Rep. Helen Kerwin

Maddy summaryHB 4705 requires a judge to disqualify a district or county attorney from prosecuting election law violations if they consistently refuse to pursue such cases under a policy. It allows the Texas Attorney General to step in and prosecute these cases when local prosecutors are disqualified. The law applies only to election offenses committed on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025), not past violations. This changes how election-related criminal cases are handled by shifting prosecution authority to the Attorney General when local offices have a pattern of inaction.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas's attorney general to prosecute criminal election law violations if local prosecutors do not act within six months. It mandates that law enforcement agencies send election crime reports to both local prosecutors and the attorney general simultaneously. The attorney general must then take over prosecution if local officials fail to initiate proceedings within six months of receiving the report. This applies to offenses under Texas election law, such as voter fraud or ballot tampering, and takes effect September 1, 2025. The law changes the attorney general's role from optional ("may") to mandatory ("shall") for these cases.

Maddy summaryHB 4785 eliminates the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits arising from specific crimes against children or disabled individuals. It removes time limits for filing suits related to offenses including sexual assault of a child (Penal Code §22.011(a)(2)), aggravated sexual assault (§22.021(a)(1)(B)), continuous sexual abuse (§21.02), certain sexual trafficking (§20A.02), compelling prostitution (§43.05), and indecency with a child (§21.11). The bill applies only to cases where the injury occurred on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025), leaving prior cases governed by existing law. This change directly affects victims of these specific crimes by allowing them to pursue legal action at any time, regardless of when the offense occurred.

Maddy summaryHJR 190 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit Texas House members to 12 consecutive years in office and Texas Senate members to 14 consecutive years. The amendment would apply only to future service in the same chamber and not affect current legislators. If approved by voters in the November 2025 election, it would prevent any individual from serving beyond these consecutive term limits. The measure does not alter current terms or apply to service across different offices.

Maddy summaryHB 3455 requires manufacturers of experimental drugs or devices (including those approved for emergency use by the FDA) to provide clear, summary disclosures about potential health risks to purchasers. Purchasers must then give this disclosure directly to end consumers in person, and providers may only sell the product if someone capable of giving informed consent signs the form. Consumers who don’t receive proper disclosure can sue manufacturers for damages, including pain and suffering, punitive damages, and legal fees. The law applies only to cases occurring on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that Texas's Attorney General has the same authority as county or district attorneys to prosecute criminal violations of election laws. It would amend Article IV, Section 22 of the Texas Constitution to explicitly state the Attorney General shares "concurrent jurisdiction" with local prosecutors for election-related crimes. The amendment directly affects election law violators and defines the legal roles of state and local prosecutors. If approved by voters in November 2025, it would formalize an existing practice without changing election laws themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 4349 prohibits Texas public universities from providing funding to student organizations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Specifically, it bans funding for groups that adopt DEI policies, host DEI-related events, have dedicated DEI officers, or promote such initiatives. The bill defines DEI initiatives as efforts providing differential treatment or special benefits based on race, color, or ethnicity. This law applies to all public higher education institutions starting the 2025-2026 academic year.

Maddy summaryHB 4347 allows children and dependents of qualifying military personnel or veterans to use unused tuition exemption credits from their parent or guardian. It permits active-duty service members (or veterans who would qualify but for the honorable discharge requirement) to waive unused exemption hours and transfer them to their children. After a qualifying military member's death, the exemption can be assigned to children through a spouse or legal guardian if the child doesn't otherwise qualify. The change applies to tuition and fees charged for the 2025 fall semester and later.

Maddy summaryHB 4358 would require a valid prescription from a licensed physician for anyone to purchase oral contraceptives over the counter in Texas. The bill directly affects Texans seeking oral contraceptives without a prescription, making such sales or provisions illegal unless a prescription exists. It amends the Health and Safety Code to prohibit non-prescription sales or provision of oral contraceptives to individuals. The law would take effect on September 1, 2025. This bill changes current practice by mandating physician authorization for over-the-counter access to oral contraceptives.

Maddy summaryHB 4355 amends Texas nursing law to clarify exemptions from licensure requirements and strengthen oversight. It specifies that nursing care provided during disasters, by students, or via prayer/spiritual means generally doesn’t require a license, while adding that nurses working under governor’s emergency declarations remain subject to the Texas Board of Nursing’s disciplinary authority. The bill also creates a new process for expunging disciplinary records from nursing licenses and revises disclosure rules for peer assistance program participation and disciplinary proceedings. These changes directly affect licensed nurses, nursing education programs, and the Texas Board of Nursing in enforcing practice standards.