Rep. Harold Dutton

Maddy summaryHB 4507 amends Texas Family Code to allow parents, legal guardians, or children aged 10 or older to petition a court for a name change in the child's county of residence. The bill requires courts to appoint an attorney ad litem (a court-appointed lawyer) to represent the child's interests when the child files the petition themselves. This change takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects children seeking name changes and their legal representatives. The bill focuses on procedural safeguards for minors' interests in name change proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 3784 creates the Texas Commission for Boys and Men to address disparities in well-being affecting boys and male youth across education, workforce participation, family stability, health, and criminal justice involvement. The commission will conduct a systematic study to identify specific needs in these areas, assess state laws that may negatively impact men's success, and make policy recommendations. It will be composed of 11 members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and House speaker, with expertise in relevant fields like education or criminal justice. The bill directly affects all boys and men in Texas by establishing a formal process to evaluate and improve policies impacting their well-being.

Maddy summaryHB 3996 extends the deadline for dismissing certain child welfare cases where the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has temporary custody. It allows courts to delay the mandatory dismissal date by up to 180 days if a parent is making good-faith efforts to complete their court-ordered service plan (including substance abuse treatment) and the court plans to return the child to the parent upon completion. The bill requires courts to formally find "extraordinary circumstances" and issue specific orders scheduling the new dismissal date, safety measures for the child, and a trial date within the extended timeframe. This directly affects parents in DFPS custody cases who are working toward reunification but need additional time to meet treatment requirements. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. It directs the transfer of $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026. The fund will provide grants for research, prevention programs, and treatment development related to dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and related disorders. The institute will oversee funding for research institutions, medical facilities, and collaborative efforts across Texas, directly benefiting residents affected by these conditions through expanded research and prevention initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 3460 creates a new funding mechanism for Texas public school districts offering approved bilingual education programs. It requires districts using dual language immersion programs to report additional data through the PEIMS system and provides funding equal to 15% of the basic allotment per emergent bilingual student or 5% for other students in those programs, with a total annual cap of $10 million. The bill mandates that at least 55% of these funds must be used for bilingual/special language programs, including instructional materials, staff development, and classroom resources. This funding directly affects school districts with approved bilingual programs and their students, particularly emergent bilingual learners, starting September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2242 amends Texas law to clarify that constables are considered "final policy makers" on law enforcement decisions for their county in federal civil rights lawsuits brought under 42 U.S.C. §1983. This change directly affects constables (county-level law enforcement officers) and individuals filing federal civil rights claims against them. The bill specifies that constables' decisions on enforcement become binding policy for their county in such lawsuits, effective only for cases accruing on or after September 1, 2025. It does not create new policies or alter enforcement practices, but defines constables' legal status in federal litigation.

Maddy summaryHB 3282 (Texas Family Code amendment) changes procedures for the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) when filing parental termination cases. It requires DFPS to meet specific criteria before filing, such as having cared for a child in their temporary conservatorship for 15 of the last 22 months, or proving "aggravated circumstances" against the parent. The bill also prohibits filing if a child is with a relative, DFPS documented that termination isn’t in the child’s best interest, or DFPS failed to make reasonable reunification efforts in the past year. Additionally, it shortens the time before a case can be dismissed from two years to one year.

Maddy summaryHB 1579 establishes the Texas State Seal of Bilingualism and Biliteracy for public high school students who demonstrate advanced proficiency in both English and another language. The bill requires the Texas Education Agency to set rigorous, exam-free standards (like project-based assessments) for earning the seal, which schools must then affix to diplomas and note on transcripts. It directly affects public high school students who meet the proficiency requirements, with implementation beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The seal aims to formally recognize biliteracy skills for employers and colleges without creating new standardized tests.

Maddy summaryHB 1581 requires Texas public school districts to report specific data about bilingual and special language programs in their PEIMS system, including student demographics, instructional model percentages, and students not receiving specialized instruction. It mandates new training for school administrators on bilingual education and dual language immersion programs through the commissioner of education. The bill also establishes requirements for the education agency to monitor these programs, review program requirements to prioritize student needs, and provide technical assistance to districts with deficiencies. These changes apply to all districts offering such programs and take effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1573 would require all Texas public school districts to create and post online a policy setting specific square footage limits for custodians' workloads, categorized by elementary, middle, and high school campuses. This policy would establish measurable benchmarks for how much area each custodian can be responsible for during an eight-hour shift, covering maintenance and cleaning duties. The bill, which failed to pass in the 2025 legislative session, would have applied to the 2025-2026 school year if enacted. It directly affects school district boards of trustees and custodial staff by mandating standardized workload requirements.