Rep. Candy Noble

Maddy summarySB 2041 requires the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to consider five specific factors when selecting foster care placements for children in its conservatorship. These factors include choosing the least restrictive setting, the closest geographic location to the child's home, the placement's ability to meet the child's identified needs, the child's expressed preferences (when developmentally appropriate), and the placement's ability to support long-term stability. The bill directly affects children in foster care and DFPS decision-makers by mandating these criteria be used in placement decisions. It amends the Family Code to clarify these requirements, effective September 1, 2025. The law does not create new programs but specifies how existing placement decisions must be made.

Maddy summarySB 1080 requires Texas licensing authorities to issue either a full occupational license or a provisional license (valid for six months) to otherwise qualified applicants who have been convicted of certain offenses, instead of automatically denying their applications. The provisional license begins on the date an applicant is released from prison if they were incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. This bill directly affects individuals with criminal convictions seeking occupational licenses (such as for nursing, contracting, or other licensed professions) who meet all other qualification requirements. It aims to reduce barriers to employment by providing a temporary licensing pathway for these applicants.

Maddy summarySB 961 requires the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to conduct regular electronic data matches to verify Medicaid recipients' eligibility, directly affecting Medicaid beneficiaries. Key provisions mandate monthly checks for lottery winnings, death records, and out-of-state benefit transactions, plus quarterly reviews of voter registration cancellations to detect potential residency changes. The bill prohibits waiving these verification requirements and bans accepting self-attested income, residency, or citizenship details for Medicaid eligibility. These measures aim to prevent fraud by ensuring ongoing accuracy in benefit eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 455 requires that surplus lines insurance contracts (for risks wholly located in Texas) include arbitration agreements conducted in Texas under Texas law, unless both insurer and policyholder agree to change the venue after the insurer provides written notice and a premium credit for added costs. This applies to new or renewed contracts on or after January 1, 2026, affecting insurers and policyholders purchasing specialized insurance for high-risk properties in Texas. The bill ensures arbitration venues and legal interpretations remain tied to Texas, preventing out-of-state arbitration without financial compensation to policyholders. It becomes effective September 1, 2025, but the new rules apply to contracts delivered after 2025.

Maddy summarySB 784 requires Texas school districts to transfer students who are children of peace officers (police officers, etc.) to another district or campus upon request from the parent or guardian. The bill mandates that districts must approve these transfers without exception and cannot charge tuition fees for such transfers under Section 25.0344 of the Education Code. This directly affects peace officers seeking school placements for their children and school districts handling these requests. The law ensures a standardized process for these transfers, removing barriers like district approval hurdles or tuition costs.

Maddy summaryHR 1003 is a symbolic resolution passed by the Texas House of Representatives congratulating Sarah Martinez, a second-grade teacher and team leader at Memorial Elementary School in Plano, on her nomination for the 2025 Plano ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year award. The resolution recognizes her 16 years of teaching experience, her Plano High School and Abilene Christian University background, and her dedication to education. It formally extends the House's best wishes to Martinez and includes a copy of the resolution as a gesture of respect for her work. As a non-binding ceremonial resolution, it does not create policy changes or affect any legislation.

Maddy summarySB 5 creates the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to accelerate research on dementia causes, prevention, and treatment. The institute will award grants to Texas universities, medical facilities, and research groups to expand dementia-related studies and create jobs. It establishes three committees to oversee funding and research priorities, with the program set to expire on September 1, 2035, unless renewed under Texas law. The bill directly affects Texas research institutions receiving grants and aims to improve dementia health outcomes for state residents. This legislation became law after being signed by the Governor on May 24, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 136 requires Texas Medicaid to reimburse certified lactation consultants for services provided to Medicaid recipients (mothers and infants). It creates a new provider classification specifically for lactation consultants in the Medicaid program, ensuring they can enroll and receive payment for services. The bill defines "lactation consultant" as someone certified by an international or nationally approved program and mandates that the state commission establish this reimbursement pathway. This law took effect September 1, 2025, directly impacting Medicaid-covered breastfeeding support for Texas families.

Maddy summaryHB 2000, titled "Audrii's Law," amends Texas law to require sex offender registration for individuals convicted of certain child grooming offenses. Specifically, it adds Section 43.021 (Solicitation of Prostitution) of the Penal Code to the list of offenses triggering registration, but only when the offense is punishable as a second-degree felony. This change directly affects people convicted of soliciting minors for sexual purposes under this specific statute. The law expands existing registration requirements to cover these grooming-related acts, aligning them with other serious sexual offenses. It became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on May 24, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas property appraisers to automatically grant property tax exemptions for land used in human burials under specific conditions. It directly affects owners of burial property who did not submit exemption applications, shifting responsibility from owners to appraisers. The key mechanism mandates that exemptions apply if the appraiser identifies the property through inspection (meeting Section 11.17 criteria), no application was filed, and the owner cannot be identified. This change takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026.