Rep. Donna Howard

Maddy summaryHB 5141 authorizes the Texas Department of State Health Services to lease 16.08 acres of property at the Austin State Hospital tract to Travis County. The 99-year lease requires Travis County to use the land solely for public purposes, with automatic termination if not used for more than 180 consecutive days. The agreement specifies that Travis County may operate public amenities and construct improvements on the property, while the state retains custody of the lease documents. This bill directly affects Travis County's use of this specific state-owned land, with no broader policy changes beyond the lease terms.

Maddy summaryHB 513 requires Texas hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies using surgical smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. These systems capture and filter smoke produced by surgical tools before it contacts patients or healthcare workers. The law applies to facilities licensed under Chapters 241 or 243 of the Health and Safety Code and mandates full implementation by January 1, 2026. The bill defines surgical smoke as gaseous byproducts from energy-generating surgical devices and requires facilities to choose systems that protect both patients and staff. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3695 limits copayments for physical therapy visits under certain health plans. It prohibits health maintenance organizations and preferred provider plans from charging enrollees a higher copayment for a physical therapist visit (without a referral) than for a primary care physician visit. The law applies to plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, and takes effect September 1, 2025. This directly affects Texas enrollees who use physical therapy services without needing a physician referral.

Maddy summaryHB 4442 would require Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to offer an elective mindfulness course for all students in middle school, junior high school, and high school. The course must teach specific techniques to enhance focus, manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and build self-awareness and compassion. High school students would be able to count this course toward their elective credit requirements for graduation. The bill would take effect for the 2026-2027 school year, unless it receives a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, in which case it would take effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 4120 allows certain Texas inmates to apply for public benefits like Medicaid, food assistance (SNAP), and family planning programs before their release. It requires the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Department of Criminal Justice to create an agreement ensuring inmates likely to qualify are assessed for benefits prior to discharge or release. If approved, benefits would begin immediately upon release, rather than after. The bill specifically covers programs including Medicaid, Healthy Texas Women, and SNAP, and mandates agencies to define their roles in processing applications. The law takes effect April 1, 2025, with rules to be adopted by the commission.

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 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.

Maddy summarySB 608 requires Texas law enforcement agencies and response teams to submit annual and biennial reports tracking evidence collection kits used in sexual assault cases. The bill mandates that the Department of Public Safety report annually (by December 1) on kits not yet analyzed or not taken possession of within required timeframes, with the report titled "Statewide Electronic Tracking System Report" and posted online. Response teams must also provide biennial reports (by December 1 of odd-numbered years) to county commissioners courts, including either detailed statistics on sexual assault cases and kit handling or an explanation for missing data. These requirements directly affect law enforcement agencies, the Department of Public Safety, and local sexual assault response teams, aiming to improve transparency in evidence management. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3566 requires county bail bond boards in specific counties to meet at least six times annually (in January, March, May, July, September, and November), instead of monthly, if the county has a population under 1.3 million and contains a municipality with 750,000+ residents. This change directly affects those county boards and license holders who apply for renewal after the bill's effective date. The bill also adds a provision ensuring that if a board fails to act on a renewal application, the current license remains valid until the next board meeting. These changes apply only to counties meeting the specified population criteria, with the law taking effect in July or September 2025 depending on legislative approval.

Maddy summaryHB 2188 shifts administration of the nurse aide certification program from the Health and Human Services Commission to the Texas Board of Nursing, requiring a joint transition plan by December 1, 2026. It also creates a workgroup to study aligning career pathways for nurse aides, medication aides, and personal care technicians, aiming to minimize overlapping certification requirements. The workgroup, including state agencies like the Texas Board of Nursing and Texas Education Agency, must report findings by December 2026. The bill expires January 1, 2027, and takes effect September 1, 2025.