Rep. Alan Schoolcraft

Maddy summaryHB 3210 requires state contractors, local governments (political subdivisions), and private employers in Texas to use the federal E-Verify program to confirm employee work authorization. The bill mandates that state agencies cannot award contracts to entities not registered with E-Verify, and contracts must include a certification statement confirming compliance. Contractors must maintain E-Verify participation throughout the contract term, and violations would be referred to the comptroller for action. This policy directly affects businesses and government entities entering into state contracts by making federal employment verification a contractual condition. The bill focuses on implementing existing federal verification requirements through state contract rules.

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 1771 prohibits pharmacists from refusing to dispense prescriptions based on their personal beliefs about off-label use (medications used for purposes not approved by the FDA). It directly affects pharmacists who must follow a physician's prescription without substituting their own judgment. The bill requires pharmacists to dispense all valid prescriptions as written, explicitly stating that off-label purposes cannot be a valid reason for refusal. This changes pharmacy practice by ensuring patients receive prescribed medications without pharmacists blocking access due to personal or moral objections. The law would take effect September 1, 2025, if not passed with a two-thirds vote.

Maddy summaryHB 122 requires Texas school districts to annually report detailed facility data, including square footage, student capacity, current enrollment, facility usage types (like classrooms or administrative buildings), vacant land acreage, and ownership status. The Texas Education Agency must compile this information into a public online report, increasing transparency about school infrastructure. The bill also adds penalties for falsifying student enrollment information, making individuals liable for tuition or district budgeted costs if ineligible students are enrolled. This focuses on standardizing facility reporting and verifying enrollment accuracy across all Texas school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 2030 amends Texas Penal Code sections 43.24, 43.25, and 43.26 to add specific affirmative defenses for certain criminal offenses involving material or conduct that could be considered obscene or harmful to children. It establishes three key defenses: (1) conduct with scientific, educational, governmental, or similar justification; (2) when the defendant is the child’s spouse, engaging in conduct for medical/educational purposes, or being no more than two years older; and (3) judicial or law enforcement purposes. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, meaning prior offenses remain under older legal standards. This bill directly affects defendants facing prosecution under these specific sections of the Penal Code.

Maddy summaryHB 2327 updates the definition of "Veteran" for eligibility for loans from Texas' Veterans' Land Board. It adds a new category for Texas National Guard members who completed 184 days of active service on the Texas-Mexico border mission, while maintaining existing requirements like 90 days of active duty or 20 years of service. The bill requires applicants to have been a Texas resident at enlistment and currently reside in Texas, and explicitly excludes current state legislators from eligibility. This change directly affects Texas veterans, including National Guard members with border service, who apply for these loans. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2331 amends Texas Penal Code Section 20.05(a) to clarify and expand the definition of smuggling persons. It directly affects individuals who transport people or facilitate illegal entry into Texas, including those using vehicles to evade law enforcement or conceal migrants. Key provisions criminalize: (1) using conveyance to hide from officers or flee arrest, (2) encouraging illegal entry through concealment or harboring, and (3) guiding multiple people onto agricultural land without the owner’s consent. The law creates new criminal penalties for these specific smuggling activities, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1944 adds a new exemption to Texas' Election Code, protecting peace officers and prosecutors who investigate election offenses. The bill states that actions taken by these officials during an official investigation - when authorized by their agency and conducted in furtherance of the investigation - will not be considered violations under the Election Code. This applies specifically to conduct related to investigating election-related violations. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2329 amends Texas law to clarify the line of succession for the commander-in-chief of the state military forces when the governor is unable to serve. It specifies that the adjutant general would assume command unless state constitution or law requires the lieutenant governor or senate president to perform the governor's duties. The bill directly affects Texas military leadership structure during gubernatorial vacancies or incapacity. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and makes no changes to existing constitutional succession rules.