Rep. Penny Morales Shaw

Maddy summarySB 1814 creates a state-maintained electronic database to connect service members transitioning from active duty to veterans with available benefits. It requires written consent from members discharged within 12 months, storing their contact information for approved state agencies and local veteran service organizations. These entities can access the database to provide targeted information about employment, housing, health care, entrepreneurship programs, and support services. The database becomes operational on September 1, 2025, after the bill was signed into law on June 20, 2025. This directly affects service members leaving active duty who consent to be included.

Maddy summaryHB 2970 amends Texas law governing the Gulf Coast Protection District's operations. It changes how the district's presiding officer is selected - requiring the governor to appoint from among directors (instead of election) with a two-term limit - and adds a requirement that district projects must not disrupt navigation safety or two-way traffic in Harris County ports, as defined by transportation rules. The bill directly affects the district's governing board and port operations in Harris County. These changes take effect immediately upon the governor's signature, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 4466 (effective September 1, 2025) removes fees for certified birth records issued to counties or child welfare boards when requested for specific legal cases. The bill requires state and local registrars to provide these records without charge when the request relates to a "suit affecting the parent-child relationship" filed by a governmental entity under Texas Family Code Subtitle E, Title 5. This directly affects county governments and child welfare boards handling custody or parental rights cases. The provision applies only to these legally defined proceedings, not to general public requests for birth records.

Maddy summarySB 217 establishes the Historic Texas Freedmen’s Cemetery Designation Program through the Texas Historical Commission. It allows cemeteries containing at least one freed slave’s grave to apply for official recognition, requiring applicants to prove the cemetery’s existence and historical significance. The program includes a $25 application fee, and approved cemeteries may display a commemorative medallion. The designation aims to inform the public and adjacent landowners about the historical value of these sites.

Maddy summarySB 523 allows parole officers, peace officers, probation officers, and prosecutors in Texas to list their office address instead of their home address on their driver's licenses. The bill requires these professionals to notify the Texas Department of Public Safety within 30 days of changing their office address or name. For peace officers, acceptable alternative addresses include their residence municipality/county or their employment county. The law, effective September 1, 2025, applies only to these specific law enforcement and legal professionals, not the general public.

Maddy summaryHB 47 amends Texas law to strengthen protections for victims of sexual assault and related offenses. It updates the definition of "victim" to explicitly include minors under 17 and cases involving family violence. Key provisions require law enforcement to provide safety protections, mandate judges to consider victim safety when setting bail, and ensure victims receive timely information about court proceedings and forensic exam costs. For sexual assault victims, the bill specifically guarantees notification about payment for forensic medical exams and related medical care within 30 days of the assault. These changes directly affect victims, their families, and the criminal justice system handling such cases.

Maddy summaryHB 3214 modifies Texas' master plumber license eligibility requirements by reducing the required journeyman plumber experience from four years to two years. It allows applicants to qualify with either two years of experience or one year of experience plus completion of a nationally recognized apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. The bill applies only to new license applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing applications and current license holders unaffected. All other requirements - including passing exams and supervision duties - remain unchanged under the revised rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1893 modifies Texas law to require law enforcement agencies to disclose motor vehicle license plate numbers visible or audible in video recordings they obtain or maintain. The bill specifies that these license plate numbers are not confidential under public information laws and must be included without redaction when releasing such videos to the public. This directly affects law enforcement agencies, which must now provide unaltered video recordings containing license plate numbers in response to public information requests. The policy change took effect September 1, 2025, after the bill was signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 43 amends Texas law to update the definition of "agricultural business" in the Agriculture Code, explicitly including rural recreational businesses (like hiking or fishing on farmland) and nonprofit land conservation groups. It also revises the composition of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority's board, requiring the governor to appoint nine members with specific representation: two young farmers/ranchers, two representatives from rural entities (chambers, trade associations), and others with agricultural lending expertise. These changes directly affect entities applying for the Authority's loan and grant programs, such as farmers, ranchers, rural tourism businesses, and conservation nonprofits. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, after passing both chambers unanimously.

Maddy summaryHB 120 amends Texas education law to prioritize college, career, and military readiness for high school students. It adds two new academic goals: requiring graduates to have immediate workforce skills (Goal 5) and ensuring college readiness without remediation (Goal 6). The bill mandates public schools to report de-identified student outcomes - including college enrollment, remedial coursework, and employment data - disaggregated by school district and campus. These reports will inform school accountability ratings and guide funding for career programs like the FAST and R-PEP initiatives. The law directly affects all Texas public high schools, students, and district administrators through updated accountability measures.