Rep. Janis Holt

Maddy summaryHB 267 amends Texas Penal Code sections 43.24 and 43.25 to add specific affirmative defenses for defendants accused of distributing obscene or harmful material involving children. It allows defenses if the conduct was for judicial, law enforcement, or legislative purposes (Section 43.24(c)), or if the defendant was a spouse, acting for educational/medical purposes, or within two years of the child’s age (Section 43.25(f)). The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and does not change existing criminal penalties. As of May 2025, the bill remains pending in the legislature after being postponed and laid on the table.

Maddy summaryHB 54, titled "Relating to the display of and allowance for non-human behaviors in Texas schools," is a procedural bill that amends school discipline requirements. It mandates that Texas public school districts include specific factors in their student conduct codes, such as self-defense, intent, disability considerations, and homelessness status, when making disciplinary decisions like suspensions or expulsions. The bill requires schools to post these codes prominently and consider these factors in all disciplinary actions. It does not ban specific activities but standardizes how schools evaluate student behavior. The bill is currently pending in the Education Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1705 limits Texas public colleges and universities from requiring students to complete more credit hours than their accredited program’s minimum, unless the institution provides a compelling academic justification. It updates the definition of "recognized accrediting agency" to include any body designated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, not just the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The bill also ensures transfer students receive full credit for completed courses in similar programs across public institutions, allowing them to finish degrees with fewer additional credits. These changes directly affect students and public higher education institutions in Texas by standardizing credit requirements and transfer policies.

Maddy summaryHB 242 creates a new criminal offense for obtaining personally identifiable voter information that connects a voter to their specific ballot choices, violating the constitutional right to a secret ballot. It makes this a third-degree felony, with exceptions for election officials acting within their official duties and for court-ordered access during election disputes. The law applies only to offenses occurring on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025), and does not affect past actions. This directly affects individuals or entities attempting to access or collect such private voting data without legal authorization.

Maddy summaryHB 125 creates the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine as a new academic unit within Tarleton State University. The bill establishes that the college will operate under the oversight of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, offer osteopathic medicine degrees under Tarleton's authority, and partner with public or private teaching hospitals. This legislation directly affects Tarleton State University students seeking osteopathic medicine degrees and expands Texas' network of medical education institutions. The bill amends Texas Education Code to formally include the new college in the state's list of authorized medical and dental programs.

Maddy summaryHB 3356 modifies reliability requirements for specific electric generation facilities in Texas' ERCOT power grid. It applies to facilities with a standard interconnection agreement that have operated for at least one year and are not self-generators. The bill changes the deadline for the first reliability demonstration from the original date to January 1, 2027, while repealing prior provisions related to this requirement. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting owners and operators of qualifying power plants in ERCOT.

Maddy summaryHB 2207 prevents cities, counties, or school districts from asking voters to approve bonds for a specific project if that same project was rejected in a bond election within the past two years. It prohibits re-submitting identical bond proposals for voter approval during this two-year window. The rule applies only to bond elections ordered on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect proposals for new projects or those never previously voted on. This is a procedural change to local government bond election rules.

Maddy summaryHB 4503 requires that electronic health records (EHRs) for Texas residents be stored exclusively within the United States and remain inaccessible to individuals outside the country, applying to medical facilities, health care practitioners, and government entities. The bill mandates that EHRs include specific medical history details about metabolic health and diet for chronic disease treatment while prohibiting the collection of credit scores or voter registration information. It also authorizes civil penalties for non-compliance with these requirements. The law aims to regulate EHR storage and content without specifying enforcement timelines or penalty amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 5510, titled the Women and Child Protection Act, creates civil liability for distributing abortion-inducing drugs and establishes a private civil right of action against individuals or organizations that facilitate access to elective abortions. The bill directly affects abortion assistance organizations - defined as entities providing financial support, travel arrangements, childcare, or logistical services to enable abortions - as well as those distributing abortion-inducing drugs. Key provisions include authorizing private lawsuits for damages related to these activities and creating criminal offenses for certain violations. The law harmonizes existing abortion-related provisions in Texas law while focusing on civil enforcement mechanisms rather than criminal penalties for patients.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HR 945), not a legislative bill with policy provisions. It formally honors Pope Francis following his death on April 21, 2025, recognizing his life, leadership as the first Latin American pope, and global efforts to serve the vulnerable. The resolution memorializes his legacy, including his work during Argentina's economic crisis, interfaith initiatives, and pandemic-era outreach. It does not create new laws or affect any specific group through policy changes. As a procedural resolution, it serves only to express collective remembrance.