Rep. Ben Bumgarner

Maddy summaryHB 4381 requires the Texas Education Agency to create a plain-language document in English and Spanish explaining parents' rights regarding their child's health information and decisions in public schools. The document must cover specific rights, including accessing health records (like counseling or immunization data), withholding consent for health activities, removing children from classes conflicting with religious beliefs, and opting out of certain screenings or vaccinations. School districts must post the document online and email it to all parents before the first day of each school year. The bill also authorizes administrative penalties for schools that fail to comply with these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 4195 prohibits Texas public schools and universities from entering contracts or accepting money from "foreign adversaries," defined as countries like China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Qatar, or others designated under U.S. law. It specifically bans arrangements involving research partnerships, student exchanges, faculty collaborations, or intellectual property sharing with these entities. Violations could result in fines up to 150% of the contract value, with collected penalties deposited into the state’s foundation school fund. The bill directly affects all public school districts and institutions of higher education in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 3944 amends Texas law to prohibit individuals holding an elective office (such as mayor, city council member, or state representative) from serving on an appraisal district board of directors, whether in an appointed or elected role. The bill creates a clear eligibility rule: no one with an existing elective position can be appointed to or run for a board seat on an appraisal district. Current board members serving before the law takes effect may complete their existing terms without interruption. The change becomes effective September 1, 2025, affecting future appointments and elections for these boards.

Maddy summaryHB 4065 requires cities and towns (political subdivisions) to use binding interest arbitration when negotiations between fire and police departments and their employers break down over contracts. It mandates that employers and bargaining agents submit unresolved issues to an arbitrator if they reach an impasse or fail to settle within 61 days after a contract negotiation deadline. The bill outlines specific notice requirements (5 days after an impasse) and a process for selecting an arbitrator from a list provided by the American Arbitration Association. This applies broadly to fire and police departments, except to cities that already have mandatory arbitration systems or to cities with populations over 1.9 million unless voters approve it.

Maddy summaryHB 3983 establishes new regulations for risk pools primarily made up of local governments (like cities, counties, or school districts). Starting January 1, 2026, these pools must provide members with annual reports including coverage details, budget summaries, financial status, and explanations for denied claims. The bill clarifies that such risk pools are not insurance and must comply with specific sections of Texas insurance law (Title 4, Subtitle C, and Chapter 830 of the Insurance Code). It also waives government immunity for lawsuits related to claim denials or coverage issues.

Maddy summaryHB 3936 would automatically cancel all voter registrations in Texas on January 1 of the year following every presidential election. This affects every registered voter in the state, requiring them to re-register under Chapter 13 of the Election Code after each presidential election cycle. Key provisions include removing the option to challenge these cancellations (Section 16.040(b)), changing registration expiration dates from gubernatorial to presidential elections, and eliminating the suspense list cancellation process previously tied to November 30. The bill makes no changes to voting eligibility requirements or procedures beyond this mandatory re-registration cycle.

Maddy summaryHB 3765 changes how Texas district clerks charge for electronic court documents. It sets a $1 fee for the first 10 pages of an electronic copy and $0.10 per page for documents longer than 10 pages, replacing the previous flat $1-per-page fee. This affects anyone requesting court records electronically, including attorneys, researchers, and the public. The new fee structure takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3764 requires Texas public school districts to notify parents as soon as practicable when specific changes occur to a student's teacher. This includes when a teacher changes their name with the district, is replaced, is moved to a new assignment, or is terminated. The law directly affects parents of students in Texas public schools, ensuring they receive timely updates about their child's teacher assignments. The requirement takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 3766 designates the third Monday in October each year as "Unplug Texas Day" to encourage Texans to disconnect from electronic devices and engage in outdoor activities. The bill directs state and local parks and recreation agencies to optionally coordinate programs and events for this day, promoting recreational opportunities at parks and facilities. It does not create new requirements or funding but formally recognizes the day for observation. The designation takes effect September 1, 2025, after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 288 would create a new criminal offense for operating a premises (such as a building or location) where individuals use illegal drugs without authorization. It directly affects property owners, managers, or operators who knowingly allow such activity on their property. The key provision would criminalize running a location specifically for unlawful drug use, with penalties to be determined by law. This bill targets locations serving as hubs for drug activity rather than individual users.