Rep. Penny Morales Shaw

Maddy summaryHB 1232 amends Texas Government Code Section 554.002 to strengthen whistleblower protections for public employees. It explicitly prohibits state or local governments from taking adverse actions (like termination or suspension) against employees who in good faith report violations of law to law enforcement authorities - whether the violation involves their own employer, another public employee, or an elected official. The bill directly affects public employees in Texas state and local government who report suspected legal violations. It takes effect on September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1825 requires the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) or its foster care contractors to share specific information with juvenile justice agencies upon request. It mandates sharing details about children who have been in foster care, involved in abuse/neglect investigations, or had parental rights terminated. Juvenile justice agencies will receive confirmation of foster care history and the number of prior foster care placements for youth in their custody. This law applies only to requests made on or after the bill's effective date, aiming to improve coordination between child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Maddy summaryHB 1495 protects personal information collected during Texas jury selection by making it confidential. It prohibits courts, parties, attorneys, or court staff from disclosing specific details like home addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, or juror questionnaire responses. Disclosure is only allowed if a party or media member obtains court approval showing "good cause." The law applies only to individuals reporting for jury duty on or after September 1, 2025. This directly affects Texas residents summoned for jury service by safeguarding their sensitive personal data.

Maddy summaryHB 1276 requires the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to study how Texas identifies, reports, and responds to plant disease or pest outbreaks. The study will examine current systems for detecting outbreaks and containing them, including how the state is notified. By December 1, 2026, the service must submit a report with recommendations to improve these systems to the governor, legislature, and agriculture commissioner. The bill expires September 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 4810 extends the Trade Agricultural Inspection Grant Program, which helps reduce wait times for agricultural inspections at border crossings with Mexico. The bill requires the Texas Department of Agriculture to report on the program's effectiveness - including its impact on inspection wait times - by January 15, 2029, and sets an expiration date of September 1, 2029, unless renewed. Implementation depends on the legislature specifically appropriating funds for the program; without such funding, the department may use existing resources but isn't required to act. This bill directly affects agricultural inspections at border ports, aiming to streamline inspections for trucks and cargo entering Texas from Mexico.

Maddy summaryHB 499 requires social media platforms operating in Texas to display a mandatory warning label on their landing page each time a user opens the platform. The warning must address the association between minors' social media usage and significant mental health issues, and users must verify they understand it before accessing the platform. Social media platforms must comply by April 1, 2026, after the Health and Human Services Commission adopts rules for the warning's content and format. The bill directly affects all social media platforms operating in Texas that serve minors, with no exemption for platforms meeting the deadline. It creates a new requirement for user verification but does not restrict platform content or functionality.

Maddy summaryHB 2341 creates a new system for awarding time credits to defendants confined in state jail facilities for felony offenses. Instead of "good conduct time," it allows defendants who actively participate in approved educational, vocational, treatment, or work programs to earn time off their sentence. The credit equals one day of sentence reduction for each day spent in these programs, but cannot exceed 20% of the original sentence and is denied for defendants with disciplinary issues. This change applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, replacing previous provisions (Articles 42.0199 and 42A.559(g)).

Maddy summaryHB 1203 creates a new "Office of Food System Security and Resiliency" within the Texas Department of Agriculture to coordinate state efforts ensuring reliable food access and preventing disruptions in Texas' food supply chain. The office will work with local governments, schools, and food industry professionals to develop regional food security plans, promote local agricultural production (farm-to-store/table), and expand food access points by connecting producers with retailers and communities. It must submit annual recommendations to the legislature by December 1 of even-numbered years and manage the existing Texas Food System Security and Resiliency Planning Council. The office must be established by December 31, 2025, and the law takes effect September 1, 2025. This directly affects Texas farmers, food distributors, local governments, and residents seeking stable food access.

Maddy summaryHB 4845 requires Texas Medicaid providers to receive written notice at least 120 days before their enrollment expires, detailing the expiration date and revalidation steps. Providers must submit revalidation applications at least 90 days before expiration, with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission reviewing for deficiencies and giving providers 60 days to correct issues. If providers act in good faith and meet deadlines, the Commission must finalize revalidation before the enrollment period ends. The law applies only to enrollment periods expiring on or after January 1, 2026, and takes effect September 1, 2025. This bill directly affects all Texas Medicaid providers needing to renew their enrollment status.

Maddy summaryHB 1819 amends Texas law to adjust matching grant requirements for community mental health programs serving veterans and their families. It requires grantees to provide local or private funds equal to 25% (for counties under 100,000 population), 50% (100,000-250,000), or 100% (250,000+ population) of the grant amount, depending on the county size where services are provided. The changes apply only to grants awarded on or after September 1, 2025, and require new state funding for implementation - otherwise, the Health and Human Services Commission may use existing funds but isn’t obligated to act. This bill directly affects community mental health programs seeking state grants to support veteran mental health services.