Rep. Mihaela Pleșa

Maddy summaryHB 213 amends Texas education law to include chronically absent students (those missing significant school days) in the official definition of "students at risk of dropping out." This change directly affects school districts, which must now collect and report data on chronically absent students to the state. The bill adds chronic absenteeism as a specific criterion under the existing "at-risk" definition, requiring schools to track and document students missing many days. This policy change ensures schools systematically identify and support students whose attendance patterns signal potential disengagement, with data submitted through the state's education management system.

Maddy summaryHB 2110 modifies Texas law to expand access to dual credit courses in public higher education. It defines "educationally disadvantaged" students (those who faced barriers in high school) as eligible for no-cost enrollment in dual credit courses, requiring school districts to verify eligibility and notify colleges. The bill also establishes a "Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) Program," exempting eligible students from tuition and fees for dual credit courses at participating institutions. This directly affects high school students in dual credit programs across Texas public schools and colleges. The changes aim to reduce financial barriers for qualifying students while streamlining verification processes between school districts and higher education institutions.

Maddy summaryHB 3318 creates a framework for patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to access personalized investigational treatments (like gene therapies or vaccines tailored to their genetic makeup) when standard FDA-approved options have been exhausted. It requires patients to have written consent, a physician's attestation confirming their condition and eligibility, and documentation that all other approved treatments were considered. Healthcare facilities must already comply with federal human subjects protections to provide these treatments. The bill directly affects patients with serious illnesses, their physicians, and qualifying medical facilities, without altering insurance coverage or creating new funding.

Maddy summaryBased on the provided context, no substantive bill text or summary is available for HB 2433. The bill title indicates it relates to hotel occupancy tax collection by accommodations intermediaries (like online booking platforms), but the actual provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties are not described in the materials provided. The "Bill Text" section states it is "not currently available" and directs users to a PDF that is also unavailable. Without the full text or a substantive summary, a factual description of the bill's policy changes cannot be generated.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows children under 16 to read or mark a ballot at a voting station while accompanying their parent, with the parent's direction. It requires the secretary of state to create educational materials explaining this procedure for parents, which counties must post on their websites. The bill clarifies that this activity does not count as "assisting a voter," which is prohibited under election law. If enacted, these provisions would take effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 124 increases funding for school safety under Texas' Foundation School Program. It raises the per-student allotment from $10 to $14 annually for each student in average daily attendance and increases the per-campus allotment from $15,000 to $37,000. These changes directly affect all Texas public school districts and campuses by providing additional state funding for safety measures. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, with no further procedural details provided in the text.

Maddy summaryHB 1400 creates a new groundwater science, research, and innovation fund administered by the Texas Water Development Board. The fund provides grants to groundwater conservation districts for projects focused on improving local groundwater understanding, developing better groundwater models, increasing water conservation efficiency, boosting recharge, and protecting water quality. Funds come from state appropriations, transfers, investment returns, and donations. This bill directly affects groundwater districts by enabling them to access state funding for science-based management initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 147 requires Texas livestock owners (cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats) to record their animal identification methods - such as brands, tattoos, or electronic devices - with county clerks using an electronic system. County clerks must maintain these records electronically and send copies to the Texas Animal Health Commission within 30 days of receipt. Owners must update their recorded marks every 10 years, starting six months after September 1, 2031. This replaces paper-based registration with a digital registry to improve tracking and compliance across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2461 increases criminal penalties for damaging or disrupting retail gas pumps. It raises the offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony when financial damage reaches $2,500 or more, and to a third-degree felony for damages over $30,000. The bill specifically targets tampering with fuel pumps at gas stations, making disruption or impairment of these pumps a higher-level offense regardless of repair costs. This directly affects individuals who vandalize or interfere with gas pump systems, increasing potential jail time for such acts.

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.