Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

Maddy summaryHB 2510 requires that individuals providing personal assistance services to assisted living facility residents must hold a state-issued license, and it creates criminal penalties for doing so without one. The bill also mandates that assisted living facilities operate under a valid license, with similar penalties for operating without authorization. Violations are classified as a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense, escalating to a third-degree felony for repeat violations. This law directly affects service providers and facility operators in Texas, taking effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3214 modifies Texas' master plumber license eligibility requirements by reducing the required journeyman plumber experience from four years to two years. It allows applicants to qualify with either two years of experience or one year of experience plus completion of a nationally recognized apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. The bill applies only to new license applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing applications and current license holders unaffected. All other requirements - including passing exams and supervision duties - remain unchanged under the revised rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5155 extends a healthcare program for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid recipients with opioid use disorder and their children. It requires Texas' Health and Human Services Commission to continue this specific model of care using funds from the opioid abatement account, if available. The program, originally funded through federal grants, will operate until September 1, 2029, and applies to Medicaid enrollees during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This bill does not create new funding but ensures the continuation of an existing federal-matched healthcare model.

Maddy summaryHB 2844 requires mobile food vendors (like food trucks) to obtain a state-issued license and pay regulatory fees, while authorizing administrative penalties for violations. It exempts small-scale food businesses - defined as those with under $1.5 million in annual revenue (including farmers, sole proprietors, and small retail stores) - from local permit or fee requirements if they already hold a state department permit or food manufacturing license. The bill preempts local governments from imposing conflicting regulations on these exempt businesses. It also establishes new state-level rules for mobile food vendor operations under Chapter 437B of the Health and Safety Code.

Maddy summarySB 7 requires the Texas Water Development Board to coordinate planning for water infrastructure projects to maximize use of existing utility corridors and minimize land acquisition through eminent domain. It mandates the Board to develop standardized specifications for water infrastructure, ensure different water systems can connect and operate together, and recommend building extra capacity during construction to accommodate future projects. The bill directly affects water project developers, utilities, and local governments working with the Board on infrastructure planning and financing. Key provisions include creating interconnectivity standards and facilitating collaboration between project sponsors and transportation/utility entities.

Maddy summaryHB 1661 requires election authorities to provide each precinct with ballots equal to 25% more than the number of voters in the last election for that precinct (capped at registered voters unless using countywide polling), aiming to prevent shortages. It creates criminal penalties for intentionally failing to meet this requirement or to promptly supplement ballots upon polling place requests, classifying these offenses as Class A misdemeanors (punishable by up to a year in jail). The bill modifies Texas Election Code sections 51.005, 51.008, 51.010, 51.011, and 61.007 to establish these specific requirements and penalties. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 3510 designates a specific 11-mile stretch of State Highway 6 in Brazos County (between College Station's southern limits and Navasota's northern limits) as the "Sergeant Mark Butler Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the highway section and at appropriate intermediate locations along the route. This is a commemorative designation honoring Sergeant Mark Butler, with no substantive policy changes or funding impacts. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4224 requires health care providers (covered entities) to prominently post clear instructions on their websites and at facilities about how patients can: request their own health records, contact licensing authorities for the provider, and file complaints. This applies to hospitals, clinics, and similar direct care providers but excludes billing or claims processing companies. The law, effective September 1, 2025, mandates specific posting requirements to improve transparency in patient access to records and complaint processes. It does not change existing record-keeping rules but standardizes how providers must share this information.

Maddy summaryHB 621 prevents property owners' associations from banning residents from inviting governmental officials or political candidates to meetings in common areas. Associations may still enforce standard meeting rules like fees, occupancy limits, or reservation requirements for these gatherings. The law does not apply to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) associations. This bill, effective September 1, 2025, directly affects homeowners' associations and residents in Texas communities.

Maddy summarySB 13 requires Texas school districts to provide parents with access to records about their child's school library materials, including books or digital resources checked out. It mandates that school libraries prohibit the acquisition of materials rated "sexually explicit" by vendors or deemed "harmful" under Texas law, and restricts access to content described as "pervasively vulgar" or "educationally unsuitable." The bill also creates local school library advisory councils to help develop library policies. These changes directly affect parents, school districts, and students by expanding parental oversight of library resources and setting new standards for library collections. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.