Rep. Donna Howard

Maddy summaryHB 3072 would expand Texas Medicaid eligibility to women aged 19-49 with household incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, provided they apply for assistance and federal funding is available. The bill adds new eligibility criteria to the Human Resources Code, requiring the Health and Human Services Commission to provide medical assistance to qualifying women under these specific income and age conditions. Implementation requires notifying federal agencies and takes effect September 1, 2025, applying to new eligibility determinations made after that date regardless of when an application was submitted. This change directly affects low-income women in reproductive age groups who currently fall outside Medicaid coverage under Texas rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Texas law to explicitly include equipment used for testing or analyzing controlled substances in the definition of illegal drug paraphernalia. It specifically adds "testing equipment used or intended for use in identifying or analyzing the strength, effectiveness, or purity of a controlled substance" to the prohibited list. This change affects anyone possessing such equipment, including forensic laboratories, researchers, and individuals handling controlled substances. The amendment clarifies existing law to expand the scope of prohibited paraphernalia to cover these testing tools.

Maddy summaryHB 3074 expands rights for victims of sexual assault and related offenses in Texas. It redefines "victim" to explicitly include minors under 17 or cases involving family violence, and adds specific protections to the Code of Criminal Procedure. Key provisions require law enforcement to provide safety protections, mandate courts to consider victim safety when setting bail, and guarantee victims timely notification about court proceedings, plea negotiations, and appeal decisions. The bill also ensures sexual assault victims receive information about medical care coverage for forensic exams and related ongoing treatment within 30 days. These changes directly affect victims of sexual assault, their families, and law enforcement and court personnel handling such cases.

Maddy summaryThe bill text for HB 2833 is not currently available in the provided context. Only the title ("Relating to the sales and use tax exemption for health care supplies") and basic procedural details (filed 2025-02-14, referred to Ways & Means committee) are provided. Without access to the bill's actual provisions or text, a specific summary of its policy changes, affected entities, or key mechanisms cannot be generated. A full summary would require the bill's legislative text or a detailed summary from an official source.

Maddy summaryHB 2830 requires Texas's Legislative Budget Board to produce a report and recommendations on the state's use of dedicated revenue funds for budget certification. The bill mandates the board to develop processes for reviewing new dedicated revenue sources, evaluate how these funds are used in state budgeting, and create specific plans to reduce reliance on them over the next three budget cycles. It directly affects the Legislative Budget Board's annual budget recommendations and state financial planning processes. This procedural bill does not change revenue laws but sets requirements for transparency and planning around dedicated funding.

Maddy summaryThe bill text for HB 2705 is unavailable in the provided context, with a note stating "This version is not currently available." The title indicates it relates to free speech protections at higher education institutions and addresses criminal trespass, damage, and defacement offenses. Without access to the actual bill language or summary details, a factual description of its provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties cannot be provided. The bill was filed on February 12, 2025, and referred to the Higher Education committee.

Maddy summaryHB 2664 establishes a task force to study racial diversity in Texas' nursing workforce. The 9-member task force, selected from nursing committees, education boards, nursing programs, hospitals, and nursing associations, must assess current diversity, review existing initiatives, set diversity goals, and develop recommendations by September 2026. The task force will deliver a written report to relevant legislative committees and is dissolved after December 2027. This bill creates a fact-finding mechanism to inform future policy on nursing workforce diversity, without implementing direct changes to regulations or funding.

Maddy summaryHJR 123 proposes a constitutional amendment to create an independent redistricting commission responsible for drawing district lines for Texas Senate, Texas House of Representatives, and Texas's U.S. House of Representatives seats. Currently, the Texas legislature handles redistricting after each census, but this amendment would transfer that authority exclusively to the new commission. The commission would have sole power to establish or modify districts for these legislative bodies, removing the legislature's role in the process. If approved by voters, this would require a constitutional amendment to the Texas Constitution.

Maddy summaryHB 827 directs Texas health authorities to use existing grant funds to support programs reducing workplace violence against nurses. It requires the nursing resource section to fund innovative prevention methods for both verbal and physical violence in hospitals, emergency facilities, nursing homes, and home health agencies. The bill creates a specific grant program focused on proven approaches to improve safety for nurses in these settings. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 124 proposes a constitutional amendment to create a dedicated state school health and safety fund. This fund would provide financial support for public school projects improving students' physical and mental health and enhancing school safety, directly affecting Texas public schools and districts. The fund, administered by the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation, would be separate from general state revenue and could be used for projects meeting Texas Education Agency standards. Money in the fund would come from legislative appropriations, transfers, or dedicated revenue sources, with specific spending limited to approved health and safety initiatives.