Rep. Richard Hayes

Maddy summaryHJR 152 proposes a constitutional amendment to restructure the Texas legislative session calendar. It would divide a regular session into three distinct time blocks: the first 30 days for introducing bills and handling emergencies, the next 30 days for committee hearings on pending bills, and the remainder for final action on bills and emergencies. This change would directly affect the Texas Legislature by altering how it organizes its work during sessions. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election, as specified in Section 2 of the resolution.

Maddy summaryHJR 160 proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that the Texas Attorney General has the authority to prosecute election law violations alongside county or district attorneys. This change directly affects election law enforcement by establishing the Attorney General as a co-prosecutor for crimes related to election laws, such as voter fraud or ballot tampering. The amendment would require voters to approve it in the November 2025 election before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHB 3491 creates a process for specific election participants to request explanations about potential irregularities in Texas elections. It allows candidates, party chairs, election judges, or political committee heads to submit written requests to county clerks for explanations and documentation regarding issues like voting discrepancies or procedural violations. County clerks must respond within 20 days for initial requests and 10 days for follow-ups, with unresolved cases escalating to the Secretary of State for a potential audit within 30 days. The bill establishes clear timelines for addressing concerns but does not detail the civil penalty mentioned in its title.

Maddy summaryHB 3548 clarifies that open-enrollment charter schools must comply with existing education code requirements regarding health instruction on human sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It amends Section 12.104(b) of the Education Code to explicitly include charter schools under the same regulatory framework as traditional public schools for these topics. The bill ensures charter schools follow established rules for curriculum content, monitoring, and reporting related to this instruction. It does not change the content of required instruction but specifies that charter schools must adhere to the same standards as other public schools. The bill is currently in the Public Education committee for review.

Maddy summaryHR 563 is a symbolic resolution recognizing April 2-3, 2025, as "Denton County Days" at the Texas State Capitol. It formally welcomes Denton County residents and officials to the Capitol during those dates to celebrate the county's history, growth, and cultural contributions. The resolution has no policy impact or funding provisions - it serves only as a ceremonial acknowledgment of Denton County’s significance to Texas. (Bill: HR 563, Introduced March 17, 2025; Referred March 21, 2025)

Maddy summaryHB 3186 requires out-of-state colleges competing against Texas public universities in intercollegiate athletics to certify 30 days before the event that they will follow Texas' biological sex-based team eligibility rules. It directly affects out-of-state institutions competing against Texas schools in sports, mandating this certification to ensure compliance with Texas' policy. The bill adds this certification requirement to the Education Code, applying to all such competitions starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. It does not alter existing rules for Texas schools or individual athlete eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 3176 prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of products developed using mRNA material for preventing or treating communicable diseases within Texas. It defines "mRNA material" as substances introducing messenger RNA corresponding to viral proteins. The law applies directly to pharmaceutical companies and distributors of such products, banning these activities statewide. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3175 would allow Texas pharmacists to dispense ivermectin (a medication typically used for animal parasites) without a doctor's prescription, overriding existing laws. The bill requires the state health commissioner to issue a statewide rule with standardized protocols, patient instructions, and annual reporting on dispensing volumes. Pharmacists acting in good faith would be protected from legal liability for dispensing under this rule. It directly affects pharmacists, patients seeking ivermectin, and state health oversight, creating a new dispensing framework for this medication. The bill is pending in the Public Health committee as of March 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3160 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt internet safety policies that comply with federal law (Children's Internet Protection Act) and mandate vendors to certify they won't provide obscene or harmful content to minors. It also requires schools to create a public process for reporting and responding to internet safety concerns, with annual reports submitted to the education agency. Public libraries must adopt similar policies protecting minors accessing online resources, including vendor certifications. Non-compliant school districts face withheld state funding under Chapters 46 and 48 until they meet the requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 3056 requires Texas municipalities and counties to prohibit the installation of commercial wind or solar power facilities within 500 yards of adjacent property unless the developer obtains written consent from all nearby property owners. This rule applies only to facilities selling energy wholesale (not residential installations) and specifies that distance is measured from the nearest structure to the property line. Local governments must adopt these regulations by October 1, 2025, and cannot require removal of facilities already under construction before that date. The bill directly affects developers of large-scale renewable energy projects seeking to build near residential or commercial properties.