Rep. Claudia Ordaz

Maddy summaryHB 107 establishes a statewide sickle cell disease registry under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 52B. It requires hospitals and other treatment facilities to submit patient data to the state health department, creating a centralized database of all sickle cell disease cases in Texas. The registry must include case records and additional relevant information to aid in treatment and research, with strict confidentiality protections for patients under federal privacy laws. The department will analyze the data, publish findings for medical professionals and the public, and submit annual reports to the legislature. This affects all Texas healthcare facilities treating sickle cell disease patients and ensures patient data is securely managed for medical advancement.

Maddy summaryHB 3629 prohibits individuals required to register as sex offenders under Texas law from serving on the board of trustees of an independent school district. It directly affects sex offenders who might seek or hold such board positions. The bill amends the Education Code to add explicit ineligibility language (Section 11.061(b-1)), requiring candidates to acknowledge this restriction and banning service for those on the sex offender registry. The law took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4903 establishes the Quad-Agency Child Care Initiative and its governing commission to coordinate child care policies across four Texas state agencies: the Texas Workforce Commission, Health and Human Services Commission, Department of Family and Protective Services, and Texas Education Agency. The commission will review and streamline existing regulations affecting child care providers to improve access, quality, and affordability. Participating agencies must create interagency agreements to share staff and resources without impacting their standard staffing calculations. This initiative directly affects how these state agencies operate and collaborate on child care policy, not end-users like families or providers.

Maddy summaryHB 1193 amends Texas Family Code to add confidentiality protections for individuals filing declarations of informal marriage (common-law marriage). If a party checks the "keep identifying information confidential" box on the declaration form, county clerks must not publicly publish or share personal details like addresses, birthplaces, or social security numbers - only the parties' names can be disclosed. This directly affects Texans who establish informal marriages without a formal ceremony by giving them control over sensitive personal information. The bill becomes effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1211 creates a tuition and fee exemption for students who were under the conservatorship of Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) at specific points in their lives. It applies to former foster youth who were under DFPS conservatorship on their 18th birthday, during high school graduation, or on the day of adoption (after Sept. 1, 2009), and who enroll in a public Texas college as undergraduates or in dual credit courses by their 25th birthday. The exemption covers tuition and fees charged by public institutions of higher education, including dual credit courses. This policy takes effect September 1, 2025, for the 2025 fall semester.

Maddy summarySB 23 increases the school district homestead tax exemption for elderly (65+) or disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000 of their home's appraised value. This directly affects eligible homeowners who qualify for the exemption and school districts that may lose local tax revenue due to the change. The bill requires the state to provide additional aid to school districts to offset revenue losses from the higher exemption, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The state aid calculation compares current revenue to what would have been collected under the previous exemption amount. The bill was signed into law on June 16, 2025, and is now effective.

Maddy summaryThis Texas bill (SB 4) increases the homestead exemption for school district property taxes from $100,000 to $140,000 per homeowner, directly affecting residential property owners. School districts will receive additional state aid to offset revenue losses from this exemption increase, calculated as the difference between current local revenue and what would have been available before the change. The compensation mechanism applies starting with the 2023-2024 school year for the initial exemption increase and will extend to future changes proposed for 2025. This ensures school districts maintain funding stability despite reduced local tax revenue from larger homestead exemptions.

Maddy summarySB 1734 establishes a legal presumption that certain documents claiming to transfer real property titles or create liens are fraudulent under Texas law. It specifically targets documents that: (1) mimic court judgments from unrecognized courts/entities, (2) create unauthorized liens, (3) are filed by inmates, or (4) relate to convictions under specific Texas Penal Code sections (Title 7/8) or unchallenged owner affidavits. Property owners can now file a court motion with documentary proof (like a conviction record or uncontroverted affidavit) to challenge such documents in the county where the property is recorded. The bill creates a streamlined process for courts to review these documents and determine if they should be disregarded as fraudulent conveyances, without invalidating legitimate property transfers.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal description of Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College in the Texas Education Code by removing the term "upper-level" from its official designation. It directly affects the university's Rio Grande College campuses in Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Uvalde, which are part of Sul Ross State University. The change takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not alter course offerings, funding, or academic programs. The bill is purely procedural, adjusting how the institution is formally referenced in state law.

Maddy summaryHB 4 restricts Texas public school districts and campuses from obtaining exemptions or waivers for specific requirements, including graduation standards, school accountability measures under Chapters 39 and 39A, health and safety rules, and programs for special education and bilingual students. The bill explicitly prohibits waivers for federal mandates, essential knowledge/skills, class size limits (except as allowed by law), extracurricular activities, and other key areas listed in the legislation. It also changes the appeal process for challenges to the commissioner's decisions, requiring appeals to be filed in Travis County district court with specific procedural steps. This bill directly affects school districts, the Texas Education Agency, and individuals seeking to challenge educational decisions.