Rep. Sheryl Cole

Maddy summaryHB 3335 amends Texas Local Government Code §263.152(a) to allow counties to donate surplus or salvage property to local civic or charitable organizations, rather than selling it through competitive bidding. Counties must determine that selling would likely yield no bids or a price below disposal costs, that the donation serves a public purpose, and that the organization provides adequate consideration (such as covering transportation or disposal expenses). This change directly affects county commissioners courts and local nonprofits by creating a new, streamlined option for disposing of unused property. The bill does not require competitive bidding for these donations but maintains accountability through county oversight of the process.

Maddy summaryHB 1701 amends Texas Local Government Code to allow counties adopting a fire code to contract with municipalities or emergency services districts within the county for fire code administration and enforcement. The bill requires county fire marshals to delegate enforcement duties to contracted municipalities or districts under such agreements. This directly affects county fire marshals, local municipalities, and emergency services districts by changing how fire code enforcement responsibilities are shared. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3883 adds the FIA World Endurance Championship international automobile race to the list of events eligible for state funding under Texas's major events reimbursement program. This change directly affects the FIA World Endurance Championship race by making it qualify for reimbursement of certain costs incurred during the event. The bill amends the definition of "Event" in state law to include this specific race as a qualifying activity. It does not create new funding but expands existing eligibility to cover this international motorsport event. The change applies to the race itself, not to other types of events or broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 3954 amends Texas Tax Code to allow specific municipalities (meeting strict population, location, or geographic criteria like bordering Lake Lewisville or containing a Texas Tech component) to use hotel and convention center tax revenue for related project costs. The bill establishes eligibility for 16 defined city types, including those with populations over 95,000 in designated counties or with specific geographic features. It permits these cities to pledge existing hotel tax revenue to pay for obligations tied to such projects, without creating new taxes. The policy change directly affects only the qualifying municipalities listed in the bill’s 16 criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 2725 amends Texas Transportation Code to require toll project entities to offer free or discounted toll access to specific groups. It mandates that existing discount programs include vehicles registered under Sections 504.202 or 504.315(f)/(g), as well as vehicles registered to paramedics, peace officers, or firefighters. The bill does not create new discounts but requires toll entities to explicitly cover these categories in their existing programs. This affects first responders (paramedics, police, firefighters) and certain vehicle types registered under specific Texas statutes. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 483 would create new rules for Texas state funding of high-speed rail projects. It requires the Texas Department of Transportation to enter a contract with a private company to build, maintain, and operate high-speed rail (defined as service reaching at least 110 mph) connecting Dallas to Austin to San Antonio along Interstate 35. The bill repeals an existing transportation code section and takes effect September 1, 2025. This legislation directly affects the state agency responsible for transportation planning and private entities seeking to develop rail infrastructure in the specified corridor.

Maddy summaryHB 1107 modifies Texas law to extend civil service job protections to emergency medical services (EMS) personnel working in municipal departments separate from fire departments. It applies only to cities with populations of 460,000 or more that operate under a city manager form of government (either currently or as of when they adopted the relevant law). The bill ensures these specific EMS workers in qualifying municipalities receive the same job security, hiring procedures, and grievance processes as other civil service employees. This change takes effect September 1, 2025, after passing with a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers.

Maddy summaryHB 4234 requires Texas public colleges and universities to add the average or median grade for each class directly next to a student's individual grade on their transcript. It applies to letter-graded classes with more than 10 students, excluding pass/fail courses and very small classes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will create rules to implement this transparency requirement, effective starting the 2025 fall semester. The bill aims to provide students with clear data on how their grades compare to class performance.

Maddy summaryHB 3339 mandates a study by Texas' Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the Department of State Health Services to examine maternal mortality and morbidity rates specifically among Black women in Texas. The study requires comparing these rates to other racial/ethnic groups, analyzing socioeconomic factors, evaluating healthcare coverage types (Medicaid, private insurance, uninsured), and assessing impacts of specific health conditions (like preeclampsia and obesity) and implicit biases in healthcare. It also requires evaluating social determinants of health and pregnancy-related complications. The committee must submit a report with recommendations to address disparities by September 1, 2026, including provider training on cultural competency and successful programs from other states. This bill directly affects Black women in Texas by focusing on data collection to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1738 repeals the criminal penalty for homosexual conduct (previously codified in Section 21.06 of the Penal Code). It simultaneously amends health education requirements in Texas schools to mandate that materials for minors include the statement that "homosexual conduct is not an acceptable lifestyle," while incorrectly referencing the repealed law. The bill affects public school health curricula for students under 18, requiring this specific language to be included in sexual education programs. The legislation passed the Texas legislature on May 16, 2025, and would take effect immediately if approved by a two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025, otherwise.