Maddy summaryHB 3512 requires state agency employees who use computers for at least 25% of their duties and local governments applying for certain grants to complete annual cybersecurity and artificial intelligence training. The law mandates that state agencies identify qualifying employees, while local governments must certify training compliance when applying for grants under Chapter 772 of the Government Code. Failure to meet these requirements results in a local government losing the grant award and being ineligible for future grants for two years. The bill directly affects state agency staff and local government officials handling cybersecurity or grant applications, with training programs needing certification under existing state law.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 388 requires Texas' Insurance Commissioner to create a single, standardized questionnaire for health benefit plans to determine which insurance policy pays first when a person has multiple coverages (like employer and individual plans). It applies to nearly all health plans in Texas, including employer group plans, Medicaid, HMOs, health insurance exchanges, and school district coverage. The key provision mandates the commissioner to develop uniform rules for this questionnaire after consulting with stakeholders, replacing inconsistent forms used by different insurers. This aims to simplify the process for patients and insurers managing overlapping coverage.
Maddy summaryThis bill, SB 1818, allows military service members, veterans, and military spouses to receive a provisional license while their full occupational license application is processed in Texas. State agencies must issue these provisional licenses immediately upon application submission, valid for up to 180 days or until the final license decision is made. The law requires agencies to adopt implementing rules by December 1, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025. It directly affects military-connected individuals seeking to work in licensed professions across Texas.
Maddy summarySB 868 requires at least 10% of annual state funds for rural volunteer fire department assistance to be allocated to departments in areas classified as high-risk for large wildfires by the state wildfire service. This directly affects rural volunteer fire departments located in these high-risk zones. The bill establishes that if these departments request less than the allocated amount, the remaining funds can be used for other eligible fire department assistance requests. The provision applies only to funds appropriated on or after September 1, 2025, the bill's effective date.
Maddy summaryHB 4370 expands the types of projects public improvement districts, municipal management districts, water control districts, fresh water supply districts, and municipal utility districts can fund. It adds specific provisions allowing districts to finance affordable housing development (Section 372.003(b)(15)), geothermal water facility maintenance (Section 372.003(b-2)), and special services like public safety or business recruitment. The bill also clarifies how costs for improvements can be paid, including through combinations of methods for projects benefiting municipalities or approved entities. This policy change directly affects these specialized districts by broadening their authorized project scope under Texas Local Government Code.
Maddy summaryHB 102 requires Texas public universities to offer early registration for courses and programs to students in military-related programs who are in good standing. Specifically, it mandates this for students enrolled in ROTC programs, cadet corps (including at senior military colleges), or maritime academies. The law, effective for the 2026 spring semester, obligates institutions to provide this early registration opportunity on the same basis as other designated student groups. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will develop rules to implement this requirement.
Maddy summarySB 227 modifies Texas' delayed birth certificate process to make it easier for applicants to prove identity and birthplace. It prevents state registrars from rejecting applications solely due to inconsistent supporting evidence, requiring them instead to weigh specific factors like valid ID (e.g., driver's license), evidence questioning birthplace, and verified affidavits from knowledgeable individuals. For individuals born before January 1, 1959, the bill mandates registration of a delayed birth certificate using only the established parent’s name if that parent’s identity is verified with non-contradictory information. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting residents seeking delayed birth certificates, particularly those with complex documentation.
Maddy summarySB 2406 updates rules for the Sabine River Authority of Texas board of directors. It specifies five clear grounds for removing a board member: failing to meet qualifications, violating ethics laws, inability to serve due to illness, excessive unexcused absences (over 50% of meetings), or losing qualifications during service. The bill also adjusts the Sunset Review schedule, requiring the Authority to undergo review every 12 years starting in 2025 instead of 2037. The changes apply directly to the Authority’s board members and take effect September 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 1306 ensures death investigation professionals in Texas - such as justice of the peace officers, death investigators under Article 49.23, and medical examiner staff - are reimbursed for preventative medical care after exposure to contagious diseases during work. It requires counties to cover these costs when exposure occurs while conducting or assisting in an inquest (death investigation), and specifies that treatment must be preventative (not for ordinary illnesses). The bill also guarantees these professionals the right to choose their physician for such care and access preventative immunizations for work-related disease exposure. This applies directly to county-employed death investigation staff and aligns their benefits with other public safety employees under existing government code provisions.
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.