Rep. Vikki Goodwin

Maddy summaryTexas House Bill 1544 requires the state treasurer to annually calculate Texas' border security spending from the previous biennium, prepare an invoice for reimbursement from the federal government, and submit it within 30 days of each biennium's start. The bill mandates that invoices must be due 6-8 months after submission, with payments deposited into the general revenue fund if paid on time. If unpaid, the attorney general can sue the federal agency for the amount certified by the treasurer. The bill includes a temporary $20 billion cap on recoverable costs for the 2021-2025 period and expires in 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas licensing authorities to issue provisional occupational licenses for six months to applicants with criminal convictions who are otherwise qualified for the license, unless they have specific serious convictions listed in the Occupations Code. The provisional license begins upon the applicant's release from incarceration if they were imprisoned. It applies to most occupational licensing fields (like healthcare or trades) but excludes applicants convicted of offenses under Section 53.021(a). The bill provides a pathway for certain applicants to obtain licenses without full revocation of eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 349 creates legal immunity for people who enter a locked motor vehicle to remove a vulnerable individual (like a child under 7 or someone with a disability) or a domestic animal (like a pet dog or cat) from a car. To qualify for immunity, rescuers must first confirm the vehicle is locked or the person/animal cannot exit safely, reasonably believe immediate harm is occurring, notify law enforcement or 911 before entering (unless they are first responders), use only necessary force, and stay with the person/animal until help arrives. The law specifically protects ordinary citizens - not just police - from civil lawsuits when following these steps. It does not apply to livestock or cases where authorities advise against entry.

Maddy summaryHB 3265 prohibits health benefit plan issuers, pharmacy benefit managers, and drug manufacturers from discriminating against entities participating in the federal 340B drug discount program. It bans denying access to discounted drugs, restricting acquisitions, or requiring unnecessary data submission as a condition for 340B drug access. Covered entities (like community health centers and hospitals), pharmacies under contract with them, and their authorized partners are directly protected. Violations carry a civil penalty of up to $50,000 per offense, enforceable through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution authorizes the burial of Guy Herman, a former Travis County probate judge, in the Texas State Cemetery. It follows existing law (Government Code § 2165.256) requiring the State Cemetery Committee to approve such burials based on a person's significant contribution to Texas history. The resolution specifically cites Judge Herman's 30+ years of service, including his work on mental health reforms, probate court leadership, and community contributions. The authorization is conditional on the State Cemetery Committee approving his burial application as required by law.

Maddy summaryThe context provided does not include the actual text or provisions of HB 4038. The bill description states it relates to "the authority of a political subdivision to regulate the installation of a communication facility structure near the habitat of endangered species," but no specific mechanisms, affected parties, or policy changes are detailed in the available information. The bill is currently pending in committee with no further substantive details provided. Without the full bill text or summary, a factual summary cannot be generated.

Maddy summaryHB 463 automatically expunges arrest records for individuals charged with certain controlled substance offenses when their case is dismissed under specific conditions. It directly affects defendants whose charges are dismissed due to completion of court programs (veterans, mental health, or pretrial intervention), lab results showing no controlled substance was present, or dismissal due to lack of probable cause. The bill requires courts to issue expungement orders within 30 days of dismissal in cases where lab analysis confirms no controlled substance was found, and prohibits courts from charging fees for this process. This policy change removes barriers to clearing records for eligible individuals without requiring additional court petitions.

Maddy summaryHB 865 creates legal immunity for federal firearms licensees (like gun stores) who participate in "firearm hold agreements," where a customer voluntarily leaves their legally owned firearm with the licensee for temporary storage. The bill shields these licensees from civil lawsuits if injuries or deaths occur during the agreement or when returning the firearm, unless the licensee acted unlawfully or with gross negligence. This applies only to agreements initiated after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025, and does not affect existing claims. The law directly affects gun stores offering storage services and their customers using such agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 937 requires certain special districts (like water or utility districts) without a meeting location within their boundaries to post public meeting notices either on their website or at a publicly accessible bulletin board within the district. If a district lacks a website, it must post notices at a designated public location, such as a community bulletin board, rather than solely at its administrative office. The bill also extends this notice requirement to ballot filing notices for district director elections, mandating the same posting method for districts without an in-district administrative office. This change aims to improve public access to district meeting and election information.

Maddy summaryHB 36, the Sharon Radebaugh Family Violence Protection Act, requires courts to mandate GPS tracking devices for high-risk defendants charged with family violence offenses as a condition of bond. The bill also establishes that defendants may be charged a fee to cover the cost of the GPS monitoring system and requires courts to collect data on bond conditions in family violence and certain other criminal cases. This directly affects defendants facing family violence charges (who may wear GPS devices), victims (who may receive related resources), and courts (which must track bond conditions). The law aims to enhance victim safety through stricter offender monitoring and data collection, without specifying new victim services beyond the data collection requirement.