Rep. Donna Howard

Maddy summaryHB 1786 creates a Women's Health Advisory Committee under the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. The committee must provide recommendations on women's health programs, including existing consolidated programs, with a requirement that a majority of members be healthcare providers operating women's health programs across diverse geographic areas of Texas. The executive commissioner must establish the committee by December 1, 2025, and it expires September 1, 2026. This bill does not apply standard conflict-of-interest rules (Section 2110.008) to the committee.

Maddy summaryHB 4071 requires the Texas Board of Nursing to annually publish public data on clinical sites used by nursing programs, including each site's location, number of students trained there, and total capacity. The bill also mandates the Board to provide the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board with a list of facilities meeting clinical site requirements (like hospitals or care centers) that are not required to participate. This law does not compel facilities to join or report additional information, and the first report must be submitted by June 1, 2026. The legislation directly affects the Texas Board of Nursing and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board through new reporting duties.

Maddy summaryThis Texas bill (HB 4901) requires app stores (like Apple App Store or Google Play) operating in Texas to verify users' ages and categorize them into four groups: child (<13), younger teen (13-15), older teen (16-17), and adult (18+). For minors (under 18), it mandates parental consent by linking accounts to a parent or guardian aged 18 or older. App stores must use reasonable methods to confirm age during account creation. The law directly affects app platforms and users under 18 in Texas, with no voting record available as the bill remains pending in committee.

Maddy summaryHB 3794 updates Texas licensing rules for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), including nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. It clarifies their scope of practice under the Occupations Code and requires certain government employee health plans to directly pay APRNs for services they provide. The bill defines key terms like "advanced practice registered nurse" and specifies that APRNs may administer medications under authorized orders, excluding medical diagnosis. This directly affects APRNs working in government health plans and changes how these plans reimburse their services.

Maddy summaryThe bill text for HB 5536 is not currently available in the provided context. While the title indicates it relates to establishing a "child protective services prevention grant program," no specific provisions, funding mechanisms, or affected groups are described in the available information. The bill was filed on March 14, 2025, and referred to the Human Services committee on April 7, 2025. Without access to the full bill text or summary details, a substantive policy description cannot be provided.

Maddy summaryHB 5533 permits advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs) to prescribe and order Schedule II controlled substances (such as opioids used in medication-assisted treatment) within certified narcotic drug treatment programs. This requires physicians to delegate prescribing authority, and applies only to programs holding a valid permit under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 466. The bill specifically expands provider roles in opioid use disorder treatment programs, not general medical practice. It does not change existing delegation rules for hospital settings or hospice care.

Maddy summaryHB 5538 amends Texas Family Code §261.110(i) to establish a rebuttable presumption that an employer retaliated against an employee if adverse action (like termination or discrimination) occurs within 60 days of the employee making a good-faith report of suspected child abuse or neglect. This applies directly to mandatory reporters (e.g., teachers, healthcare workers) who report abuse under state law. The law shifts the burden to employers to prove the employment action was unrelated to the report, rather than requiring the employee to prove retaliation. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5531 amends Texas Family Code Section 261.001 to explicitly include midwives (as defined in the Occupations Code) in the definition of "medical provider." This change exempts medical care provided by licensed midwives from being automatically classified as child neglect under state law. The bill directly affects families using midwifery services and midwives practicing in Texas, ensuring their care is treated the same as other licensed medical providers. The amendment takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5142 allows the Texas Department of State Health Services to lease unused real property on the Austin State Hospital campus without competitive bidding or advertisement, at below-market rates. This applies only if the property is not currently used by the department and will be leased to a local government unit for mental health services, including jail diversion programs. The bill specifically amends the Health and Safety Code to create this leasing authority, effective September 1, 2025. It directly affects the state health department, local governments providing mental health services, and the Austin State Hospital campus properties.

Maddy summaryHB 5234 amends Texas law to prohibit staff at domestic violence shelters from being required to assist or cooperate with federal immigration officers regarding activities occurring at those shelters. The bill specifically adds domestic violence shelters to the list of protected locations (alongside places of worship) where such cooperation is barred under Government Code Section 752.053(c). This creates a clear legal exception for shelters, ensuring their operations and client safety remain separate from federal immigration enforcement on-site. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, unless approved by a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation.