.

Maddy summaryHB 2295 requires Texas hospitals and physicians to screen all newborns for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) using approved tests, alongside existing screenings for conditions like phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism. The bill amends health code provisions to mandate this screening under Section 33.011 and requires the health department to notify parents or healthcare providers if results indicate potential DMD. It also expands the department's role in developing screening methods and maintaining labs for early detection of DMD and other heritable disorders. This policy directly affects all newborns in Texas and the healthcare providers responsible for their initial care.

Maddy summaryHB 3002 requires debt collectors in Texas to provide specific written disclosures to consumers in all written debt collection communications. The bill mandates that these disclosures include a summary of consumer rights under both the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (including debt validation and communication restrictions) and Texas law, plus whether the creditor might accept a settlement that removes negative credit reporting. For electronic communications, debt collectors must include a link to the Attorney General's website detailing consumer rights. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects debt collectors and consumers dealing with debt collection efforts in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 1879 creates a franchise tax credit for businesses that open grocery stores or "healthy corner stores" (under 2,000 sq ft) in designated food deserts - areas with limited healthy food access in low-income neighborhoods. To qualify, stores must accept WIC and SNAP benefits within 90 days of opening, operate year-round, and serve low-income communities. The credit reduces franchise taxes for eligible entities meeting these criteria, aiming to improve food access in underserved areas. The bill is currently pending in the Ways & Means committee after committee hearings in May 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 569 allows voters who submit mail-in ballots with defects (such as missing signatures or incomplete information) to correct them before election day. If an election clerk identifies a defect, they must notify the voter within two days via mail or delivery, explaining the issue and providing a corrective form developed by the Secretary of State. Voters can fix the ballot by mailing the completed form, visiting the clerk’s office in person by the sixth day after election day, or canceling their mail-in ballot application. The bill requires clerks to apply this process uniformly to all affected ballots and mandates the Secretary of State to create the corrective form.

Maddy summaryHB 463 automatically expunges arrest records for individuals charged with certain controlled substance offenses when their case is dismissed under specific conditions. It directly affects defendants whose charges are dismissed due to completion of court programs (veterans, mental health, or pretrial intervention), lab results showing no controlled substance was present, or dismissal due to lack of probable cause. The bill requires courts to issue expungement orders within 30 days of dismissal in cases where lab analysis confirms no controlled substance was found, and prohibits courts from charging fees for this process. This policy change removes barriers to clearing records for eligible individuals without requiring additional court petitions.

Maddy summaryHB 1583 requires Texas peace officers to file a standardized notification form when detaining someone for mental health reasons. The form must include specific details like the officer's belief that the person has mental illness, poses an imminent risk of serious harm, and evidence of recent behavior causing that risk. Facilities receiving the detained person must include this form in their clinical file. This bill directly affects peace officers, mental health facilities, and individuals experiencing mental health crises requiring emergency detention under Texas law.

Maddy summaryHB 2139 amends Texas election law to require election officers to deliver ballots to voters unable to enter polling places under three specific circumstances: (1) if the voter cannot enter without personal assistance or risks health injury; (2) if the voter is a parent of a child under 12 who cannot be left unsupervised; or (3) if the voter is a primary caregiver of an unable-to-care-for-themselves person who cannot be left unsupervised. The bill ensures these voters can cast ballots at the polling place entrance or curb without having to enter the building. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects eligible voters with mobility challenges, young children, or dependent care responsibilities at polling locations. The policy change clarifies and expands existing provisions for accessible voting at physical polling sites.

Maddy summaryHB 1503 establishes a licensing requirement for genetic counselors in Texas. The bill requires genetic counselors to obtain a state license to practice, directly affecting professionals providing genetic counseling services in the state. Key provisions define "practice of genetic counseling" (including services after referrals from physicians or self-referral) and authorize a fee for licensure. The bill creates Chapter 508 of the Occupations Code, setting up the framework for licensing, including an Advisory Board and definitions for key terms like "certifying entity."

Maddy summaryThis bill (HCR 19) is a concurrent resolution naming a new building in the Texas Capitol Complex. It directs the Texas Facilities Commission to name the structure at the northwest corner of Congress Avenue and 15th Street the "Irma Rangel Building." The resolution honors Irma Rangel, a pioneering Texas legislator who was the first Mexican American woman elected to the Texas Legislature (1976) and championed education access, domestic violence services, and opportunities for marginalized communities. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new policy or affect any specific group beyond recognizing her legacy.