Rep. Penny Morales Shaw

Maddy summaryHB 4432 amends Texas law to set new qualifications for members of the Texas Mutual Insurance Company's board of directors. It prohibits individuals who are insurance agents, employees or consultants of insurers (especially workers' compensation insurers in Texas), have financial interests in such insurers, receive substantial benefits from the company, or work for insurance industry associations from serving on the board. The bill directly affects potential board members by restricting conflicts of interest with the insurance industry. Key provisions include five specific disqualifications listed in the amended Insurance Code section. The bill would take effect September 1, 2025, if not passed with a two-thirds vote.

Maddy summaryHB 1552 updates Texas law to replace the term "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" in multiple statutes. It directly affects law enforcement, computer technicians, and digital service providers by requiring consistent terminology in legal references. Key provisions include amending Section 43.26 of the Penal Code (possession offense), Chapter 110 of the Business & Commerce Code (reporting requirements), and related definitions to use the new terminology. The bill maintains existing reporting obligations for technicians viewing such material but removes outdated references. This is a terminological update, not a change to legal standards or penalties.

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 1826 requires Texas county jails and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to screen pregnant women or those who gave birth within the past year for depression at specific intervals: once per trimester during pregnancy, once within six weeks after birth, and again at 6 and 12 months postpartum. This bill directly affects incarcerated women in Texas who are pregnant or have recently given birth. The key provision mandates these screenings as part of standard medical care in correctional facilities. The legislation aims to address mental health needs for this vulnerable population through structured, time-bound assessments.

Maddy summaryHB 406 requires Texas municipalities and counties to notify local workforce development boards within 14 days when entering, amending, or renewing certain economic development agreements. The notice must include specific details outlined in state law (Government Code § 403.0246(c)). This applies only to agreements executed on or after September 1, 2025, and directly affects local governments and workforce boards in the relevant service areas. The bill establishes a procedural requirement for transparency between economic development agreements and workforce planning entities.

Maddy summaryHB 3770 requires the Legislative Budget Board to conduct regular efficiency reviews of Texas state agencies. Each state fiscal biennium, the Board must review at least 25 state agencies (including one from each section of the budget) and 40 programs across those agencies. The Board must publish detailed reports by September 1 of even-numbered years, including cost-saving analyses and five-year projections for recommended efficiency improvements. These reports will be shared with the governor and legislature to inform fiscal decisions. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 421 creates new rules for deep fake generators (websites/apps that let users create AI-generated images/videos). It requires age verification before making explicit deep fakes (depicting real people in sexual or intimate acts), bans creation for anyone under 18, and mandates written consent from people 18+ depicted. Victims or their guardians can sue generators for damages, including mental anguish, attorney fees, and punitive damages. The law directly affects deep fake platforms and individuals whose images are used without consent, particularly minors and those targeted with non-consensual explicit content. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2152 requires Texas' Public Utility Commission to direct the independent organization managing ERCOT's power region to develop and update a reliability plan specifically for the Permian Basin electric transmission system every five years. This plan aims to ensure stable electricity supply in the Permian Basin, a major oil and gas production area. The bill amends existing law to mandate this targeted planning process, replacing a previous requirement (repealed in Section 2). It directly affects the Commission, the ERCOT-independent organization, and electric service providers operating in the Permian Basin region. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3511 allows electric vehicle owners in Texas to connect their vehicles to the power grid and sell stored electricity back to the grid, earning credits for supplying power during peak times. It requires the Texas Utility Commission to establish safety and technical standards based on existing industry codes (like UL and NEC) and create a program enabling EVs to participate in grid services through utilities. This directly affects EV owners, electric utilities, and ERCOT market operators by integrating vehicles as grid assets. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 552 requires the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to study how to fairly appraise land used for beekeeping for property tax purposes. The study will examine regional differences in pollination, bee colony numbers, and the value of honey or other bee-produced products. This research, due by August 2026, will help determine future tax appraisal standards for beekeeping operations across Texas, directly affecting landowners who raise or keep bees.