Rep. Terri Leo-Wilson

Maddy summaryHJR 15 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing judges to deny bail to individuals accused of specific serious crimes - including first-degree sexual offenses, violent offenses, or continuous human trafficking - pending trial. Judges may deny bail only after a hearing where they find, by clear and convincing evidence, that bail would not ensure the defendant’s court appearance or community safety. The amendment requires judges to issue a written order detailing their findings and reasoning. It does not restrict defendants’ rights to challenge bail denials under existing law and specifies that judges must consider standard bail factors when making decisions. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in the 2025 election.

Maddy summaryHJR 16 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Texas courts to deny bail to non-citizens (defined as "illegal aliens" under the bill) charged with felony offenses if a judge finds probable cause they committed the crime. The amendment specifies that bail denial applies only after a hearing where probable cause is established, not automatically. This change would require voter approval in November 2025 before taking effect, as it seeks to amend the Texas Constitution. The bill directly affects non-citizens facing felony charges in Texas courts who meet the defined "illegal alien" criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 2696 requires Texas public elementary and secondary schools to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The display must be at least 16 inches wide by 20 inches tall, contain only the specific text listed in the bill (including the full biblical wording), and be legible from any point in the classroom. Schools may accept privately donated displays meeting these requirements or use district funds to purchase compliant displays if needed. This law applies to all public schools and explicitly states they cannot claim exemption from this requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 2403 prohibits Texas governmental entities from entering contracts for information and communications technology (ICT) services with "scrutinized companies," defined as Chinese-owned entities (including those organized in China, publicly traded with Chinese government control, or privately held with Chinese ownership). The bill directly affects Texas state agencies, local governments, and technology vendors meeting the "scrutinized company" definition. Exceptions require governor approval, and violations could trigger civil penalties. This policy aims to restrict ICT procurement from entities linked to the Chinese government, focusing on specific contractual relationships rather than broader business restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2410 would allow public and private institutions of higher education (like colleges and universities) to apply for charters to operate open-enrollment charter schools on their campuses or in nearby locations. The bill requires these charter schools to use innovative teaching methods, be directly supervised by faculty with education expertise, and set measurable goals for student performance. It amends Texas Education Code sections to establish these requirements for institutions seeking to run charter schools under their authority. The bill directly affects higher education institutions seeking to expand into K-12 education through charter schools.

Maddy summaryHB 930 requires the Texas National Guard to obtain specific Congressional action before being activated for active combat duty. It mandates that such activation can only occur if the U.S. Congress either officially declares war (per Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution) or takes other official action authorized under Clause 15 of the same section. The bill directly affects the Texas National Guard and the governor, who must ensure compliance with this requirement. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and establishes a clear constitutional threshold for combat deployments.

Maddy summaryHB 1927 restricts classroom instruction in Texas public schools (K-12) by banning teachers from being compelled to cover "widely debated" topics like social policy or public policy issues. It also prohibits schools from requiring or grading students on political activities, such as lobbying, social policy advocacy, or internships involving policy advocacy. The bill further bans instructional materials promoting concepts like race or sex superiority, inherent racism/sexism, or discrimination based on race/sex. These provisions directly affect teachers, students, and school districts in selecting curriculum materials and classroom activities. The law aims to ensure objective teaching on controversial topics while limiting certain political or advocacy-related student work.

Maddy summaryHB 2168 establishes the Texas Commission on Federal Special Education Law and Funding to study and recommend improvements to Texas' special education system in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The commission, composed of seven members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house, will analyze statutory frameworks and practices for public schools providing special education services. It will make recommendations to the state legislature but has no authority to enact new policies or allocate funds directly. This procedural bill affects Texas public schools indirectly through future recommendations, not through immediate policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2257 requires Texas county sheriffs to apply for and maintain participation in federal immigration enforcement programs under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Specifically, it mandates sheriffs to seek agreements allowing local law enforcement to either process removable noncitizens detained in county jails ("jail enforcement model") or serve federal immigration warrants ("warrant service officer model"). The bill prohibits sheriffs from ending existing agreements with federal authorities and requires annual reapplication attempts if initially denied. This directly affects all Texas county sheriffs, imposing a legal obligation to engage with federal immigration enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryBased solely on the provided context, HB 2400 (Relating to a prohibition on the use of artificial intelligence technology for classroom instruction) is a newly introduced bill (filed February 4, 2025, referred to Public Education on March 14, 2025). The bill's title indicates a proposed restriction on AI tools in classroom teaching, but the bill text is not yet available in the provided context - it states "This version is not currently available, but is coming soon." No specific provisions, affected groups, or mechanisms are described in the given information. Therefore, a detailed summary of the bill's content cannot be provided at this time.