Rep. Jay Dean

Maddy summarySB 14, titled the Regulatory Reform and Efficiency Act, creates the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office within the governor's office to streamline how state agencies develop and review regulations. The office will help agencies identify unnecessary rules, reduce costs for businesses and individuals, and establish a public online portal for searching regulatory information. This bill directly affects state agencies that create regulations and the public who interact with those regulations. The new office will operate until 2037 unless extended under the Sunset Act, with its work focused on improving regulatory efficiency and transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 3125 requires the Texas Workforce Commission to create a geothermal energy workforce education and training initiative. The bill directs the Commission, working with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and educational institutions (including colleges, career schools, and public technical institutes), to develop customized training programs for geothermal energy jobs. Key provisions include establishing curriculum standards for degrees/certificates, identifying funding for training programs, and promoting school-industry partnerships for apprenticeships. This initiative directly affects Texas students seeking geothermal energy careers, educational institutions offering relevant programs, and employers in the geothermal sector.

Maddy summaryHB 4570 creates a standardized appraisal process for resolving disputes over claim amounts under Texas personal auto or residential property insurance policies. The bill requires insurers to include specific appraisal provisions in these policies, mandating that disputes about loss value be resolved through a formal process overseen by the Insurance Commissioner. Key provisions include rules for appraiser independence, investigation timelines, and binding outcomes (except for fraud or material mistakes), applying only to policies delivered in Texas after January 1, 2026. This affects homeowners and auto policyholders who disagree with their insurer's valuation of damage.

Maddy summaryHCR 65 is a commemorative resolution honoring Tracy Lee Vincent, a Longview resident who passed away on July 30, 2024. The resolution recognizes his life, including his community service (such as chairing the Gregg County Republican Party and involvement with the Longview Chamber of Commerce), his family, and his dedication to local organizations. This non-binding resolution was passed by both legislative chambers and signed by the Governor, formally paying tribute to Vincent's legacy.

Maddy summaryHB 4408 requires hospitals, clinics, health insurance companies, and other defined health care entities (like pharmacies and rehabilitation centers) to report ownership and control information to the state. This reporting would help the state track who owns or controls these organizations. The bill includes civil penalties for non-compliance and authorizes a fee to cover the cost of processing the reports. It applies directly to health care providers and facilities operating in Texas.

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 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 5243 would prohibit SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) beneficiaries in Texas from using their benefits to purchase energy drinks, sweetened beverages, carbonated drinks, candy, potato/corn chips, and packaged cookies. The bill defines "energy drink" as containing at least 65mg caffeine per 8oz and "sweetened beverage" as any nonalcoholic drink with added sweetener. Exceptions include milk products, milk substitutes (like soy milk), unsweetened juices, infant formula, and certain fortified products containing protein or vitamins. This policy change directly affects SNAP recipients who would no longer use benefits for the listed items, while allowing coverage for specified healthier alternatives.

Maddy summaryHB 4660 establishes that space flight activities in Texas fall under both federal and state jurisdiction, prohibiting counties, municipalities, or other local entities from banning or regulating these activities (except as specified in Section 61.132 of the Natural Resources Code). The bill specifically applies to counties bordering the Gulf of Mexico with FAA-approved spaceports and smaller municipalities (under 150,000 population) that have beach access plans. It requires advance notice to local governments for launch dates between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (to the municipality) or 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. (to the commissioners court), and allows temporary beach closures near launch sites for public safety during those dates. The bill does not create new regulations but clarifies local governments' limited authority over space flight activities near coastal areas.

Maddy summaryHB 1951 prohibits government entities from restricting or discriminating against contractors or subcontractors based on their union agreements for publicly funded construction projects. The bill amends Texas Education Code §51.7761 and Government Code §2269.0541 to prevent public agencies from: (1) discouraging union agreements related to public work contracts, or (2) penalizing bidders for being part of such agreements. It directly affects contractors bidding on projects funded with state/local money, government-backed debt, ratepayer funds, or user fees. The law applies only to contracts with solicitations published after the bill’s effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote).