Rep. Jo Jones

Maddy summaryHCR 6 designates Galveston, Texas, as the state's official Juneteenth Capital for a 10-year period ending in 2035. This symbolic resolution recognizes Galveston's historical role as the site where Union forces announced the end of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865, under General Order No. 3. The designation, authorized under Section 391.003(e) of the Texas Government Code, does not create new programs or funding but formally honors the city's significance in Juneteenth's origin story. It follows Texas becoming the first state to make Juneteenth a holiday in 1979 and the federal recognition of Juneteenth National Independence Day in 2021.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes where civil penalties from massage therapy violations are deposited. If a county attorney collects penalties under the law, the funds go to the county's general fund. If a city attorney collects penalties, the funds go to the city's general fund. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025. (Procedural bill affecting fund allocation, not regulatory changes.)

Maddy summaryHB 50 requires healthcare providers to obtain patient consent before conducting blood screening tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and to inform patients they can opt out of the test. If a screening test is positive, providers must offer information about available healthcare, prevention, and support services. The bill applies to all medical screenings for STDs in Texas and takes effect January 1, 2026, after the Health and Human Services Commission adopts implementing rules. It does not change existing testing protocols but adds a consent requirement and post-positive support obligation for providers.

Maddy summarySB 2722 restricts how large Texas counties (population 4 million+) can use revenue from tolls and charges on toll projects. It requires counties to spend toll revenue only on operating, maintaining, or retiring debt for toll systems, then mandates that leftover funds be distributed: 30% to municipalities with significant toll lanes for emergency services, and 70% to county roads with specific allocation rules. The bill also authorizes administrative penalties (100-110% of misused funds) for violations and bars counties that violate the law twice from increasing property tax rates above their no-new-revenue limit the following year. This directly affects counties like Harris (Houston) and their municipalities, ensuring toll revenue funds transportation infrastructure rather than general budgets.

Maddy summaryHB 557 modifies Texas law to prevent courts from finding parents in contempt for unpaid child support if they provide evidence of two specific circumstances. It requires parents to show either current payment records (via receipts or bank statements) or proof that payment delays resulted from third-party errors (like banking issues) or situations outside their control. The bill applies only to child support enforcement hearings starting on or after September 1, 2025, leaving past cases governed by prior law. This change directly affects parents facing contempt charges for missed child support payments.

Maddy summaryHB 2849 requires Texas public school districts to adopt recess policies by May 2026 based on state-developed model guidelines. The policies must specify a minimum amount of weekly unstructured outdoor playtime for students and prohibit withholding recess as discipline. The state health advisory committee must develop these model policies by January 2026, which districts must review and update at least every five years. The law takes effect September 2025, with full implementation required by the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the duration of emergency protection orders in Texas criminal cases. Orders issued under most circumstances now remain effective for 61 to 91 days (up from 31-61 days), while certain orders (under Subsection b(2)) last 91 to 121 days (up from 61-91 days). The law requires courts to modify orders only after notice, a hearing, and finding that changes won't endanger victims or increase risk. These changes apply only to orders issued on or after September 1, 2025, affecting defendants subject to these orders and victims protected under them.

Maddy summaryHB 2725 amends Texas Transportation Code to require toll project entities to offer free or discounted toll access to specific groups. It mandates that existing discount programs include vehicles registered under Sections 504.202 or 504.315(f)/(g), as well as vehicles registered to paramedics, peace officers, or firefighters. The bill does not create new discounts but requires toll entities to explicitly cover these categories in their existing programs. This affects first responders (paramedics, police, firefighters) and certain vehicle types registered under specific Texas statutes. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1822 updates Texas juvenile court jurisdiction and record sealing rules. It extends juvenile court authority over incomplete cases when a youth turns 18 or 19 during proceedings, provided the state exercised due diligence or wasn't at fault for delays. The bill also creates new eligibility for sealing juvenile records: individuals on determinate sentence probation who weren't committed to juvenile facilities, weren't transferred to adult court, and have completed probation. These changes apply only to conduct occurring on or after the bill's effective date, not retroactively. The law aims to provide clearer pathways for record sealing while maintaining court oversight for certain cases.

Maddy summaryHB 3339 mandates a study by Texas' Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the Department of State Health Services to examine maternal mortality and morbidity rates specifically among Black women in Texas. The study requires comparing these rates to other racial/ethnic groups, analyzing socioeconomic factors, evaluating healthcare coverage types (Medicaid, private insurance, uninsured), and assessing impacts of specific health conditions (like preeclampsia and obesity) and implicit biases in healthcare. It also requires evaluating social determinants of health and pregnancy-related complications. The committee must submit a report with recommendations to address disparities by September 1, 2026, including provider training on cultural competency and successful programs from other states. This bill directly affects Black women in Texas by focusing on data collection to inform future policy.