Rep. Valoree Swanson

Maddy summaryHB 3477 allows individuals found in criminal contempt by a court to have all related records removed after 40 years. It directly affects people convicted of criminal contempt who have waited at least four decades since their conviction. The bill requires them to file a petition in the court that issued the contempt finding, and the Department of Public Safety can file on their behalf. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying to all contempt cases occurring before, on, or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 1290 bans seven specific food additives - brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), red dye 3, and titanium dioxide - from free or reduced-price meals provided by Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. The bill applies to meals served under federal programs like the National School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program. It prohibits these additives in all meals provided to eligible students through school meal programs, effective for contracts entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2025. The law aims to remove these additives from school meals without specifying health outcomes or industry impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 5256 regulates polling place distribution in Texas counties based on population size. It requires counties with over 1 million residents to ensure the number of polling places in each state representative district differs by no more than one, and mandates at least one polling place per county commissioners precinct. For counties with 400,000+ residents, the bill limits early voting locations per state representative district to a maximum difference of one between districts. Smaller counties (120,000-1 million) must place early voting sites in each commissioners precinct, while counties of 100,000-120,000 must add locations upon receiving 15 voter requests. The bill applies directly to county election officials managing polling place allocations.

Maddy summaryHB 3061 increases penalties for certain criminal offenses committed while wearing masks or disguises specifically to hide the offender's identity. It applies to offenses under Texas law covering assault, robbery, public disorder (Title 5, Chapters 28-30, or Sections 42.01/42.02). If proven, the punishment escalates to the next higher offense category, with a minimum 180-day jail term for Class A misdemeanors. Exceptions allow the penalty increase to be avoided if the disguise was for events like Halloween, proven by a preponderance of evidence.

Maddy summaryHB 3741 requires foreign students and employees at Texas public universities to sign a sworn affidavit stating they are not agents of a "foreign adversary" (defined as a nation hostile to the U.S. or Texas). The affidavit must include the exact statement: "I affirm that I am not an agent of a foreign nation hostile to the United States of America or the State of Texas." This applies to all non-citizen, non-permanent-resident students and employees enrolled or hired at public institutions, regardless of when they were admitted or hired. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may create rules to implement the requirement, but the bill itself mandates the affidavit as a direct condition of enrollment or employment.

Maddy summaryHJR 40 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove a requirement that home equity loans must be closed only at a lender's office, an attorney's office, or a title company. This change would allow these loans to be finalized at other locations, directly affecting Texas homeowners seeking home equity financing. The amendment targets Section 50(a) of the Texas Constitution, which currently restricts where such loans can be processed. The bill is pending in committee after being reported favorably.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas licensing authorities to issue provisional occupational licenses for six months to applicants with criminal convictions who are otherwise qualified for the license, unless they have specific serious convictions listed in the Occupations Code. The provisional license begins upon the applicant's release from incarceration if they were imprisoned. It applies to most occupational licensing fields (like healthcare or trades) but excludes applicants convicted of offenses under Section 53.021(a). The bill provides a pathway for certain applicants to obtain licenses without full revocation of eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 5337 requires Texas voters to submit proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. Applicants must provide documents like a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or citizenship papers to county registrars. If proof isn't submitted, voters would only qualify for a limited federal ballot under Chapter 115. The bill creates criminal penalties for failing to provide required documentation and amends election code sections to implement these requirements. This directly affects all new voter registrants in Texas seeking full voting rights.

Maddy summarySB 396 amends Texas Election Code Section 15.051(a) to require voter registrars to send written confirmation notices to voters in specific situations. It directly affects voters whose registration address is a commercial post office box, who haven’t voted in 25 months after a general election, or whose residence is suspected of changing. The key mechanism is a written notice demanding voters verify their current residence address. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not alter voter eligibility or removal procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1482 changes eligibility for community supervision (probation) for certain repeat offenders convicted of intoxication-related offenses. It removes community supervision options for individuals convicted of 19 specific offenses, including repeat DWI-related crimes, sexual assault, trafficking offenses, and drug offenses involving children or drug-free zones. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date. This policy change directly affects repeat offenders who would previously have qualified for probation under community supervision rules. The law does not alter sentencing levels but restricts probation eligibility for these specific repeat intoxication offenses.