Rep. Mihaela Pleșa

Maddy summaryHB 12 requires the State Commission on Governmental Operations to review state agencies that regulate activities through licensing, such as professional or business licensing boards. The bill mandates that these agencies post online notices about the review process and public participation opportunities, and regulatory agencies must also notify licensees and seek their input. The commission must include findings, recommendations, and a 10-year performance analysis for regulatory agencies in its final report. This applies to state agencies in the executive branch with statewide licensing authority (excluding river authorities) and became effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2697 modifies Texas criminal procedure to require bail bond companies (sureties) to notify the state prosecutor *before* filing paperwork to surrender a defendant, but only when the defendant faces felony charges. Specifically, the bill adds a new requirement (Section 1(a-1)) that sureties must inform the state attorney handling the case of their intent to surrender the defendant, in addition to existing notification rules. This change directly affects bail bond companies and state prosecutors in felony cases, streamlining communication during bond surrender processes. The policy change takes effect September 1, 2025, with no impact on misdemeanor cases.

Maddy summaryHB 1851 allows the Texas Facilities Commission to transfer surplus motor vehicles and law enforcement equipment from the Texas Department of Public Safety to school districts located in economically disadvantaged areas. The bill requires that school districts receiving this equipment cannot sell it for two years and must use it solely for law enforcement duties by school resource officers or security personnel, as defined in the Education Code. This policy change directly affects school districts in economically disadvantaged communities by providing them with additional law enforcement resources. The bill took effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 26 allows Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) in Texas to offer nutrition counseling and instruction services instead of certain mental health or substance use disorder services covered under the state Medicaid plan. The bill requires contracts between the state and MCOs to include this option, with the state Medicaid advisory committee approving which nutrition services may be substituted (excluding home-delivered meals, food prescriptions, or grocery support). MCOs must provide these nutrition services as an alternative, and the state must annually report on their usage and consider their costs when setting MCO payment rates. This policy directly affects Texas Medicaid beneficiaries who may receive nutrition services in place of other covered services and the MCOs managing their care.

Maddy summaryHB 2761 amends Texas Penal Code sections to clarify that in trafficking cases involving children or disabled individuals, defendants cannot claim the victim "lacked mental capacity" or "did not complete prostitution" as a defense. It specifically targets prosecutions under Sections 20A.02(a)(7)-(8) (trafficking for prostitution) and 43.01 (prostitution), directly affecting prosecutors and defendants in these cases. The law removes two common defense arguments, ensuring traffickers cannot avoid accountability based on the victim’s mental state or whether prostitution was completed. This change applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025). The bill does not create new crimes but strengthens prosecution pathways for vulnerable victims.

Maddy summaryHB 1481 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt written policies prohibiting student use of personal communication devices (such as cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches) during the school day on school property or at school events. Exceptions allow device use for students with documented medical needs, individualized education plans (IEPs), or health/safety protocols. Schools may implement either a full device ban or a secure storage system for devices during school hours, and must return confiscated devices or dispose of them after providing parents 90 days' written notice. The law takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature.

Maddy summaryHB 367 requires Texas public school districts to create a standardized form for verifying excused absences due to students' severe or life-threatening illnesses. The form must be certified by a licensed physician and include specific details: the illness type, confirmation it is serious/life-threatening, the expected absence duration, and a statement that attendance is infeasible during that period. School districts cannot demand additional documentation beyond this form. The bill directly affects students with qualifying illnesses, their parents/guardians (who provide the form), and school districts (which must adopt the form). It standardizes the verification process without changing existing absence policies.

Maddy summaryHB 1592 creates a statewide internet-based alert system managed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to notify the public about dangerous plant and wildlife pests, diseases, and quarantine orders. The system requires agencies like the Texas Department of Agriculture and Parks and Wildlife to share information within 72 hours, enabling email notifications for confirmed cases, quarantine changes, or compliance agreements. It directly affects farmers, ranchers, and residents in areas impacted by pest outbreaks by providing timely alerts. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and mandates coordination between state agencies to ensure rapid public notification.

Maddy summaryHB 1828 allows correctional officers employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to voluntarily donate up to eight hours of their accrued annual leave or compensatory time each year to a legislative leave pool. This donated time can be used by officers for legislative activities on behalf of a qualifying association that represents correctional officers, has at least 5,000 members, and is governed by a board of directors. The bill limits usage to 80 hours in a 160-hour work cycle and 480 hours per fiscal year, requiring the officer to obtain the association's consent before accessing the time. The program takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3745 expands emergency compensation eligibility for crime victims in Texas. It allows the attorney general to issue immediate financial relief for victims or their families affected by crimes that caused a state of emergency under Government Code Section 433.001, specifically removing prior restrictions that blocked such awards for deceased victims' families during declared emergencies. The bill applies only to crimes occurring on or after its September 1, 2025 effective date. This change directly affects family members of homicide victims and others harmed during state emergencies who previously faced barriers to urgent financial assistance.