Rep. Penny Morales Shaw

Maddy summaryHB 2999 allows hydrogen-fueled trucks to exceed standard weight limits by the weight difference between their hydrogen fuel system and a comparable diesel system, up to a maximum gross weight of 82,000 pounds. This directly affects commercial truck operators and manufacturers using hydrogen-powered vehicles on Texas roads. The bill only takes effect if federal law permits such vehicles to operate above federal weight limits, with implementation set for September 1, 2025, contingent on federal action. If federal authorization doesn't occur, the bill has no effect.

Maddy summaryHB 1820 allows individuals arrested for a crime but never charged to clear their arrest records under specific conditions. It directly affects people who were arrested but not prosecuted, including those where a grand jury failed to find probable cause for the alleged offense. The bill establishes timeframes for expungement: 180 days for Class C misdemeanors, one year for Class B/A misdemeanors, and three years for felonies, or if the state attorney certifies records aren't needed for investigations. If no indictment or information was filed within these periods, or if the grand jury declined to find probable cause, the person can request record removal. The law applies to offenses occurring before, during, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4207 prohibits railway companies from blocking public railroad crossings, streets, or highways for 30 minutes or more. It imposes a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per hour for violations, with the county issuing notice and attorneys collecting fines for the state treasury. Railway companies are also liable for actual damages, court costs, and attorney fees if emergency services are delayed due to a violation. The law applies only to incidents occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. This directly affects railway operators and individuals impacted by emergency service delays caused by train obstructions.

Maddy summaryHB 2803 requires election judges in Texas to provide a signed written statement explaining the reason when removing an election watcher from a polling place after the watcher has been officially accepted. The bill directly affects election judges, who must issue this statement, and election watchers, who receive the written justification for their removal. Key provisions mandate that the statement be provided at the time of removal, ensuring transparency in the process. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025, and applies to all polling places statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 2814 requires Texas juvenile justice departments and county sheriffs to provide certain identification documents to youth leaving custody. Specifically, it mandates that juvenile facilities request and provide a personal identification certificate before releasing youth committed to their care, and similarly requires county sheriffs to verify if jail inmates have valid ID or request a certificate for them before discharge. The bill authorizes a fee for issuing these documents and establishes a process for agencies like the Department of Public Safety and health services to verify identities electronically. This policy directly affects youth in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and individuals released from county jails who lack state-issued identification.

Maddy summaryHB 2013 prohibits property owners' associations (POAs) from banning or restricting home chicken-keeping when a city ordinance permits it. The bill amends Texas Property Code Section 202.007(a) to explicitly state that POAs cannot enforce such restrictions, directly affecting homeowners in communities governed by HOAs or POAs where municipal laws allow chickens. Key provisions include adding chicken-keeping as a protected activity alongside composting, rainwater harvesting, and water-efficient landscaping. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 3666 requires all Texas state agencies to implement a standardized internal auditing program. It mandates that agencies create annual risk-based audit plans and conduct periodic reviews of three key areas: financial systems, operational controls, and information technology systems. The bill defines internal auditing as an independent process to evaluate controls and improve organizational effectiveness, without adding new funding or altering existing audit types. This applies directly to every department, board, or commission in the Texas executive branch.

Maddy summaryHB 3918 requires Texas municipalities to publish two specific items online: (1) all local rules governing where political signs can be placed, and (2) a map showing areas where signs are regulated or banned. It also mandates that municipal clerks send these materials to local candidates, elections officers, and county political party officials. The law aims to increase transparency about sign placement rules, directly affecting municipalities' public information practices and political candidates' access to local regulations. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and is currently pending in the State Affairs committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1730 requires the University of Houston to lead a study on how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (common in products like food packaging and firefighting gear) affect public health. The study must examine these chemicals in food and drink products, drinking water sources, and workplace materials used by firefighters and manufacturing workers. The University of Houston, working with Texas environmental agencies, must complete the study and submit a report to the legislature by December 1, 2026. The bill expires December 31, 2026, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2841 requires the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) to automatically accept new buildings constructed to specific safety standards as meeting its underwriting requirements. These standards, set by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), cover fortified homes, multifamily properties, and commercial structures. Property owners and builders who certify their new constructions meet these IBHS standards will have their projects deemed compliant with TWIA's underwriting rules, eliminating the need for additional review. The bill applies only to structures built on or after September 1, 2025, and mandates TWIA to update its operations accordingly.