Rep. Mihaela Pleșa

Maddy summaryHB 2217 creates a state grant program to help law enforcement agencies purchase and install bullet-resistant components on vehicles used by peace officers. It directly affects state and local law enforcement agencies (including county and city police departments) by providing funding for bullet-resistant windshields, side windows, rear windows, and door panels. The program requires the Criminal Justice Division to set eligibility rules, application procedures, and grant amounts, while agencies must submit proof of installation after using funds. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and focuses solely on funding vehicle safety upgrades for officers.

Maddy summaryHB 2854 requires parole officers to approve non-medical hospital visits for certain parolees convicted of specific offenses (listed in Texas law). Releasees must submit advance requests specifying visit details, and parole officers must notify hospitals of approved visits. The bill shields hospitals from liability for damages related to these visits, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. It applies only to parolees released on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect those released earlier.

Maddy summaryHB 4361 requires Texas public institutions of higher education to establish standardized emergency notification procedures that comply with the federal Jeanne Clery Act. It mandates that institutions, in consultation with students, faculty, and staff, adopt clear protocols for timely emergency alerts through required systems. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board must adopt these rules promptly after the bill's effective date. The law took effect immediately on June 20, 2025, after being signed by the Governor. This directly affects all public colleges and universities in Texas, ensuring consistent emergency communication practices.

Maddy summaryHB 2598 amends Texas Education Code to clarify who qualifies as a "mental health professional" for school services. It explicitly includes school psychologists (as defined in the Occupations Code) alongside other licensed providers like clinical social workers and licensed counselors. The bill also creates a task force to advise on school mental health services, requiring specific representation from parents, school administrators, and mental health professionals. This directly affects school psychologists, mental health service providers, and school districts implementing these services. The changes took effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1563 requires Texas county jailers to complete mandatory training on interacting with veterans in the criminal justice system. The bill mandates the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, in collaboration with the Texas Veterans Commission, to develop this training program. It adds this requirement to existing jailer training standards, making it part of the eight-hour mental health training program needed for appointment or renewal. All current county jailers must complete this training by August 31, 2027, and the law took effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4238 prevents creditors and debt collectors from attempting to collect debts from individuals who are victims of identity theft, as verified by a court order. It requires these entities to stop collection efforts within seven business days of receiving proof of identity theft, stop reporting the debt to credit bureaus, and not sell the debt to third parties. The law does not apply to home loans or existing court judgments. This directly affects identity theft victims (who can halt debt collection) and debt collectors (who must comply with these restrictions), effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 824 requires Texas public high schools to include specific civics content in their government curriculum starting with the 2025-2026 school year. It mandates that the State Board of Education adopt standards covering the roles of elected officials (statewide, county, city), Texas voting processes and election laws, eligibility requirements for office, basic parliamentary procedures, and identifying local representatives. This directly affects all Texas public high school students and educators implementing the social studies curriculum. The bill became effective immediately upon the Governor's signature on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3348 creates a program allowing specific Texas counties to collect mandatory payments from nonpublic hospitals (defined as institutions providing inpatient services) to fund local health care initiatives. It applies only to counties meeting strict population and geographic criteria, such as those adjacent to the state capital with 46,000-50,000 residents, or large bordering counties with populations exceeding 900,000. Funds collected through this program must be deposited into a county-established "local provider participation fund" and can be used for health care services within the county. The bill does not mandate participation - counties must adopt an order via commissioners court to implement the program.

Maddy summaryHB 3689 changes how the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) funds catastrophic windstorm and hail insurance losses after major disasters. Instead of relying on public securities (which incur high interest costs), the bill authorizes the state to provide loans of up to $500 million before a disaster and $1 billion after one. TWIA would repay these loans through a surcharge on certain windstorm and hail insurance policies in coastal areas. This directly affects coastal property owners who pay these insurance premiums, as the surcharge ensures repayment of state funds used to cover disaster losses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas law enforcement agencies to report missing children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children within two hours of receiving a report. The law mandates that agencies immediately begin investigations and enter detailed information about the child and any suspected abductor into multiple national and state databases. Police must also electronically share case details with other law enforcement agencies within 200 miles and inform families that their information has been submitted to these systems. These requirements apply to all law enforcement agencies in Texas regardless of where the child went missing. The bill repeals a duplicate provision to avoid redundancy in existing statutes.