Rep. Cody Harris

Maddy summaryHB 1308 would have required Texas state contractors, private employers, and government entities to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm employees' legal work status. It mandated that contractors register and maintain participation in E-Verify for state contracts, with limited exceptions for essential agency operations. The bill also authorized suspending licenses of private employers who hire individuals not lawfully present in the U.S. This bill was introduced in 2024 but was withdrawn from the legislative schedule on April 28, 2025, and did not become law.

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 1913, nicknamed "Brooke's Boundary," prohibits registered sex offenders from approaching within a specified distance of the residence of a victim they harmed in a specific offense requiring registration. It directly affects sex offenders who have been convicted of crimes against identifiable victims, restricting their movement near those victims' homes. The law adds this restriction to existing registration requirements under Texas law, ensuring offenders cannot live or travel near victims' residences without authorization. This is a policy change focused on geographic restrictions, not on altering registration procedures or penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 4503 requires that electronic health records (EHRs) for Texas residents be stored exclusively within the United States and remain inaccessible to individuals outside the country, applying to medical facilities, health care practitioners, and government entities. The bill mandates that EHRs include specific medical history details about metabolic health and diet for chronic disease treatment while prohibiting the collection of credit scores or voter registration information. It also authorizes civil penalties for non-compliance with these requirements. The law aims to regulate EHR storage and content without specifying enforcement timelines or penalty amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 176 establishes requirements for future interstate compacts focused on border security between Texas and other states. It defines "illegal alien" using federal immigration terms and mandates that any new compact must include provisions for sharing law enforcement intelligence, resources for physical barriers or surveillance systems, and mutual support for personnel and infrastructure along the Texas-Mexico border. The bill specifies that compacts must aim to detect, apprehend, or deflect unauthorized border crossings and enforce federal immigration laws. It applies only to compacts entered into on or after the bill’s effective date (September 1, 2025), leaving existing compacts governed by prior law.

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 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 1907 prohibits Texas state and local government entities from entering contracts for information and communications technology (ICT) services with companies tied to the Chinese government. It defines "scrutinized companies" as those organized in China, publicly traded with Chinese government control over leadership, or privately held with Chinese government ownership. Government entities may bypass the ban only with the governor’s approval, citing necessity. Violations face civil penalties and potential criminal charges, though the bill focuses on the contractual prohibition itself.

Maddy summaryHB 1097 requires specific professionals - including teachers, doctors, nurses, daycare staff, and school/board members who handle child-related reports - to immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect within 48 hours of having reasonable cause to suspect it. The bill prohibits these professionals from delegating the reporting duty to others. It expands the definition of "professional" to include individuals in licensed facilities, healthcare settings, and certain school or religious organizations. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies directly to these covered professionals in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 1478 requires Texas voter registrars to timely complete specific duties like processing registration changes, scheduling hearings, or delivering notices under election law. If a registrar fails to meet these deadlines, the state secretary of state may withhold state election funds from that local office. However, funds must be restored if the registrar completes the required duty within 30 days of the withholding. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects local voter registrars who manage election operations.