Rep. Valoree Swanson

Maddy summarySB 204 requires school board trustees in Texas to complete mandatory training on parental rights in education by April 2026. It also mandates the Texas Education Agency to create and maintain a publicly accessible, plain-language handbook explaining all parental rights regarding their child’s education, including rights parents can enforce for their children. The handbook must be updated annually and available online. This bill directly affects school board members (who must complete the training) and parents (who gain a clear reference for their educational rights). The requirements take effect September 1, 2025, with the handbook and training materials due by January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 823 requires sellers of meat, poultry, and shrimp in Texas to clearly label whether these products originated in Texas. Specifically, labels must state "whether the food originated in this state" for meat, poultry, or shrimp products. This applies to all retailers and importers selling these items within Texas, directly affecting businesses that handle such food products. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025, after rules are adopted by the Health and Human Services Commission.

Maddy summaryHB 1443 creates a new criminal offense in Texas for promoting or possessing a "child-like sex doll," defined as an obscene, anatomically correct doll or robot designed to look like a child and intended for sexual use. It prohibits three specific actions: promoting such dolls (felony, second degree), possessing them with intent to promote (felony, third degree), or simply possessing them (state jail felony). The law presumes intent to promote if someone possesses two or more dolls, but includes an exception for law enforcement using them for legitimate purposes. This bill directly affects individuals who manufacture, sell, or own these dolls, making the specified actions punishable under Texas Penal Code.

Maddy summarySB 1207 requires Texas public schools to include specific adoption information in their existing parenting and paternity awareness program for high school health classes, with optional use in middle/junior high schools. The bill mandates teaching three key adoption topics: differences between private adoption and foster care, processes for private/state adoption, and adoption as an alternative to parenthood. This policy change applies to all Texas public school districts beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on June 20, 2025, and took effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 6 amends Texas Education Code Section 12.111 to update requirements for charter schools. The bill specifically adds new criteria allowing charter schools to exclude students who were expelled under Section 37.007, placed in disciplinary alternative education programs under Section 37.006, or have documented criminal histories or discipline problems. While the bill title mentions telehealth mental health services in public schools, the provided text does not detail provisions for telehealth access. The legislation primarily affects charter schools by modifying their student admission policies and discipline management standards. HB 6 was signed into law by the governor on June 20, 2025, and is now effective.

Maddy summarySB 1233, the Perinatal Palliative Care Act, requires healthcare providers to inform pregnant women diagnosed with a life-threatening or life-limiting fetal condition about available perinatal palliative care. This applies to approximately 2% of pregnancies where the unborn child has a severe medical condition. The law mandates providers to explain comprehensive supportive care options - including medical, social, and mental health services - to reduce suffering for the mother, unborn child, and family during the perinatal period. It creates administrative penalties for noncompliance and defines perinatal palliative care to exclude actions intended to hasten death. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 300 increases the maximum Texas Armed Services Scholarship to $30,000 per academic year (up from $15,000), capping at the average cost of attendance at Texas colleges. It expands appointment authority, allowing the governor and lieutenant governor to each appoint two students annually, and each state senator or representative to appoint one student, with deadlines set for September 30. The bill directly affects Texas students enrolled in ROTC or similar military commissioning programs at Texas colleges, requiring proof of program enrollment or acceptance into the Texas State Guard. These changes are effective immediately after the bill was signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 269 requires physicians to report certain serious adverse reactions to federal systems (VAERS for vaccines, MedWatch for drugs) when patients receive experimental/investigational vaccines or drugs approved for emergency use by the FDA. It defines "serious adverse events" as those causing death, life-threatening conditions, hospitalization, or significant disability. Physicians must report within one year of vaccination/drug administration if they diagnose the condition and know the patient received a covered vaccine or drug. Violations may result in non-disciplinary corrective action for first offenses or disciplinary measures by the Texas Medical Board for repeat failures. The law applies only to non-routine vaccines/drugs, excluding standard vaccines and clinical trial uses.

Maddy summaryHB 609 (effective September 1, 2025) creates an exemption allowing oyster farmers with cultivated oyster mariculture permits to discharge cleaning water from oyster-growing structures into state waters. It directly affects permit holders operating under Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 75. The bill permits cleaning only at authorized locations using untreated water from that site, prohibits adding chemicals or soap, and requires compliance with all other permit conditions. This change streamlines routine maintenance for oyster farming operations while maintaining environmental safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 3441 creates legal liability for vaccine manufacturers who advertise a harmful vaccine within Texas. It defines "advertise" broadly to include paid promotions across media (TV, internet, influencers), but excludes doctor-patient discussions or clinic materials. If a manufacturer's advertised vaccine causes injury, victims can sue within three years for actual damages, attorney fees, and court costs. The law applies only to cases where harm occurs on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.