Rep. Penny Morales Shaw

Maddy summaryHB 1887 allows adopted Texans and specific relatives (adult descendants, adult siblings, surviving spouses, or adoptive parents) to request noncertified copies of original birth certificates without a court order. To qualify, the person must have been born in Texas, make the request after turning 18, have a supplementary birth certificate issued, and provide identity proof. The state registrar will charge the same fee as for standard noncertified birth certificates. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, but the new access provisions won't apply until July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2498 requires Texas licensing authorities to include specific notices in application forms and on their websites about how criminal convictions may affect occupational license eligibility. The notice must explain that prior convictions could lead to denial, list the factors used to evaluate eligibility (per Sections 53.022-53.023), and inform applicants about requesting a criminal history evaluation letter. Licensing authorities must also track and annually report statistics on applications, approvals, denials (especially those due to criminal history), and evaluation letter requests to the legislature and the public. The bill directly affects individuals seeking occupational licenses who have criminal records and the state agencies that issue those licenses. It applies to most occupational licensing boards but excludes the State Securities Board.

Maddy summaryHB 786 requires counties with 3.3 million or more residents (like Harris County) to install metal detectors and assign security personnel (constable, deputy, or sheriff) at every public entrance of justice courts. It mandates that counties first use existing courthouse security funds before tapping into general county revenue to cover these costs. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly impacting justice court operations in Texas' largest counties. This is a concrete security requirement with no funding or policy changes beyond the specified court access measures.

Maddy summaryHB 1914 modifies Texas Family Code to address child custody arrangements when a conservator (legal guardian) becomes incapacitated. It allows the other appointed conservator to temporarily assume the incapacitated conservator's parenting time immediately upon incapacitation - defined as a physical/mental condition or incarceration preventing care for the child’s basic needs (food, shelter, health) - until the court issues a permanent modification or the conservator recovers. The bill does not apply if the existing court order already restricted that conservator’s access. It applies only to incapacitation occurring on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 849 allows county park boards in Texas to hold meetings via videoconference, but only if the presiding member is physically present at a public location during the open portion of the meeting. This rule specifically applies to county park boards and requires that the meeting location be open to the public while the presiding member is present. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not change existing rules for other government bodies. It provides a clear, accessible process for park boards to conduct meetings remotely while maintaining public access.

Maddy summaryHB 1618 modifies Texas Water Code to allow specific aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects in Williamson County east of Interstate 35 that transect the Edwards Aquifer. It permits these projects - where water is injected into underlying geologic formations - as an exception to the general ban on injection wells in the aquifer. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must adopt implementing rules by March 1, 2026. The bill affects water project developers and regulators in the specified Williamson County area, with implementation dependent on legislative approval for immediate effect or set to take effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2615 requires Texas municipalities and counties to post public improvement district service plans and assessment documents on their official public websites within seven days of approval or updates. It directly affects local governments that manage public improvement districts, which fund infrastructure projects like roads or parks through property assessments. Key provisions mandate posting service plans (including required notice forms) online and submitting assessment rolls to appraisal districts in electronic format, showing parcel-level assessments, annual amounts, and installment details. These changes aim to increase transparency by making district funding information publicly accessible online. The bill does not change assessment amounts or eligibility but standardizes how local governments share this information.

Maddy summaryHB 1338 allows commissioners courts in Texas counties with 355,000 or more residents to establish uniform work hour rules for specific employees, including department heads, deputies, and other staff whose pay is set by the court. The bill amends Local Government Code Section 157.021(a) to authorize these uniform rules, directly affecting county employees in larger jurisdictions. Key provisions require counties meeting the population threshold to adopt and enforce standardized work schedules for eligible staff. The bill takes effect immediately if approved by a two-thirds vote in both chambers, or September 1, 2025, otherwise.

Maddy summaryHB 1682 changes how civil penalties from environmental lawsuits are divided. If a local government sues for violations under Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) rules, the first $4.3 million recovered goes half to the state and half to the suing local government, with any amount above $4.3 million going entirely to the state. The state’s portion of penalties is then split: half funds a new Special Environmental Remediation Fund, which provides grants to counties and municipalities for environmental cleanup projects. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to violations occurring after that date.

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.