Rep. Jo Jones

Maddy summaryHB 2229 amends Texas law to allow statutory county courts to expunge arrest records and files under specific conditions. It directly affects individuals who were arrested but not convicted (e.g., acquitted or had charges dismissed before trial), enabling them to clear their records through these courts. The key change specifies that statutory county courts may only expunge records for offenses within their jurisdiction, such as misdemeanor cases. This streamlines the process by clarifying which courts can handle expungement requests, replacing prior restrictions that limited this authority. The bill passed in May 2025 and applies to cases meeting eligibility criteria under existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 3832 creates a new "Animal Friendly" specialty license plate in Texas, requiring the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue these plates to benefit spay and neuter programs. Vehicle owners who purchase these plates will fund local animal welfare initiatives, with plate designs developed in consultation with the Texas Humane Legislation Network. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects Texas drivers who choose this specialty plate option.

Maddy summaryHB 200 requires courts to provide specific written instructions to juries during the penalty phase of felony trials for defendants convicted of crimes committed before age 18 (excluding certain violent offenses like mass shootings). The instructions clarify that parole eligibility typically begins only after 20 years of actual time served in prison (not counting good conduct credits), and that parole eligibility does not guarantee release. Juries must consider parole laws generally but cannot speculate on how they might apply to the specific defendant. This change directly affects sentencing decisions for juvenile offenders in Texas felony cases, ensuring juries understand parole timelines without influencing their verdict.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas licensing authorities to issue provisional occupational licenses for six months to applicants with criminal convictions who are otherwise qualified for the license, unless they have specific serious convictions listed in the Occupations Code. The provisional license begins upon the applicant's release from incarceration if they were imprisoned. It applies to most occupational licensing fields (like healthcare or trades) but excludes applicants convicted of offenses under Section 53.021(a). The bill provides a pathway for certain applicants to obtain licenses without full revocation of eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 3860 would allow Texas licensing boards to issue certain occupational licenses (for fields like air conditioning, electrical work, and barbering/cosmetology) to inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) who participate in approved reentry programs. It specifically exempts inmates from standard licensing requirements when performing these jobs under supervision as part of TDCJ reentry initiatives. The bill creates new rules for license eligibility and clarifies that certain occupations are not subject to licensing restrictions for inmates in these programs. This directly affects TDCJ inmates seeking career pathways and the licensing boards overseeing those professions.

Maddy summaryHB 3261 shortens the waiting periods for certain individuals to petition for sealing their criminal records. It allows people under 25 years old who committed specific offenses (like misdemeanors or certain felonies) to apply for an "order of nondisclosure" immediately after completing probation, rather than waiting years. For example, misdemeanor offenders can now petition right after discharge (previously requiring a one-year wait), and state jail felony offenders can apply after one year instead of two. This change directly affects eligible criminal defendants seeking to hide certain past offenses from public view. The bill amends Texas Government Code Sections 411.0725 and 411.0727.

Maddy summaryHB 1194 extends the duration of emergency protection orders in Texas criminal cases. For most orders (under Subsections (a) or (b)(1)), the order now remains effective for up to 91 days (minimum 31 days) instead of the previous 61 days (minimum 31 days). For specific orders under Subsection (b)(2), the duration increases to up to 121 days (minimum 61 days) from the prior 91 days (minimum 61 days). The bill also allows courts to modify orders after a hearing if the change won’t increase risk to the victim or endanger protected persons. This applies only to orders issued on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2783 requires certain Texas counties to automatically enroll eligible county employees in the county’s deferred compensation plan (a retirement savings program) unless the employee opts out. Employees would contribute 3% of their pay automatically through payroll deductions to a default investment option chosen by the plan administrator, replacing the previous requirement for employees to actively consent. This applies to counties that choose to adopt the automatic enrollment policy through a commissioners court order, and counties must inform new employees about their participation options and responsibilities. Employees can later adjust their contribution amount, switch investment options, or opt out entirely through the county’s designated process.

Maddy summaryHB 2777 would prohibit the death penalty for defendants found to have had "severe mental illness" (defined as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder with active psychotic symptoms impairing judgment or understanding of wrongfulness) at the time of a capital offense. The bill requires defendants to file a 30-day notice before trial to present evidence of this condition, which they must prove by "clear and convincing evidence." If notice is not filed, such evidence becomes inadmissible unless the court finds "good cause" for the delay. The law would directly affect defendants in Texas capital cases who qualify under this mental health definition, altering sentencing eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 1295 requires Texas' statewide health coordinating council to develop and update a long-range plan every two years aimed at improving health literacy across the state. The plan must study low health literacy's economic impact, identify risk factors, and examine strategies like plain language instructions for patients and health care providers. The bill also mandates that the state health plan explicitly address health literacy as a key concern and include specific strategies to improve it, with the goal of enhancing patient safety, reducing preventable errors, and achieving better health outcomes. This directly affects the health coordinating council (which must create the plan) and the state health plan (which must integrate health literacy efforts).