Rep. Drew Darby

Maddy summaryHB 1536 establishes a pilot program to provide community-based child welfare services in eligible rural Texas regions where the state previously couldn't secure service providers. The program requires the state to select a local nonprofit (with a resident-led board) or government entity to develop a service plan including early intervention to prevent foster care placements and improve outcomes for rural children and families. It aims to build community-led solutions and create a sustainable, replicable model for delivering child welfare services in underserved areas. The bill defines "eligible rural regions" as catchment areas where two-thirds of counties have populations under 50,000 and the state received no bids for community-based care.

Maddy summaryHB 3272 makes it a criminal offense to operate an unmanned aircraft (drone) in specific ways over Texas spaceports. It prohibits intentionally flying drones over spaceports, causing drones to contact spaceport property or personnel, or interfering with spaceport operations. The law defines "spaceport" as facilities licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration for spacecraft launches, landings, or recovery. Exemptions include government entities, spaceport owners/operators, and those with prior written authorization from spaceport operators or the FAA.

Maddy summaryHB 25 requires Texas public schools to provide daily physical activity for students in prekindergarten through grade 8, mandating at least 30 minutes of moderate/vigorous activity per day for younger students (pre-K-grade 5) and 135-225 minutes weekly for middle schoolers (grades 6-8), with scheduling flexibility. It directly affects all Texas public school students in these grades and prohibits school staff from withholding physical activity as punishment for academic or behavioral reasons. The bill also adds a new requirement that higher education institutions receiving certain funds must develop nutrition curricula aligned with Texas nutrition guidelines. This legislation focuses on structured physical education and activity standards, not on nutrition food policies. The bill is currently pending in committee after being favorably reported as substituted.

Maddy summaryHB 3078 requires manufacturers of products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or norpseudoephedrine sold in Texas to pay a monthly fee to the system administrator of a real-time electronic logging system used by retailers to track over-the-counter sales of these products. The system administrator sets a fair and reasonable fee amount, and manufacturers must provide proof of payment to the Texas Department of Health. Failure to pay the fee subjects manufacturers to an administrative penalty. This bill directly affects product manufacturers and establishes a funding mechanism for the tracking system, without changing sales restrictions or reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5510, titled the Women and Child Protection Act, creates civil liability for distributing abortion-inducing drugs and establishes a private civil right of action against individuals or organizations that facilitate access to elective abortions. The bill directly affects abortion assistance organizations - defined as entities providing financial support, travel arrangements, childcare, or logistical services to enable abortions - as well as those distributing abortion-inducing drugs. Key provisions include authorizing private lawsuits for damages related to these activities and creating criminal offenses for certain violations. The law harmonizes existing abortion-related provisions in Texas law while focusing on civil enforcement mechanisms rather than criminal penalties for patients.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HR 945), not a legislative bill with policy provisions. It formally honors Pope Francis following his death on April 21, 2025, recognizing his life, leadership as the first Latin American pope, and global efforts to serve the vulnerable. The resolution memorializes his legacy, including his work during Argentina's economic crisis, interfaith initiatives, and pandemic-era outreach. It does not create new laws or affect any specific group through policy changes. As a procedural resolution, it serves only to express collective remembrance.

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 4382 would exempt from Texas sales and use taxes tangible personal property used to process, reuse, or recycle non-freshwater (water with over 1,000 mg/L dissolved solids) specifically for hydraulic fracturing operations at oil or gas wells. This tax exemption directly affects oil and gas companies conducting hydraulic fracturing, as it reduces their costs for qualifying water-processing equipment. The bill amends the Tax Code to add this exemption under water-related tax exemptions, specifically targeting equipment used in fracturing operations. The change would take effect September 1, 2025, if enacted.

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 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.