Rep. Matt Shaheen

Maddy summaryHB 2391 requires Texas public schools and colleges to use the state's official definition of antisemitism (from Government Code Section 448.001, including its examples) when determining if a student's conduct violation under school rules was motivated by antisemitism. It applies to disciplinary actions taken by school districts and public institutions of higher education. The bill mandates schools consider this specific definition as "instructive" in such cases, without creating new penalties. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 2575 modifies how pari-mutuel wagering funds are distributed for horse racing in Texas. It requires racetracks to allocate 4.5% of certain wagering pools into an escrow account (instead of direct distribution), with funds then available for reimbursement of interstate racing signal costs or allocation to racetracks and state horse breed registries for purses. The bill specifies that up to 70% of escrowed funds can be distributed to racetracks annually, while also allowing breed registries to apply for funds to support the horse industry. Currently pending in the Ways & Means committee after a public hearing, the bill does not yet take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2207 prevents cities, counties, or school districts from asking voters to approve bonds for a specific project if that same project was rejected in a bond election within the past two years. It prohibits re-submitting identical bond proposals for voter approval during this two-year window. The rule applies only to bond elections ordered on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect proposals for new projects or those never previously voted on. This is a procedural change to local government bond election rules.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HR 945), not a legislative bill with policy provisions. It formally honors Pope Francis following his death on April 21, 2025, recognizing his life, leadership as the first Latin American pope, and global efforts to serve the vulnerable. The resolution memorializes his legacy, including his work during Argentina's economic crisis, interfaith initiatives, and pandemic-era outreach. It does not create new laws or affect any specific group through policy changes. As a procedural resolution, it serves only to express collective remembrance.

Maddy summaryHB 295 would amend school discipline policies to explicitly include antisemitism as a form of bullying. This change would directly affect students, school staff, and administrators in public schools, requiring schools to address antisemitic behavior under bullying protocols. The bill's key provision is updating the definition of bullying to encompass antisemitism, ensuring such conduct is treated with the same seriousness as other forms of bullying. However, the provided context does not include the full bill text or specific implementation details, so this summary is based solely on the title and available description.

Maddy summaryHB 2684 requires health care providers to inform pregnant women diagnosed with a life-threatening condition in their preborn child about available perinatal palliative care options. The bill mandates the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to create and maintain online informational materials describing palliative care services and a geographically indexed list of providers (excluding abortion providers). It directly affects pregnant women facing such diagnoses and their health care providers. The law aims to ensure access to supportive care focused on reducing suffering for both the pregnant woman and her preborn child. The bill also establishes an administrative penalty for noncompliance, though specific penalty details are not provided in the truncated text.

Maddy summaryHB 2196 allows public school districts to offer virtual and hybrid courses under Chapter 30B of the Education Code and authorizes the commissioner of education to temporarily adjust how school attendance is calculated during emergencies (like natural disasters or pandemics). This adjustment helps ensure school districts maintain their state funding under the Foundation School Program when students learn remotely. The bill also permits the commissioner to charge a fee related to these modifications. It directly affects Texas public school districts, students, and educators by providing flexibility in attendance tracking during crises while preserving funding stability.

Maddy summaryThis Texas bill (HB 4901) requires app stores (like Apple App Store or Google Play) operating in Texas to verify users' ages and categorize them into four groups: child (<13), younger teen (13-15), older teen (16-17), and adult (18+). For minors (under 18), it mandates parental consent by linking accounts to a parent or guardian aged 18 or older. App stores must use reasonable methods to confirm age during account creation. The law directly affects app platforms and users under 18 in Texas, with no voting record available as the bill remains pending in committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1555 creates a temporary committee to study Texas ethics laws, including campaign finance, lobbying, and financial disclosure rules. The committee, composed of appointed legislators (four from the Senate and House, with co-chairs) and public members plus the Ethics Commission chair, will assess whether current laws achieve their goals and recommend specific changes. It must submit findings and proposed statutory changes by December 20, 2026, after which the committee is abolished. This bill does not alter ethics laws directly but establishes a process for potential future revisions.

Maddy summaryHB 8 reduces the maximum tax rate school districts can collect for the 2025-2026 school year by $0.0331, calculated using a new method in Section 48.2554 of the Education Code. It directly affects all Texas public school districts by adjusting how their maximum tax rates are determined, ensuring rates don’t drop below 90% of neighboring districts’ rates. The bill updates references to "maximum compressed tax rate" in multiple education funding laws to reflect this change and expires on September 1, 2027. It takes effect September 1, 2025, with no additional funding or program changes beyond the tax rate adjustment.