Rep. Penny Morales Shaw

Maddy summaryHB 2666 reclassifies arson involving a government building as a first-degree felony (instead of second-degree) under Texas law. This change applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and increases penalties for intentionally damaging government buildings through fire. The bill specifically targets cases where the property damaged was a government building, habitation, or place of assembly/worship, with the government building provision being the focus of this amendment. It does not alter penalties for arson against other property types or for cases occurring before the effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 213 amends Texas education law to include chronically absent students (those missing significant school days) in the official definition of "students at risk of dropping out." This change directly affects school districts, which must now collect and report data on chronically absent students to the state. The bill adds chronic absenteeism as a specific criterion under the existing "at-risk" definition, requiring schools to track and document students missing many days. This policy change ensures schools systematically identify and support students whose attendance patterns signal potential disengagement, with data submitted through the state's education management system.

Maddy summaryBased on the provided context, no substantive bill text or summary is available for HB 2433. The bill title indicates it relates to hotel occupancy tax collection by accommodations intermediaries (like online booking platforms), but the actual provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties are not described in the materials provided. The "Bill Text" section states it is "not currently available" and directs users to a PDF that is also unavailable. Without the full text or a substantive summary, a factual description of the bill's policy changes cannot be generated.

Maddy summaryHB 392 requires Texas voter registrars to provide specific written or oral reasons when rejecting a voter registration application. Registrars must identify which section of the application caused the rejection and clarify if it was incomplete, improperly filled out, or contained information showing the applicant is ineligible. This change applies to all voter registration denials processed under Texas election law and takes effect September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects applicants whose applications are denied and the local registrars who handle voter registration.

Maddy summaryHB 1090 prohibits certain individuals from serving as volunteer deputy registrars in Texas elections. It directly affects people seeking these volunteer roles by adding eligibility restrictions: applicants cannot have a final felony conviction (unless fully discharged or pardoned), cannot have been convicted of election-related offenses under Penal Code §32.51, and cannot currently face felony charges. The bill amends election code requirements to require these specific disqualifications for appointment. This change aims to ensure only eligible individuals serve in these election administration roles.

Maddy summaryHB 124 increases funding for school safety under Texas' Foundation School Program. It raises the per-student allotment from $10 to $14 annually for each student in average daily attendance and increases the per-campus allotment from $15,000 to $37,000. These changes directly affect all Texas public school districts and campuses by providing additional state funding for safety measures. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, with no further procedural details provided in the text.

Maddy summaryHB 1400 creates a new groundwater science, research, and innovation fund administered by the Texas Water Development Board. The fund provides grants to groundwater conservation districts for projects focused on improving local groundwater understanding, developing better groundwater models, increasing water conservation efficiency, boosting recharge, and protecting water quality. Funds come from state appropriations, transfers, investment returns, and donations. This bill directly affects groundwater districts by enabling them to access state funding for science-based management initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 147 requires Texas livestock owners (cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats) to record their animal identification methods - such as brands, tattoos, or electronic devices - with county clerks using an electronic system. County clerks must maintain these records electronically and send copies to the Texas Animal Health Commission within 30 days of receipt. Owners must update their recorded marks every 10 years, starting six months after September 1, 2031. This replaces paper-based registration with a digital registry to improve tracking and compliance across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 446 creates new workplace heat illness prevention standards for employers in hot environments, directly affecting workers (especially in outdoor or high-heat occupations like construction and agriculture) and their employers. The bill establishes a state advisory board to develop prevention guidelines, imposes administrative penalties for violations, and allows workers to sue employers directly if heat safety rules are ignored. Key provisions include mandatory employer training, equipment requirements for extreme heat, and a legal pathway for workers to seek compensation without relying solely on state enforcement. The bill aims to reduce heat-related injuries by setting clear, enforceable safety requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2054 authorizes an increase in fees paid by certain property insurers to fund the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. This would boost the program's budget by raising the assessment on insurers who sell property insurance in the state. The change directly affects rural fire departments that rely on this funding and the insurers required to pay the higher fee. The bill aims to strengthen support for volunteer fire services in rural communities through additional dedicated funding.