Rep. Valoree Swanson

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that Texas's Attorney General has the same authority as county or district attorneys to prosecute criminal violations of election laws. It would amend Article IV, Section 22 of the Texas Constitution to explicitly state the Attorney General shares "concurrent jurisdiction" with local prosecutors for election-related crimes. The amendment directly affects election law violators and defines the legal roles of state and local prosecutors. If approved by voters in November 2025, it would formalize an existing practice without changing election laws themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 17 would prohibit citizens of designated countries (China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or others named by the governor) from purchasing real property in Texas. It creates criminal penalties for violations, making such purchases illegal under state law. Exceptions apply to U.S. citizens, lawful residents, and businesses owned by them. The law would override existing property rights for these foreign buyers, directly affecting individuals and entities from designated countries seeking to buy land in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 4198 requires Texas school districts to update their library collection policies every five years to prohibit certain materials, including harmful content (per Penal Code), sexually explicit material rated by vendors, and content containing indecent or profane material. The bill mandates that policies must recognize parents as primary decision-makers for student library access, require transparency in cataloging, and prevent removal of materials based solely on ideas or author background. School districts that fail to comply face a civil penalty. This applies directly to all public school districts managing library collections, including classroom and online resources.

Maddy summaryHB 4100 protects healthcare providers from retaliation when reporting certain issues related to patient care. It prohibits health care facilities, government entities, or others from taking adverse actions (like termination or demotion) against physicians or providers who report violations such as unsafe treatment practices, public health risks, mismanagement of funds, or abuse of authority. The bill creates a civil remedy, allowing affected providers to sue for damages if retaliation occurs. It applies broadly to all healthcare workers covered under the definition, including nurses, technicians, pharmacists, and medical students. The law aims to encourage reporting of serious concerns without fear of professional consequences.

Maddy summaryHB 3736 prohibits Texas public school districts and charter schools from serving food or drinks containing specific artificial color additives in school meals. The bill bans nine listed additives (including red 40, yellow 5, blue 1, and caramel) and any substantially similar substitutes. This policy directly affects school nutrition programs, requiring them to remove these additives from all meals served to students starting the 2025-2026 school year. The law does not apply to food sold in vending machines or à la carte items outside of regular meals.

Maddy summaryHB 3739 requires Texas public schools to include specific fetal development instruction in health classes for students in grades 7 through 12 starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill mandates teaching about weekly fetal growth, medically assisted termination procedures (including abortion-inducing drugs), and other causes of fetal termination (such as drug/alcohol effects), alongside resources supporting pregnancy continuation through faith-based organizations. It does not require teaching about abortion access but specifies that recommended resources must not be linked to organizations providing or advocating for fetal termination. This policy directly affects Texas public school curricula and students in grades 7-12.

Maddy summaryHB 3734 amends Texas law to require public water systems to test for mifepristone and estrogen hormones in drinking water, in addition to existing testing requirements. This bill directly affects municipal and community water providers across Texas by adding these specific substances to mandatory water quality testing protocols. The key provision (Section 1) amends the Health and Safety Code to explicitly include mifepristone (a medication used in medical procedures) and estrogen hormones in required testing under Section 341.033(c). The law takes effect on September 1, 2025, but does not establish new testing standards or penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 3735 requires health insurance plans in Texas to cover prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care provided in hospitals, birthing centers, or home settings. It specifically mandates coverage for nurse midwife services, prenatal visits (including ultrasounds), related blood/urine tests, childbirth in all three settings, and prescription drugs for pain management during labor. This applies to all health benefit plans offering maternity coverage, including those from traditional insurers, HMOs, health maintenance organizations, and state health exchanges. The bill aims to standardize coverage for essential pregnancy-related services regardless of where care is delivered.

Maddy summaryHB 3740 requires that any chemical or technique used for weather modification and control in Texas must first be approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). TDLR cannot approve a chemical or technique if it is known to cause harm to human health, including to the endocrine, nervous, respiratory, or reproductive systems. The department may seek input from other agencies like the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or the Department of Agriculture when reviewing approvals. TDLR must adopt implementing rules as soon as practicable after the bill takes effect, which would be September 1, 2025, unless it receives a two-thirds legislative vote for immediate implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 3738 requires the Texas Department of Agriculture (with Texas Education Agency assistance) to conduct an annual study measuring PFAS levels in school lunches served through the state's school lunch program. The study must test representative samples of all foods distributed to schools under the program and other foods commonly purchased using program subsidies. Results must be reported annually to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, and all legislators by December 31 each year, with the first report due December 31, 2026. This bill directly affects Texas public school lunch programs and the agencies managing food safety compliance.