Rep. Mihaela Pleșa

Maddy summaryHB 3704 creates a new criminal offense for notaries public who perform notarizations when the person signing a document did not personally appear before them at the time of notarization. It classifies this as a Class A misdemeanor, but elevates it to a state jail felony if the document involves real property transfer. The bill directly affects Texas notaries public by adding criminal liability for this specific violation, which was previously addressed only through administrative penalties. Key provisions define "personal appearance" as either physical presence during in-person notarizations or using approved video technology for online notarizations. This bill amends Texas Government Code sections related to notary qualifications, disciplinary actions, and criminal penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 1441 requires school district peace officers and school resource officers in Texas to complete training based on a revised model curriculum. The bill mandates specific learning objectives, including child development, de-escalation techniques, mental health crisis intervention, and trauma-informed strategies to support students' behavioral and emotional needs. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement must update the model curriculum to include these requirements, effective immediately after the bill's passage. This change directly affects all school safety personnel in Texas who undergo state-mandated training.

Maddy summaryHB 4838 requires Texas' Health and Human Services Commission to hire a language access coordinator to assess barriers non-English speakers face when accessing state health/human services programs and 2-1-1 services through the Texas Information and Referral Network. The coordinator must complete an assessment within one year of hiring and submit a written report to the commission's executive commissioner, summarizing findings and recommending improvements to increase language access statewide. The bill mandates this process to identify gaps in service accessibility for non-English speakers. The requirement expires June 1, 2027, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4534 increases lump-sum death benefits for police officers killed in the line of duty. It provides $1,000,000 to surviving spouses or children (split equally if multiple children) if the officer's death resulted directly from a single work-related injury, replacing the previous $10,000 benefit. The payment comes from a dedicated death benefit fund managed by police retirement boards, separate from other retirement system funds. This bill directly affects active police officers in Texas city departments whose deaths are certified as work-related incidents.

Maddy summaryHR 909 is a ceremonial resolution introduced by Representative Button recognizing May 2025 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Texas. It formally acknowledges the cultural contributions of Texas residents with Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry, referencing historical milestones like the arrival of Japanese immigrants in 1843 and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad by Chinese laborers in 1869. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as an official state observance to celebrate these communities' heritage. It directly affects Texas residents by affirming their cultural identity through the legislature's recognition.

Maddy summaryHB 3305 extends the expiration date for certain counties' existing health care provider participation programs from the standard two-year limit to September 1, 2030. It specifically applies to counties meeting three criteria: having a population of one million or more, containing part of a city with one million or more residents, or bordering a county with 2.5 million or more residents. The bill modifies existing law to ensure these qualifying counties can continue their programs without needing annual reauthorization before 2030. This change directly affects eligible large-county health care programs, not all Texas counties or new initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 1527 creates a tuition and fee exemption for peace officers employed by Texas state or local government at public universities. It applies to students enrolled in qualifying degree programs, including criminal justice, forensic science, cybersecurity, nursing, law, and related fields. To qualify, officers must be enrolled full-time in a qualifying program, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and apply for the exemption at least one week before registration. The exemption takes effect for the 2025 fall semester.

Maddy summaryHB 321 creates an "express lane" to streamline eligibility for child health coverage by connecting Texas SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) applications with the child health plan program. It requires the state health agency to automatically check SNAP application data to determine if a child qualifies for health coverage, avoiding delays by opening a new case for health enrollment. The bill mandates parental consent before enrolling children and provides notice via the parent’s preferred contact method. This directly affects children whose families apply for SNAP benefits and may qualify for child health coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 1777 requires Texas driver's licenses and personal ID certificates to include a visible designation indicating the holder is a registered sex offender, as mandated by a court order under Texas law. This designation applies only to licenses issued or renewed on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing licenses unaffected. The bill directly affects individuals subject to sex offender registration under Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. It does not change registration requirements but adds a standardized visual identifier to identification documents for public awareness. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, as specified in Section 3.

Maddy summaryHB 4288 amends Texas election law to change how election records are handled and inspected. It extends the period for public access to original voted ballots from 61 to 300 days after an election (starting September 1, 2025), while adding new privacy protections for certain voter information. Specifically, it prohibits disclosing poll list timestamps or spoiled ballot details (like voter names and ballot serial numbers) to protect voter privacy. The bill affects election officials who manage records, voters whose privacy is safeguarded, and the public who gains later access to ballot records. (Note: The bill failed committee vote in May 2025 but was reported favorably as substituted.)