Rep. Jeff Leach

Maddy summaryHB 5076 requires certified health organizations (like hospitals and clinics) to adopt policies ensuring employed physicians make independent medical decisions without organizational interference. If these policies are followed and the organization doesn't interfere with a physician's judgment, the organization cannot be held liable for the physician's medical care. The bill amends the Occupations Code to create this protection, directly affecting healthcare entities that employ physicians. This change focuses on clarifying liability boundaries rather than altering patient care standards.

Maddy summaryHB 2969 prohibits the Texas State Bar from adopting rules, policies, or penalties that restrict law license applicants or holders based on religious beliefs or burden constitutional rights. It specifically bans limitations on licensing due to sincerely held religious beliefs, or restrictions on free speech (including religious or political views), religious association, or assembly. Exceptions allow rules that serve a compelling government interest narrowly tailored to that purpose, or that address willful bias in court proceedings. The bill enables licensees to challenge violations through administrative hearings or lawsuits under Texas law, but not in cases involving sexual misconduct allegations or criminal prosecution.

Maddy summaryHB 778 requires most health insurance plans in Texas to cover medical expenses related to complications ("adverse effects") from gender transition treatments and procedures to reverse those treatments. It applies to individual, group, and employer-sponsored health plans, including HMOs, nonprofit health plans, and certain government-sponsored coverage. The law specifically mandates coverage for medical/surgical expenses tied to complications or reversals of gender transition procedures, not for standard transition care itself. This affects insurers offering plans under Texas Insurance Code chapters 842-846, 884-885, 941-942, and 1501-1682.

Maddy summaryHB 1761 clarifies standards for disciplining Texas judges by expanding the definition of misconduct to include specific actions like failing to meet court deadlines, violating penal statutes, or not cooperating with the judicial conduct commission. It requires the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to maintain detailed complaint files, including complainant information, documentation, and reasons for closing cases without action. The bill also creates new penalties for false complaints, allowing the commission to impose administrative fines of up to $500 for a first false complaint and $2,500 for a second. These changes aim to improve transparency and accountability in judicial conduct proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 3223 shortens the time limit for lawsuits related to construction or repair defects on real property. It reduces the deadline from 10 years to 8 years after substantial completion for claims against architects, engineers, or contractors. If a written claim is submitted during this period, the deadline extends by two years (for most claims) or one year (for specific cases). This bill directly affects construction professionals and property owners by changing when legal action must be filed for defective work.

Maddy summaryHB 1674 would ban the production, sale, and use of certain agricultural products containing PFAS chemicals (like pesticides or crop protectants). It directly affects agricultural businesses, manufacturers, and sellers of these products. The bill creates criminal penalties for violations, treating unauthorized PFAS use as a punishable offense. The bill is currently pending in the Environmental Regulation committee after committee hearings. (Note: Full bill text is not yet available; this summary is based on the title and pending status.)

Maddy summaryHB 1290 bans seven specific food additives - brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), red dye 3, and titanium dioxide - from free or reduced-price meals provided by Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. The bill applies to meals served under federal programs like the National School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program. It prohibits these additives in all meals provided to eligible students through school meal programs, effective for contracts entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2025. The law aims to remove these additives from school meals without specifying health outcomes or industry impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 7 expands parental rights in Texas public schools by allowing parents to appeal school district decisions to the Texas Education Agency commissioner if those decisions violate state law or employment contracts causing financial harm to an employee. It creates an office of inspector general at the Texas Education Agency to oversee reporting of child abuse and neglect, making failure to report such incidents a criminal offense. The bill establishes procedures for the commissioner to remand cases back to school districts for additional review if procedural errors or insufficient evidence led to the initial decision. This bill directly affects parents, school districts, and employees, while excluding cases involving extracurricular activities or student disciplinary actions under Chapter 37 of the Education Code.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas licensing authorities to issue provisional occupational licenses for six months to applicants with criminal convictions who are otherwise qualified for the license, unless they have specific serious convictions listed in the Occupations Code. The provisional license begins upon the applicant's release from incarceration if they were imprisoned. It applies to most occupational licensing fields (like healthcare or trades) but excludes applicants convicted of offenses under Section 53.021(a). The bill provides a pathway for certain applicants to obtain licenses without full revocation of eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 2460 would require the Texas Attorney General to defend district or county attorneys in federal lawsuits when they are sued in their official capacity, the case involves enforcing state law, and the local attorney requests assistance. This bill directly affects district and county attorneys who face federal lawsuits related to their enforcement of state statutes. The law would only apply to federal cases filed on or after September 1, 2025, not cases filed before that date. It does not change existing legal standards but adds a specific defense obligation for the Attorney General in qualifying cases.