Rep. Don McLaughlin

Maddy summarySB 703 (effective September 1, 2025) changes licensing rules for massage professionals in Texas. It makes individuals ineligible for a massage establishment, school, therapist, or instructor license if they’ve been convicted of certain offenses - including sexual assault (Penal Code Chapters 20A, 21, or 43), related attempts, or similar offenses under federal/state law. The bill also requires automatic license revocation for licensed massage therapists or instructors convicted of those offenses or who practice at sexually oriented businesses. This directly affects Texas massage professionals, imposing new criminal conviction barriers to licensure and requiring license suspension for specific misconduct.

Maddy summaryHB 2658 amends Texas Special District Local Laws Code to update governance and operational rules for Kimble County Hospital District. It reduces the residency requirement for board members from two to one year, removes the requirement for directors to post a $1,000 bond, and clarifies the district’s duty to provide hospital services through facilities like outpatient clinics, skilled nursing centers, and community health centers. The bill also adjusts budget preparation procedures, requiring annual budgets detailing expenditures, revenue estimates, and tax needs. These changes directly affect Kimble County residents who rely on the district’s healthcare services and the board members governing it. The legislation focuses on administrative clarity without creating new funding mechanisms or altering service eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 2638 designates Farm-to-Market Road 10 in Panola County as the "Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson Memorial Highway" under Texas Transportation Code. The bill requires the state transportation department to install markers at both ends of the road and at appropriate intermediate locations along its route. This commemorative designation, honoring a specific deputy sheriff, does not alter road maintenance or create new transportation policies. It is a standard memorial road designation with no other substantive provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 3142 sets new requirements for school marshals in Texas public and private schools. To qualify, a person must either hold a specific license under Texas law or be a volunteer who is a veteran, active military member, peace officer, reserve officer, or retired peace officer. School districts, charter schools, private schools, and public junior colleges must appoint marshals meeting these standards. The bill also allows school districts to reimburse volunteers for training costs related to the marshal role. This directly affects school districts, volunteers, and individuals seeking to serve as school marshals.

Maddy summaryHB 5014 creates a new "SPECIAL FORCES VETERAN" designation for handgun license holders in Texas. It requires applicants to list qualifying military service (12+ consecutive months in specific Army Special Forces roles like 18A detachment commander or 18B weapons sergeant) and provide proof of eligibility. The bill amends license forms to include this designation alongside existing categories like "VETERAN." It directly affects Texas veterans who served in designated Special Forces positions at E5-E9, W1-W5, or O1-O10 pay grades.

Maddy summaryHB 3641 allows Texas counties to regulate noise levels from residences in unincorporated areas through commissioners court orders, aiming to protect public health and safety. It directly affects residents in unincorporated county areas by enabling local noise rules, though it explicitly excludes fireworks regulation. Violating such orders twice or more would be a Class C misdemeanor (a minor criminal offense with a fine). The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 199 adjusts the maximum unemployment benefits an individual can receive in a benefit year in Texas based on the state's unemployment rate. It sets a sliding scale where the maximum benefit amount equals 14 to 27 times the individual's weekly benefit rate, depending on the state's unemployment rate (e.g., 14x for rates ≤6.5%, up to 27x for rates >10%). The bill affects all Texas unemployment insurance recipients during their benefit year, using the previous quarter's U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data to determine the rate tier. The changes apply only to claims filed on or after January 1, 2026, with existing claims governed by prior law.

Maddy summaryHB 2879 protects condo owners, tenants, and their guests from penalties like fines or eviction for using justified force (including deadly force) on residential property, as defined under Texas Penal Code Chapter 9. The bill creates an "irrebuttable presumption" that force was justified if the person was acquitted, a grand jury declined to indict, or prosecutors declined to file charges for the same incident. It applies to condominiums (via Property Code Section 82.122) and leased residential properties (via Sections 92.027 and 94.258), preventing associations or landlords from taking adverse action based on legally justified force. The law overrides any conflicting terms in property declarations or leases, regardless of when they were adopted.

Maddy summaryHB 5600 establishes a Clean Hydrogen Development Fund to provide low-interest loans, state-backed bonds, and grants for clean hydrogen infrastructure, production facilities, and electrolyzer manufacturing in Texas. It offers a 20% state tax credit for qualified costs related to hydrogen production, transport, and storage, along with 10-year franchise and sales tax exemptions for manufacturers relocating to Texas. Hydrogen-powered vehicles (including trucks, trains, and planes) receive a 10-year exemption from state highway use taxes, ending when hydrogen becomes cost-competitive with conventional fuels. The bill also requires workforce training partnerships between educational institutions and the hydrogen industry to develop specialized job programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. It directs the transfer of $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026. The fund will provide grants for research, prevention programs, and treatment development related to dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and related disorders. The institute will oversee funding for research institutions, medical facilities, and collaborative efforts across Texas, directly benefiting residents affected by these conditions through expanded research and prevention initiatives.