Rep. Mando Martinez

Maddy summaryHB 2098 lowers the population threshold for Texas municipalities to apply civil service protections to firefighters and police officers from 25,000 to 10,000 residents. It directly affects municipal fire and police departments in cities with populations of 10,000 or more, requiring them to adopt civil service rules. Key provisions include automatically granting civil service status to eligible employees with over six months of service, establishing a Civil Service Commission and Director for each covered municipality, and extending civil service protections to emergency medical services staff as firefighters. The bill amends multiple sections of the Local Government Code to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2089 allows vehicle owners to voluntarily indicate on their registration application if they may be transporting a person with a disability (such as physical, intellectual, or communication-related disabilities). The Department of Motor Vehicles would share this confidential information with the Department of Public Safety, which would then alert peace officers during traffic stops via the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System. The bill prohibits disclosing specific disability types or issuing visible license plates for this purpose, ensuring privacy. It directly affects vehicle owners who transport individuals with disabilities and aims to provide officers with discreet notification during stops. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2093 allows food service establishments with on-site dining areas to require employees who regularly interact with customers to hold CPR certification from organizations like the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. It does not mandate certification but permits employers to set this requirement, with no obligation to cover the certification costs. The bill also provides legal protection for businesses and staff who use or fail to use CPR, unless the action was intentional or showed willful/wanton negligence. This applies only to establishments where customers consume food on the premises.

Maddy summaryHB 2087 requires the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) to adjust certain retirement benefits annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). It directly affects current and future TRS retirees receiving service, disability, or death benefits by tying their cost-of-living increases to the same inflation measure used for Social Security. The bill mandates that the TRS board sets the adjustment rate each October using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI-W data, but only if the system is financially stable and has sufficient funds available. The changes apply to benefits paid starting January 1, 2026, with the bill taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2092 requires owners or operators of facilities processing municipal sludge, sewage, septage, grease trap waste, or grit trap waste to obtain written consent from both the wastewater collection system receiving treated water and any facility further treating that water before receiving a permit. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality cannot issue, amend, or renew permits for these facilities without proof of this consent. The law applies only to new permit applications filed on or after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote). Existing permits remain governed by pre-existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 2096 allows drivers to voluntarily indicate on vehicle registration forms that they have a health condition or disability (like speech, hearing, or autism-related challenges) that might make communication difficult during police interactions. If indicated, the Department of Motor Vehicles would notify the Department of Public Safety about the driver’s registration and categorize the condition as speech/language, hearing, or autism spectrum disorder - without revealing specific details. Drivers must provide verification from a licensed professional (e.g., physician, psychologist, or therapist) to confirm their condition. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and protects privacy by preventing disclosure of the exact condition type to law enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 2090 establishes a disaster identification system for areas under a declared state of disaster in Texas. It requires residents to attach illuminated displays with specific color codes to themselves and pets: blue for adults (18+), green for individuals with disabilities, red for children (<18), and yellow for animals. Participants signal medical needs by using continuous light (no assistance needed) or flashing light (medical assistance needed) on their displays. Disaster relief personnel can then use these signals to locate people and animals during nighttime rescue operations in affected areas.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes March 12, 2025, as "South Texas ISD Day" at the Texas State Capitol. It honors the South Texas Independent School District (ISD) for its history since 1964, including its role in providing education for students with disabilities, its magnet schools, and its national recognition for academic excellence. The resolution extends the legislature's acknowledgment to the district's visiting delegation attending events in Austin on that date. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no policy or funding impact.

Maddy summaryHB 5 creates the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to accelerate research on dementia and related disorders. The institute will award grants to Texas universities, medical facilities, and other eligible organizations for research into dementia causes, prevention strategies, treatments, and symptom mitigation. It establishes oversight committees to manage grants, ensure compliance, and requires annual public reports detailing funded projects and recipients. The institute is set to expire on September 1, 2035, unless extended under Texas Sunset Act procedures.

Maddy summaryHJR 3 proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. The bill would transfer $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026, for research, prevention, and treatment of dementia and related disorders. The institute would award grants to Texas research institutions, medical facilities, and collaboratives to develop treatments, prevention programs, and address access to care. This initiative directly affects Texans living with dementia and their families, as well as researchers and healthcare providers in the state.