Rep. Jeff Barry

Maddy summarySB 2308 establishes a Texas grant program to fund clinical trials of ibogaine with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval as a treatment for opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorders, and other neurological or mental health conditions where ibogaine demonstrates efficacy. The program provides state funding to public-private partnerships conducting FDA drug development trials, targeting organizations with capacity to lead these trials and seek FDA approval. Eligible applicants must be for-profit, nonprofit, or public benefit entities capable of conducting the required trials and future research. This policy change directly supports the FDA approval process for ibogaine treatment, without authorizing its immediate use.

Maddy summaryHJR 7 proposes a constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of Texas' state sales and use tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund. It would require that this dedicated revenue be allocated exclusively to water infrastructure projects, with new rules allowing temporary suspension during declared disasters. The bill would amend the state constitution to establish this dedicated funding stream, replacing current flexible allocation methods for water fund money. This proposal was reported adversely by the Senate Finance Committee with a 14-0 vote against in May 2025.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 2124 requires the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to jointly publish an annual groundwater monitoring and contamination report by June 1 each year. The report must detail current groundwater monitoring programs, document all contamination cases from the previous year (including unresolved cases), and track enforcement actions for each case. This law, effective September 1, 2025, directly affects the committee and commission by mandating transparency about groundwater protection efforts. It applies to all agencies conducting groundwater monitoring at regulated facilities or activities.

Maddy summaryHB 1188, the Caytlin Handley Act, requires Texas school districts to provide parents or guardians of students with intellectual disabilities or developmental delays with information about local disability authority services during their first individualized education program (IEP) meeting. The bill mandates that schools share details about public benefits and waiver programs (like Section 1915(c) services under federal law) offered by the county disability authority. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission must develop and distribute clear informational materials to schools for this purpose. This law took effect immediately on May 29, 2025, applying to the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 2027 allows Brazoria County's Commissioners Court to create "reinvestment zones" within the Port Freeport district and negotiate tax exemptions for specific properties. It directly affects property owners, leaseholders, and businesses with improvements on tax-exempt real property or district-owned land in that zone. The bill enables the county to reduce or eliminate property taxes on leasehold interests, tangible personal property, or improvements by entering formal agreements under Chapter 312 of the Tax Code. This provides a mechanism for targeted tax relief to encourage development and investment in the Port Freeport area.

Maddy summaryHB 1729 limits commissioners of Port Freeport to serving no more than two full terms. The bill prohibits anyone who has completed two or more full terms from running for re-election, though filling a vacancy (without completing a full term) does not count toward this limit. This change applies to terms beginning after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025, for future elections at Port Freeport.

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 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.

Maddy summarySB 1080 requires Texas licensing authorities to issue either a full occupational license or a provisional license (valid for six months) to otherwise qualified applicants who have been convicted of certain offenses, instead of automatically denying their applications. The provisional license begins on the date an applicant is released from prison if they were incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. This bill directly affects individuals with criminal convictions seeking occupational licenses (such as for nursing, contracting, or other licensed professions) who meet all other qualification requirements. It aims to reduce barriers to employment by providing a temporary licensing pathway for these applicants.

Maddy summarySB 455 requires that surplus lines insurance contracts (for risks wholly located in Texas) include arbitration agreements conducted in Texas under Texas law, unless both insurer and policyholder agree to change the venue after the insurer provides written notice and a premium credit for added costs. This applies to new or renewed contracts on or after January 1, 2026, affecting insurers and policyholders purchasing specialized insurance for high-risk properties in Texas. The bill ensures arbitration venues and legal interpretations remain tied to Texas, preventing out-of-state arbitration without financial compensation to policyholders. It becomes effective September 1, 2025, but the new rules apply to contracts delivered after 2025.