Rep. Salman Bhojani

Maddy summaryHB 321 creates an "express lane" to streamline eligibility for child health coverage by connecting Texas SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) applications with the child health plan program. It requires the state health agency to automatically check SNAP application data to determine if a child qualifies for health coverage, avoiding delays by opening a new case for health enrollment. The bill mandates parental consent before enrolling children and provides notice via the parent’s preferred contact method. This directly affects children whose families apply for SNAP benefits and may qualify for child health coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 1777 requires Texas driver's licenses and personal ID certificates to include a visible designation indicating the holder is a registered sex offender, as mandated by a court order under Texas law. This designation applies only to licenses issued or renewed on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing licenses unaffected. The bill directly affects individuals subject to sex offender registration under Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. It does not change registration requirements but adds a standardized visual identifier to identification documents for public awareness. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, as specified in Section 3.

Maddy summaryHB 1044 amends Texas law to add specific religious officiants authorized to conduct marriage ceremonies, including Buddhist monks/priests, Hindu pundits, Muslim imams, and Sikh granthis. The bill expands the existing list under Family Code Section 2.202, which previously allowed Christian ministers/priests, Jewish rabbis, and judges. This change directly affects couples seeking weddings in Texas who wish to use these newly authorized religious officiants. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to ceremonies held on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 1674 would ban the production, sale, and use of certain agricultural products containing PFAS chemicals (like pesticides or crop protectants). It directly affects agricultural businesses, manufacturers, and sellers of these products. The bill creates criminal penalties for violations, treating unauthorized PFAS use as a punishable offense. The bill is currently pending in the Environmental Regulation committee after committee hearings. (Note: Full bill text is not yet available; this summary is based on the title and pending status.)

Maddy summaryHB 3727 creates a state grant program to fund railroad grade separation projects at non-state highway intersections and pedestrian crossings. It directly affects local governments and railroad companies by providing grants for projects that improve safety and reduce traffic. Key requirements include a 10% non-state funding match (from other sources or as matching funds) and restrictions on using state highway funds. The program can only use state appropriations, federal grants, or donations, and the Transportation Commission must adopt rules by October 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2275 requires that surplus lines insurance contracts (specialized policies for high-risk or hard-to-place coverage) containing arbitration agreements must specify that any arbitration occurs in Texas and follows Texas law. It mandates that both the arbitration process and contract interpretation be governed by Texas statutes, applying only to contracts delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. Existing contracts before that date remain subject to prior law. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects insurers writing surplus lines policies in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 1061 authorizes Texas public school districts to be reimbursed for certification examination fees and related costs paid by teachers and students pursuing career and technology education certifications (including cybersecurity). The bill requires districts to pay these costs upfront and submit written applications to the commissioner for reimbursement, limiting students to one subsidy per exam. It modifies Texas Education Code sections to clarify eligibility for teachers who pass qualifying certification exams and establish reimbursement procedures. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year, applying to all eligible certification exams under these provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 510 requires Texas state and local officials to provide homeless individuals with free certified copies of their birth records upon request. It defines "homeless individual" as someone without a fixed residence (or staying in temporary shelters like shelters or transitional housing for the mentally ill), excluding those in prison. The law prohibits requiring a physical address for verification and mandates the state health department to create rules for confirming homelessness status. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025, applying to applications submitted on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 200 requires courts to provide specific written instructions to juries during the penalty phase of felony trials for defendants convicted of crimes committed before age 18 (excluding certain violent offenses like mass shootings). The instructions clarify that parole eligibility typically begins only after 20 years of actual time served in prison (not counting good conduct credits), and that parole eligibility does not guarantee release. Juries must consider parole laws generally but cannot speculate on how they might apply to the specific defendant. This change directly affects sentencing decisions for juvenile offenders in Texas felony cases, ensuring juries understand parole timelines without influencing their verdict.

Maddy summaryHB 2145 requires new state-owned parking lots and garages (constructed on or after September 1, 2025) to include a sufficient number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The bill directs the state agency responsible for these facilities to determine the required number based on five factors: current/future EV registrations, state employee EV usage, parking lot usage patterns, charging technology types, and anticipated demand. The state energy conservation office must help develop guidelines for installation standards. This applies specifically to new state parking infrastructure, not existing facilities.