Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

Maddy summaryHB 2851 requires Texas' centralized health education application service (currently used for medical and dental schools) to include nursing school applications starting in fall 2027. It creates an advisory board of nursing program representatives to develop and implement this integration, with a final plan due by January 2026. The bill directly affects nursing schools and prospective nursing students in Texas by consolidating their application process into one online system. The advisory board and related provisions expire September 1, 2027, but the application consolidation applies to the 2027 fall admissions cycle.

Maddy summaryHB 33, titled the "Uvalde Strong Act," requires Texas public and charter schools to comply with additional safety and operational requirements related to active shooter incidents and emergencies. It amends the Education Code to mandate adherence to existing rules covering student data systems, criminal background checks, discipline practices, health/safety protocols, bullying prevention, and staff reporting obligations. The bill directly affects all public and charter schools by expanding their compliance obligations under current safety frameworks. It does not create new rules but requires schools to follow more existing provisions related to emergency preparedness and student safety. The law took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 851 requires Texas property appraisers to count and report the number of homestead properties receiving specific tax benefits, including those with tax deferrals or abatements for delinquent taxes. Appraisers must submit these counts to the comptroller when filing annual tax rolls, and the comptroller must then share statewide totals (broken down by school district) with state leaders by November 1 each year. The bill directly affects property owners who qualify for these tax benefits but places the reporting duty on local government officials. It creates new transparency requirements for tracking how many homes benefit from these specific tax provisions, without changing the tax policies themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 3053 prohibits municipalities and counties in Texas from organizing, sponsoring, or participating in firearm buyback programs. The bill specifically bans local governments from creating programs that aim to remove firearms from circulation, reduce civilian firearm ownership, or allow sales without criminal prosecution concerns. This law directly affects local governments by preventing them from implementing such buyback initiatives. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 119 requires lobbyists who communicate directly with Texas lawmakers to influence legislation on behalf of a "foreign adversary" (as defined by state law) to register with the state. It specifically prohibits receiving compensation for such lobbying activities from foreign adversaries or their designated representatives. The bill establishes civil penalties for violations, including fines for unauthorized lobbying or compensation. This law directly affects lobbyists working for foreign governments or entities designated as national security threats by U.S. authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 103 requires Texas comptroller to create and maintain a public database containing detailed information about bonds, taxes, and related projects for all taxing units (like cities, counties, and school districts) in Texas. The database must include bond ballot language, projected tax rates, election results, project uses of funds, and comparisons between adopted and voter-approved tax rates. It also mandates specific data for school district maintenance taxes. The bill includes civil penalties for noncompliance, aiming to increase transparency around local government financial decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 3153 requires facilities like residential treatment centers, juvenile detention centers, and homeless shelters to conduct criminal history checks and employment verifications for all staff, volunteers, and contractors who may have direct contact with children. It applies to the Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, counties, and municipalities. The law mandates that facilities review state criminal records and verify employment for anyone potentially providing care, supervision, control, or routine interaction with children at these locations. This policy change aims to prevent physical or sexual abuse by ensuring background checks for all individuals in direct contact with children. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 4076 prohibits health care providers from denying organ transplants or related services (like evaluations, surgery, or waiting list placement) solely based on a patient's vaccination status. It allows providers to consider vaccination status only if medically significant to the transplant, following individualized assessment - such as if unvaccinated patients face higher infection risks. The law covers all transplant stages and protects providers who comply with it from penalties, while permitting alternatives like antibody testing instead of vaccination requirements. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies to all organ transplant candidates in Texas.

Maddy summarySB 20 creates a new criminal offense for possessing, accessing with intent to view, or promoting obscene visual material that appears to depict a child under 18, including AI-generated images, animations, or digital representations. The law applies to any material seeming to show a child in sexual activity (per Section 43.21(a)(1)(B)), regardless of whether the depiction is real or computer-created. A first offense is classified as a state jail felony, with repeat offenses potentially increasing penalties to third-degree (for one prior conviction) or second-degree (for two or more prior convictions) felonies. This bill directly affects individuals who share or view such material, with no exceptions for digital or AI-generated content.

Maddy summaryHB 46 modifies Texas' Compassionate-Use Program by requiring dispensing organizations to register certain personnel. The bill mandates that directors, owners, managers, and employees of these organizations must register with the state department, adding this as a requirement for licensing. It specifically amends the Health and Safety Code to include registration as a condition for operating a dispensing organization under the program. The law, signed by the governor on June 20, 2025, takes effect September 1, 2025.