Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 43 requires manufacturers and sellers of consumable hemp products (like edibles or drinks) sold in Texas to include specific labeling. Products containing more than trace cannabinoids must display a batch ID, date, product name, manufacturer details, a certificate of analysis URL, THC concentration certification (max 0.3%), and a randomly selected health warning from a list. The warnings address risks like child poisoning, delayed effects, brain development impacts for those under 25, mental health concerns, addiction, and pregnancy dangers. This directly affects hemp product businesses distributing consumables in Texas, mandating clear consumer information about potential health risks.

Maddy summaryHB 86 requires Texas youth camps to post clear emergency evacuation maps in all overnight accommodations, showing two routes to a safe meeting point and emergency equipment locations. It also mandates that all campers and staff receive pre-camp instruction on evacuation routes, equipment, and map usage. The bill directly affects youth camps operating in Texas, setting specific safety standards for emergency preparedness. These requirements become effective once the executive commissioner adopts implementing rules. The law focuses on concrete, visible safety measures rather than broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Texas health and safety laws to require youth camps to establish specific emergency evacuation plans and provide training to campers and staff. Under the new rules, camps must post evacuation maps near every door in overnight buildings, showing the safest routes to a meeting point, backup routes, and the location of emergency equipment. Additionally, all participants must receive instruction on these routes and how to use the maps before their first overnight stay. The legislation directs the state health commissioner to create detailed regulations to enforce these requirements, which would directly impact youth camps operating in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 160 requires manufacturers and sellers of consumable hemp products (like edibles or drinks) containing more than 10 micrograms of THC per gram to include specific health warnings on product labels. The bill mandates one of ten randomized warnings about risks such as child poisoning, delayed effects, mental health impacts, or addiction, chosen at random or through rotation. It also requires additional labeling details like batch numbers, manufacturer names, a URL linking to lab test results, and proof that THC levels do not exceed 0.3%. This applies directly to businesses distributing these products within Texas, aiming to inform consumers about potential health risks associated with certain hemp-derived consumables.

Maddy summarySB 646 creates a program to repay education loans for mental health professionals working in underserved areas of Texas. It defines eligible professionals as psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, social workers, and other licensed providers who complete 1-3 consecutive years of practice in a state-designated mental health shortage area and provide services to Medicaid recipients. The bill requires applicants to apply through the Texas State Board of Examiners and specifies that repayment assistance is tied to service in designated shortage regions. This policy, effective September 1, 2025, aims to address workforce shortages by reducing education debt for providers serving Medicaid patients in underserved communities.

Maddy summarySB 22 establishes the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Fund to provide financial support for film and television productions filmed in Texas. It requires the Music, Film, Television, and Multimedia Office to deny grants for projects containing "inappropriate content" or portraying Texas/Texans "in a negative fashion," while also prohibiting grants for pornography, news programming, religious content, non-commercial projects, and state advertising. The bill explicitly lists ineligible project types, including political ads, sporting events, and video games used in gambling. It creates a dedicated funding mechanism for eligible productions and authorizes the Office to administer grants using money from the incentive fund or other approved sources. The law directly affects production companies seeking financial support for qualifying Texas-based film and TV projects.

Maddy summarySB 1283 requires senior retirement communities in Texas (defined as residential communities with 20+ units offering shared amenities) to conduct background checks on all employees and disclose in resident contracts whether vendors must also perform such checks. The law mandates that communities maintain written safety policies addressing criminal activity risks to residents. These requirements apply to all eligible communities except healthcare facilities, boarding homes, and federally regulated housing. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHCR 9 designates the first Saturday of every month as "Small Business Saturday" in Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035. This symbolic resolution, which does not create new laws or funding, aims to encourage Texans to support local small businesses. It directly affects all Texas small businesses (defined as those employing fewer than 500 people) by promoting community shopping. The designation expires 10 years after the resolution's final passage, per Section 391.004(d) of the Texas Government Code.

Maddy summaryHB 27 requires all Texas public high school students to complete at least one-half credit in personal financial literacy as part of their social studies graduation requirements under Education Code Section 28.025(b-1)(4). The bill directs the State Board of Education to develop a list of free, open-source curricula for these courses and allows Advanced Placement courses meeting specific standards to count toward the requirement. This policy change affects all public high school students in Texas, mandating practical financial education alongside traditional subjects like history and government. The law, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025, is now effective immediately for all public school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1105 exempts paramedics employed by Texas cities, counties, or other local governments from tuition and laboratory fees at public colleges when enrolled in emergency medical services courses. This applies only to students maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate, and does not cover security deposits, additional fees for residents, or graduate-level surcharges. The exemption excludes distance education courses where more than 20% of enrollment exceeds the institution's designated limit. The bill, signed into law by the governor on June 20, 2025, became effective immediately.