Rep. Joe Moody

Maddy summaryHB 1255 increases criminal penalties for professionals required to report child abuse (such as teachers, doctors, and childcare workers) who commit specific offenses against children in their care. It raises the minimum jail time for qualifying misdemeanors to 180 days and applies to offenses including assault, sexual abuse, and neglect listed in the Penal Code. The law only affects cases where the offender was a mandated reporter at the time of the crime and the victim was under their care. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not apply to first-degree felony offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 4568 establishes rules for Texas's film and television incentive program, affecting production companies seeking state funding. It prohibits grants for projects including pornography, news programming, political ads, religious content, or state commercials, while requiring content reviews before and after production to ensure compliance with "standards of decency." The bill defines the "Texas moving image industry incentive fund" and mandates that the state office review proposed and final project content to prevent ineligible uses. These provisions aim to direct state funding toward eligible entertainment projects that align with Texas values, without changing existing funding levels.

Maddy summaryHB 2985 amends Texas law to clarify which housing developments qualify for low-income housing tax credits. It specifically defines "at-risk developments" as those receiving federal subsidies (like Section 8 housing assistance or HUD-insured mortgages) where affordability requirements are nearing expiration or mortgages are ending. The bill also includes developments planning to rehabilitate housing units funded under Section 9 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, owned by public housing authorities. This change directly affects housing developers and public housing entities managing subsidized properties in Texas, ensuring these developments remain eligible for tax credits to maintain affordable housing. The policy update focuses on concrete eligibility criteria without altering credit amounts or application processes.

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 4629 requires judges to provide specific written jury instructions during the penalty phase of felony trials for certain offenses listed in Texas Government Code Section 508.145(a)(1)-(4). The instruction states: "Under the law applicable in this case, if the defendant is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, the length of time for which a defendant is imprisoned may not be reduced by the award of parole." This applies to all defendants sentenced on or after September 1, 2025, regardless of when the offense occurred. The bill clarifies that parole is not an option for these specific felony offenses, ensuring juries understand sentencing consequences during penalty deliberations.

Maddy summaryHB 3242 changes how Texas handles minor cannabis possession cases by requiring officers to issue citations instead of making arrests for specific offenses, such as possession of marijuana, certain THC products, or drug paraphernalia under Health and Safety Code Sections 481.1161(b)(1), 481.121(b)(1), or 481.125(a). It establishes deferred prosecution for first-time offenders of these offenses, allowing courts to delay sentencing if the person hasn’t had a similar charge in the past year. Courts must also notify defendants in writing about their right to clear these records through expungement. The bill directly affects individuals charged with these specific cannabis-related offenses in Texas.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 4628 would allow prosecutors to use a person's juvenile delinquency adjudication (a court finding of misconduct as a minor) to increase penalties for a later felony conviction. Currently, Texas law prohibits using such juvenile records for penalty enhancement, but this bill repeals that restriction. It also amends the Family Code to permit prosecutors to access sealed juvenile records specifically for seeking enhanced felony penalties under the Penal Code. The law would take effect on September 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 4923 removes "voluntary running away from home" from Texas's list of status offenses. A status offense is conduct a child commits that would not be illegal if done by an adult (like truancy or running away). The bill amends the Family Code to redefine "status offense" and explicitly exclude children who voluntarily leave home without consent. This change means youth who run away from home will no longer face juvenile court charges for that specific behavior, shifting focus to child welfare or missing persons protocols instead. The bill also updates related definitions in the Education Code to align with this change.

Maddy summaryHB 4394 would authorize county attorneys to prosecute price gouging during a declared disaster. Price gouging occurs when businesses charge excessively high prices for essential goods or services during emergencies, such as natural disasters or public health crises. This bill would directly affect county attorneys, who would gain legal authority to take action against businesses engaging in such practices, and businesses that violate these provisions. The key provision expands county attorneys' jurisdiction to handle price gouging cases during disasters, which may currently fall under state-level enforcement or lack clear local oversight.