Rep. Aicha Davis

Maddy summaryHB 1201 creates a two-year Medicaid pilot program in Texas to cover doula services for eligible pregnant individuals. The program, launching in 2026 in the most populous county and the county with the highest maternal health needs, provides nonmedical childbirth support like emotional and physical coaching during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum. The Health and Human Services Commission must report annually on costs and birth outcomes, and submit a final evaluation by 2030 to determine if the program should continue or expand. The pilot expires September 1, 2031, after which coverage would not automatically continue.

Maddy summaryHB 1942 allows health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and insurance plans to directly contract with nurse practitioners (advanced practice registered nurses) for healthcare services, without requiring their supervising physician to also be contracted. It also permits insurers to list nurse practitioners as "preferred providers" on insurance plans, even if their supervising physician isn’t designated as preferred. The bill explicitly states it doesn’t change existing laws about physician supervision of medical practice. This affects nurse practitioners seeking insurance contracts, HMOs, and insurers offering preferred provider plans. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5147 defines "investigational stem cell treatment" as adult stem cell therapy in clinical trials not yet approved by the FDA. It requires clinics to provide clear informed consent disclosing the FDA status of the treatment and mandates that such treatments be administered only by physician-certified providers at specified locations (hospitals, surgical centers, medical schools, or accredited outpatient settings). The bill also sets strict standards for institutional review boards overseeing these trials, requiring affiliation with medical schools, large hospitals, or accreditation by recognized bodies. These requirements aim to ensure transparency and safety for patients participating in stem cell clinical trials in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 2849 requires Texas public school districts to adopt recess policies by May 2026 based on state-developed model guidelines. The policies must specify a minimum amount of weekly unstructured outdoor playtime for students and prohibit withholding recess as discipline. The state health advisory committee must develop these model policies by January 2026, which districts must review and update at least every five years. The law takes effect September 2025, with full implementation required by the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryHJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas lawmakers to exempt up to $125,000 of the market value of business-used tangible personal property (like equipment or vehicles) from property tax. It would directly affect business owners who hold such property for income generation, such as small business operators or farmers. The amendment would revise the state constitution to authorize this specific exemption amount, replacing the current exemption structure. If approved by voters in November 2025, this would become a permanent constitutional provision enabling future legislation to implement the tax break. The bill is now headed to the November ballot after passing both legislative chambers.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes May 19, 2025, as "Trooper Day" at the Texas Capitol to honor Region VII of the Texas Department of Public Safety. It commends the officers and staff for their 33+ years of security work protecting the Capitol Complex in Austin, including patrols, crowd control, and crime investigations. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely ceremonial, expressing the Texas House's gratitude through a formal commendation. It directly affects Region VII personnel (both commissioned and civilian staff) who secure the Capitol grounds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas' Department of State Health Services to study the use of psychedelic therapies (including MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine) for treating PTSD, depression, and related conditions. The study will review clinical evidence, FDA actions, treatment guidelines, and patient access barriers, with recommendations for future implementation if therapies gain federal approval. The department must submit a final report by December 1, 2026, and the bill expires September 1, 2027. It does not change current treatment laws but prepares for potential future policy decisions.

Maddy summarySB 2034 creates a legal process for appointing a court receiver to take over a single-source continuum contractor providing child welfare services in Texas when the contractor fails to meet performance standards, plans to stop operations without ensuring service continuity, or poses an imminent risk to children's safety. The bill amends the Family Code to allow the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to petition a court for a receiver if a contractor continues to underperform after improvement plans, fails to provide 60-day notice of shutdown without arranging replacement services, or creates dangerous conditions for children in their care. This applies specifically to contractors operating under community-based care contracts with the state. The law took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on May 19, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3339 mandates a study by Texas' Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the Department of State Health Services to examine maternal mortality and morbidity rates specifically among Black women in Texas. The study requires comparing these rates to other racial/ethnic groups, analyzing socioeconomic factors, evaluating healthcare coverage types (Medicaid, private insurance, uninsured), and assessing impacts of specific health conditions (like preeclampsia and obesity) and implicit biases in healthcare. It also requires evaluating social determinants of health and pregnancy-related complications. The committee must submit a report with recommendations to address disparities by September 1, 2026, including provider training on cultural competency and successful programs from other states. This bill directly affects Black women in Texas by focusing on data collection to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1738 repeals the criminal penalty for homosexual conduct (previously codified in Section 21.06 of the Penal Code). It simultaneously amends health education requirements in Texas schools to mandate that materials for minors include the statement that "homosexual conduct is not an acceptable lifestyle," while incorrectly referencing the repealed law. The bill affects public school health curricula for students under 18, requiring this specific language to be included in sexual education programs. The legislation passed the Texas legislature on May 16, 2025, and would take effect immediately if approved by a two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025, otherwise.