Rep. Terri Leo-Wilson

Maddy summarySB 1177 requires fire safety inspections at Texas public and private schools (including charter schools) to include checking all automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for functionality. Inspectors must verify AED pads and batteries have not expired and that the device's status light indicates it is ready for use. After inspections, inspectors must provide a written report to school principals (public schools) or directors (private schools), detailing how and when the report was delivered. The law applies to all schools subject to state or local fire safety requirements and took effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1079 allows Texas counties to destroy certain sensitive media devices (like data storage devices containing legally regulated information) that are classified as salvage or surplus property. The bill amends the Local Government Code to permit commissioners courts to order destruction if needed to prevent accidental data disclosure during disposal. It directly affects county governments by expanding their authority over disposal of devices holding legally protected data. The key provision overrides standard disposal procedures (Section 263.152) specifically for devices where data maintenance or disclosure is regulated by law. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5061, the Texas Integrity in State Contracting and Privacy Protection Act, prohibits state agency contractors and vendors from engaging in specific harmful activities. It bans surveillance targeting legislators, their families, state employees, or whistleblowers; intimidation or coercion to silence concerns; and misuse of private information to influence contracting decisions. Contractors violating these rules face administrative penalties enforced by the state auditor’s office. The law applies to all state agency contracts, including those managed by the comptroller or universities, and takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4 restricts Texas public school districts and campuses from obtaining exemptions or waivers for specific requirements, including graduation standards, school accountability measures under Chapters 39 and 39A, health and safety rules, and programs for special education and bilingual students. The bill explicitly prohibits waivers for federal mandates, essential knowledge/skills, class size limits (except as allowed by law), extracurricular activities, and other key areas listed in the legislation. It also changes the appeal process for challenges to the commissioner's decisions, requiring appeals to be filed in Travis County district court with specific procedural steps. This bill directly affects school districts, the Texas Education Agency, and individuals seeking to challenge educational decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 2399) requires Texas courts to include specific, written findings in orders for child welfare cases filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). It mandates courts to detail the factual basis for decisions during permanency hearings, including reviewing DFPS efforts to locate parents, checking for Native American heritage, and assessing progress toward permanency goals. The written findings must be separate from the main court order and cannot be used as evidence in final trials. This directly affects courts, DFPS, and families involved in custody cases where children are in foster care.

Maddy summaryHCR 59 is a ceremonial resolution designating April as "Promise Month" in Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035. It does not create new laws, funding, or obligations - it is solely a symbolic recognition intended to honor religious and historical perspectives on promises. The resolution references biblical principles and the founding of the U.S. on "Biblical principles," but the designation itself has no legal or policy impact on residents or state operations. This is a procedural, commemorative resolution with no concrete policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2890 establishes a legal framework for Texas to join an interstate compact with Gulf Coast states (like Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama) focused on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry. It authorizes the Texas governor to negotiate and sign this compact without needing congressional approval, ensuring it doesn’t increase states' political power relative to the federal government. The compact requires participating states to share information, resources, and services to protect and grow the LNG industry along the Gulf Coast while improving industry coordination. This bill directly affects Texas and other Gulf Coast states participating in the compact, creating a formal mechanism for regional collaboration. The bill became effective immediately on May 28, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 1921 amends Texas law to allow public improvement districts in certain municipalities to fund hotel-related projects like advertising, promotion, and business recruitment. It requires petitions to establish such districts to be signed by qualified hotel managers (e.g., owners, general managers, or authorized management staff) representing over 60% of both the appraised value and number or area of affected hotels. This change affects hotels and their managers in municipalities where these districts operate, streamlining the process for district creation focused on hotel development. The bill became effective immediately after passing both chambers and being filed without the governor’s signature on May 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 37 requires hospitals with maternal care designations to provide bereavement counseling options and perinatal bereavement devices (which delay tissue deterioration for up to 72 hours after pregnancy loss or infant death) to families following intrauterine fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth. The Texas Department of State Health Services must establish a perinatal bereavement care initiative offering hospitals training for staff on compassionate communication and resources like devices with maintenance support. This law directly affects designated hospitals and families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss in Texas. The initiative aims to improve access to supportive care during this difficult time, with the law taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 21 amends Texas Local Government Code provisions affecting housing finance corporations that develop or manage low- and moderate-income housing. It defines qualifying residential developments as those where at least 90% of units are intended for households with adjusted gross income below state-defined moderate income levels. The bill also requires these corporations to follow open meetings and public records laws (Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code) and restricts their development to areas within the boundaries of their sponsoring local governments - unless approved by those governing bodies. These changes clarify operational rules and transparency requirements for housing finance corporations serving low- and moderate-income residents.