Rep. Denise Villalobos

Maddy summaryHB 2970 amends Texas law governing the Gulf Coast Protection District's operations. It changes how the district's presiding officer is selected - requiring the governor to appoint from among directors (instead of election) with a two-term limit - and adds a requirement that district projects must not disrupt navigation safety or two-way traffic in Harris County ports, as defined by transportation rules. The bill directly affects the district's governing board and port operations in Harris County. These changes take effect immediately upon the governor's signature, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 27 requires all Texas public high school students to complete at least one-half credit in personal financial literacy as part of their social studies graduation requirements under Education Code Section 28.025(b-1)(4). The bill directs the State Board of Education to develop a list of free, open-source curricula for these courses and allows Advanced Placement courses meeting specific standards to count toward the requirement. This policy change affects all public high school students in Texas, mandating practical financial education alongside traditional subjects like history and government. The law, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025, is now effective immediately for all public school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 3749, known as "Jenifer's Law," establishes new regulations for elective intravenous (IV) therapy in Texas, defined as non-emergency treatments (like hydration or vitamin infusions) sought for temporary wellness or symptom relief, not administered in hospitals, licensed health facilities, or physician offices. The law allows physicians to delegate prescribing and administering such therapy to physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and registered nurses, but only under direct physician supervision. It prohibits these services in specific settings (e.g., hospitals or clinics) and requires prescriptive agreements to count toward existing limits under Texas law. The law took effect September 1, 2025, applying to all elective IV therapy provided after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 2760 clarifies the court process for challenging unemployment benefit decisions by the Texas Workforce Commission. It requires people or businesses disagreeing with a final ruling to file a lawsuit in a county court at law or district court within 14 days of the decision becoming final. The bill specifically replaces vague language about "court of competent jurisdiction" with clear court options, making the filing process more predictable. This change applies only to cases where the commission's decision becomes final on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3214 modifies Texas' master plumber license eligibility requirements by reducing the required journeyman plumber experience from four years to two years. It allows applicants to qualify with either two years of experience or one year of experience plus completion of a nationally recognized apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. The bill applies only to new license applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing applications and current license holders unaffected. All other requirements - including passing exams and supervision duties - remain unchanged under the revised rules.

Maddy summaryHB 43 amends Texas law to update the definition of "agricultural business" in the Agriculture Code, explicitly including rural recreational businesses (like hiking or fishing on farmland) and nonprofit land conservation groups. It also revises the composition of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority's board, requiring the governor to appoint nine members with specific representation: two young farmers/ranchers, two representatives from rural entities (chambers, trade associations), and others with agricultural lending expertise. These changes directly affect entities applying for the Authority's loan and grant programs, such as farmers, ranchers, rural tourism businesses, and conservation nonprofits. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, after passing both chambers unanimously.

Maddy summaryHB 2788 prevents public disclosure of fraud detection methods used by Texas' unemployment benefits system. It specifically exempts internal tools like risk assessments, investigative materials, technology protocols, and communications from Texas' public records law (Chapter 552 of the Government Code). This means the Texas Workforce Commission cannot release these details in response to public information requests. The bill directly affects how the agency handles fraud prevention information but does not change unemployment eligibility rules. It became effective immediately upon the governor's signature on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 127 creates the Higher Education Research Security Council to protect universities from foreign espionage risks. The council, made up of security officers from university systems and select research institutions, will identify best practices for securing academic research while mitigating threats from foreign adversaries. It directly affects public and private research-focused universities in Texas, particularly those designated as "tier one" institutions. The bill establishes this council as a formal body to coordinate security efforts across higher education, without changing existing trade secret laws. The council’s role is limited to advising institutions on security protocols, not enforcing new penalties.

Maddy summarySB 1558 limits liability for nonprofit organizations contracted by Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) or single-source continuum contractors providing child welfare services. The bill creates a legal defense if these nonprofits meet specific safety requirements: conducting timely background checks, confirming eligibility to work with children, reporting misconduct, taking disciplinary action for performance issues, and requiring annual child abuse prevention and reporting training for staff. It does not apply to claims involving gross negligence, and nonprofits remain liable for claims authorized under other state or federal laws. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects nonprofits delivering community-based child welfare services in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 75 requires magistrates in Texas to provide written findings within 24 hours when they determine no probable cause exists for a criminal arrest. This applies specifically to cases involving offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The law aims to create a clear, documented record of the magistrate's decision in these initial proceedings. It directly affects magistrates handling pretrial detention hearings for criminal defendants.