Rep. Donna Howard

Maddy summaryHB 557 modifies Texas law to prevent courts from finding parents in contempt for unpaid child support if they provide evidence of two specific circumstances. It requires parents to show either current payment records (via receipts or bank statements) or proof that payment delays resulted from third-party errors (like banking issues) or situations outside their control. The bill applies only to child support enforcement hearings starting on or after September 1, 2025, leaving past cases governed by prior law. This change directly affects parents facing contempt charges for missed child support payments.

Maddy summarySB 463 amends Texas law to define "facility" for workplace violence prevention rules, specifically including home health agencies (with ≥2 RNs), hospitals, nursing facilities, surgical centers, emergency care facilities, mental hospitals, intellectual disability care centers, and state supported living centers. This definition requires these facilities to comply with workplace violence prevention requirements by September 1, 2026. The bill directly affects healthcare providers operating under these specific facility types, mandating safety protocols to protect staff. It became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor in May 2025.

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.

Maddy summarySB 922 requires healthcare providers to wait until the third business day after a sensitive medical test result is finalized before disclosing it electronically to patients or their representatives. Sensitive results include pathology/radiology reports indicating possible cancer or genetic test results. The law, effective September 1, 2025, applies to electronic disclosures via patient portals or email but does not impose penalties for non-compliance. This directly affects doctors, hospitals, and health systems using electronic health records to share patient information.

Maddy summaryHB 3540 expands pharmacists' authority in Texas to order and administer immunizations or vaccinations. It allows pharmacists to provide these services to patients aged three and older without a physician referral, and to administer them to younger patients under a physician's written protocol. The bill requires pharmacists to meet board-specified certification, education, and skill standards for immunization administration, and mandates notification to the prescribing healthcare provider after vaccination. This change directly affects pharmacists and patients seeking convenient vaccination access within pharmacy settings.

Maddy summaryHB 4539 allows physicians specializing in ophthalmology (eye care) to dispense certain eye medications (like drops or ointments) directly to their patients without needing a separate pharmacy license. The bill permits these doctors to charge for stocking, storing, and labeling the medications while requiring them to follow standard labeling, packaging, and recordkeeping rules for those drugs. It specifically applies to "nonsystemic dangerous drugs" used in ophthalmic care, meaning medications applied locally to the eye rather than affecting the whole body. The law aims to streamline access to common eye treatments for patients while maintaining safety compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 5178 requires Texas health benefit plans to cover specific biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of diseases - including post-transplant care - when supported by evidence such as FDA approvals, Medicare guidelines, or clinical standards. It directly affects health insurers and patients enrolled in plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The law mandates coverage only for tests meeting one of five evidence-based criteria (e.g., FDA-approved tests or nationally recognized guidelines) and allows state agencies to delay implementation if federal waivers are needed. Plans in effect before January 2026 remain governed by prior law. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, with coverage changes applying to new/renewed plans starting 2026.

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 3554 establishes the Texas Rare Disease Advisory Council under the Health and Safety Code to advise the governor, state agencies, and healthcare providers on improving care for Texans with rare diseases. The council, composed of 23 appointed members including patients, caregivers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and industry representatives, will develop recommendations for better health outcomes. It requires the state health department to provide administrative support to the council. This bill directly affects individuals diagnosed with rare diseases (defined as conditions impacting fewer than 200,000 people nationally) by creating a formal channel for their input into healthcare policy.