Rep. Sheryl Cole

Maddy summaryHB 4505 establishes a special state fund to finance workforce housing development for households earning 30-80% of the area median income. The fund will be financed through gifts, grants, legislative appropriations, fees, and loan repayments, and will be administered by a contracted nonprofit housing organization. This program aims to increase housing options for working households, stabilize local economies, and reduce demand for other state services. The bill passed the Texas legislature in May 2025, creating a dedicated funding mechanism for workforce housing projects.

Maddy summaryHB 3753 prohibits the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs from using public school quality (such as test scores or ratings) as a factor when allocating low-income housing tax credits for developments near public schools. Specifically, it bans requiring school quality as a project requirement or scoring applications based on it. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and expires September 1, 2027, unless extended. It also mandates a study on the policy's impact, with a report due to the legislature by November 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. It directs the transfer of $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026. The fund will provide grants for research, prevention programs, and treatment development related to dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and related disorders. The institute will oversee funding for research institutions, medical facilities, and collaborative efforts across Texas, directly benefiting residents affected by these conditions through expanded research and prevention initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 2132 modifies Texas' low-income housing tax credit allocation process to specifically benefit projects reserved for elderly residents. The bill amends the Government Code to allow the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to award more points in project scoring for elderly-focused housing compared to general population housing, even when both projects meet the same criteria. This change applies only to applications submitted during the 2026 or later allocation cycles, not earlier ones. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and repeals prior sections of the Government Code related to this process. The policy directly affects developers seeking tax credits for senior housing projects by adjusting how their applications are evaluated.

Maddy summaryHB 1896 requires Texas public safety agencies to adopt mental health leave policies specifically for telecommunicators - emergency call center staff (like 911 operators) who handle critical public safety communications. The bill amends the Government Code to define "telecommunicator" and mandates agencies to create these leave policies by September 1, 2025. The policy would allow telecommunicators to take leave for mental health treatment without penalty, directly affecting their workplace rights. This is a policy change requiring agency action, not new funding or benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 5259 requires Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to develop a science-based wildlife corridor action plan by December 1, 2026. The plan must identify wildlife corridors, barriers to movement (like roads and dams), high-risk vehicle collision zones, and critical habitats for at-risk species. It mandates recommendations for wildlife crossing projects that prioritize both driver safety and habitat connectivity, including specific infrastructure proposals. The department must publish the plan online and periodically update it, while coordinating with transportation agencies and other entities on corridor planning. This bill directly affects wildlife habitats, drivers on Texas roads, and state agencies involved in land and transportation planning.

Maddy summaryHB 178 requires Texas public school districts to include "ethnic studies, world geography, or world history" as one of the three required social studies credits for high school students, alongside existing mandates for U.S. history, government, and economics. It directly affects all Texas public school students in grades K-12 by modifying the social studies curriculum structure under the foundation high school program. The bill adds ethnic studies as a specific, mandatory option for fulfilling the social studies credit requirement, while maintaining other existing subject requirements. This change applies to all Texas public school districts offering grades K-12.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals to the list of events eligible for state funding under Texas' Major Events Reimbursement Program. It amends the Government Code to include SXSW as a qualifying "Event" under Section 478.0001(3), specifically listing it as item (CC) in the definition. The program reimburses local governments for costs related to hosting major events, directly benefiting SXSW organizers by allowing them to seek state funding for expenses like security and infrastructure. This change expands the program's coverage to include SXSW, which was previously excluded from the defined list of eligible events.

Maddy summaryHB 168 prohibits marriage for anyone under 18 in Texas, eliminating the previous exception that allowed minors to marry with a court order removing the disabilities of minority. The bill amends the Texas Family Code to require county clerks to deny marriage licenses to minors and declare any marriage entered into by a minor void. This change applies to all marriage applications filed and marriages entered into on or after September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects minors under 18 and their families by ending the ability to marry with court approval under prior law.

Maddy summaryHB 1368 requires Texas public schools (with 10,000+ students) to notify parents in writing if they lack a full-time nurse, school counselor, or librarian for more than 30 consecutive instructional days. Schools must send this notice within 30 days of the absence starting, offering bilingual options for non-English speaking families. The law applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and allows schools to post notices on their websites if accessible via three clicks. It does not apply to schools with fewer than 10,000 students.