Rep. Cody Harris

Maddy summaryHB 2684 requires health care providers to inform pregnant women diagnosed with a life-threatening condition in their preborn child about available perinatal palliative care options. The bill mandates the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to create and maintain online informational materials describing palliative care services and a geographically indexed list of providers (excluding abortion providers). It directly affects pregnant women facing such diagnoses and their health care providers. The law aims to ensure access to supportive care focused on reducing suffering for both the pregnant woman and her preborn child. The bill also establishes an administrative penalty for noncompliance, though specific penalty details are not provided in the truncated text.

Maddy summaryHB 2739 requires that voters presenting certain identification documents at polling places must have an address matching their registered voter address. Specifically, it applies to Texas driver's licenses, election ID certificates, and handgun licenses issued by the Department of Public Safety (as listed in Section 63.0101(a)(1) and (5)). Election officials may no longer accept these documents if the address does not match the voter's registration address. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not affect other acceptable IDs like military IDs or passports.

Maddy summaryHB 496 would add a "None of the Above" option to Texas ballots for both candidate races and propositions. Voters could select this option instead of voting for any candidate or measure, though such votes would not count toward determining election winners. The bill requires the Secretary of State to design the ballot format for this option and amends election code sections to include it in ballot instructions and layout. This is a procedural change to ballot design, not a policy affecting specific groups or outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 5559 requires Texas water and sewer utilities to file drought contingency plans with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and mandates that the PUC enforce these plans. The bill adds "compliance with a drought contingency plan" as a valid reason for utilities to reduce or discontinue service during droughts, alongside other standard exceptions like nonpayment. This directly affects water and sewer utilities operating in Texas, requiring them to submit detailed drought response strategies to the PUC for oversight. The law updates existing Water Code provisions to formalize the PUC's role in reviewing and enforcing these plans, ensuring utilities have prepared measures for water scarcity.

Maddy summaryHB 1400 creates a new groundwater science, research, and innovation fund administered by the Texas Water Development Board. The fund provides grants to groundwater conservation districts for projects focused on improving local groundwater understanding, developing better groundwater models, increasing water conservation efficiency, boosting recharge, and protecting water quality. Funds come from state appropriations, transfers, investment returns, and donations. This bill directly affects groundwater districts by enabling them to access state funding for science-based management initiatives.

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 5243 would prohibit SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) beneficiaries in Texas from using their benefits to purchase energy drinks, sweetened beverages, carbonated drinks, candy, potato/corn chips, and packaged cookies. The bill defines "energy drink" as containing at least 65mg caffeine per 8oz and "sweetened beverage" as any nonalcoholic drink with added sweetener. Exceptions include milk products, milk substitutes (like soy milk), unsweetened juices, infant formula, and certain fortified products containing protein or vitamins. This policy change directly affects SNAP recipients who would no longer use benefits for the listed items, while allowing coverage for specified healthier alternatives.

Maddy summaryHB 3314 establishes new energy efficiency standards for unvented attic and rafter assemblies in residential construction across Texas. It requires these assemblies to meet specific insulation levels (R-20 for climate zones 2-3, R-26 for zone 4), pass a blower door test (under 3.0 ACH50), include non-negative-pressure ventilation, and properly insulate exposed rafters in certain cases. The bill directly affects residential builders, local building jurisdictions, and new home construction projects. It creates an alternative compliance path for insulation standards under existing energy codes, effective September 1, 2025. The bill does not change the base energy code but provides an additional method to meet insulation requirements for specific attic/rafter designs.

Maddy summaryThe context provided does not include the actual text or provisions of HB 259. The bill description states "This version is not currently available, but is coming soon. In the meantime, please see the PDF for the content of this bill," and no substantive details about the bill's provisions, affected parties, or mechanisms are included in the provided text. Without access to the bill's content, a factual summary cannot be generated. The available information only notes the bill's title, committee referral, and recent procedural actions.

Maddy summaryHB 422 reduces the annual bond limit for water projects in Texas economically distressed areas from $100 million to $25 million. It directly affects water supply and sewer projects in these areas by limiting the Texas Water Development Board's ability to issue bonds for such initiatives. The key provision amends the Water Code to cap dedicated bonds under Section 17.0111 at $25 million annually, while maintaining a separate $50 million cap for other bond types. This change restricts funding availability for infrastructure development in underserved communities. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.