Rep. Jo Jones

Maddy summaryHB 109 designates the Waco Center for Youth as a state residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed juveniles under state custody. It requires the Department of Family and Protective Services to provide free education services at this facility, with non-local students needing school district approval for services. The bill also allows one-time state grants for constructing or expanding specific inpatient mental health facilities, funded through legislative appropriations. This affects juveniles admitted to state facilities under certain conditions and impacts how education services are delivered at designated treatment centers.

Maddy summaryHB 2688 amends Texas law governing public retirement systems for firefighters in large municipalities. It lowers the population threshold for municipalities to establish such a fund from 2 million to 1.6 million residents. The bill clarifies "normal retirement age" as either 20 years of service (for pre-2017 hires) or age 50 with 10 years of service (for post-2017 hires). It also updates terminology related to actuarial cost methods used to calculate pension funding requirements. The bill became law on September 1, 2025, affecting firefighters in qualifying Texas cities.

Maddy summaryHB 5342 creates a dedicated "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Trust Fund" to support Texas' 988 crisis services. The fund, managed by the state commission, accepts federal grants, donations, and investment income to cover operational costs like personnel, technology upgrades, and infrastructure improvements for the 988 Lifeline network. It directly affects crisis centers participating in the 988 system and callers seeking mental health support. The bill establishes strict rules for fund use, prohibiting diversion to other state purposes, and requires annual financial forecasting. The law became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1723 establishes a pilot program allowing Texas law enforcement agencies to use rapid DNA analysis on samples collected during arrests, producing results in under 2 hours for comparison in the national DNA database. The Texas Department of Public Safety must update technology by September 2025 and launch the program in two counties by September 2026, with potential expansion. Law enforcement agencies participating in the pilot will use this faster process to collect and analyze DNA from arrestees, improving efficiency in matching evidence. The program requires a legislative report by January 2028 and expires September 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 107 establishes a statewide sickle cell disease registry under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 52B. It requires hospitals and other treatment facilities to submit patient data to the state health department, creating a centralized database of all sickle cell disease cases in Texas. The registry must include case records and additional relevant information to aid in treatment and research, with strict confidentiality protections for patients under federal privacy laws. The department will analyze the data, publish findings for medical professionals and the public, and submit annual reports to the legislature. This affects all Texas healthcare facilities treating sickle cell disease patients and ensures patient data is securely managed for medical advancement.

Maddy summaryThis is a memorial resolution honoring Judge Zinetta Arceneaux Burney, a Houston native and pioneering attorney who passed away on September 22, 2024. It commemorates her legacy as the founder of the first African American female-led law practice ("Sisters in Law"), her service as a Harris County Justice of the Peace for 15 years, and her community work. The resolution, adopted by the Texas House of Representatives, extends condolences to her family and establishes her memory as part of the House's official record. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, as it is purely a ceremonial tribute.

Maddy summaryHB 1778 requires Texas district courts to report monthly on cases involving human trafficking, prostitution, and child pornography offenses to the Office of Court Administration. It creates a new council to coordinate state agency efforts, including the Attorney General, Department of Family and Protective Services, and other key agencies like the Texas Workforce Commission. The bill harmonizes statute of limitations for prosecuting sexual assault and failure-to-report offenses, aligning time limits across related crimes. These changes aim to improve data collection and interagency collaboration for addressing trafficking, prostitution, and child exploitation. The law became effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3560 updates the definition of "facility" in Texas law to include mental health facilities and specific care providers under the employee misconduct registry. It adds new categories like facilities licensed under Chapters 555 and 577 of the Health and Safety Code, alongside existing types such as assisted living facilities, residential child-care centers, and home-based care providers under waiver programs. This change ensures all these facilities - directly affecting staff and patients in mental health and long-term care settings - are covered by the state’s employee misconduct registry. The bill amends licensing requirements for mental hospitals to include detailed application criteria for facility operators, physicians, and staff qualifications. It became law on May 29, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 434 allows the Harris County Hospital District to hire and commission peace officers (law enforcement officers) for its facilities, expanding an existing authority previously limited to other county hospital districts. The bill amends two state codes: it adds Harris County to the list of districts permitted to employ peace officers under the Health and Safety Code, and updates the Code of Criminal Procedure to explicitly include hospital district peace officers in the definition of peace officers. This change directly affects Harris County Hospital District staff and security operations, enabling them to deploy authorized law enforcement personnel. The bill became law on September 1, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers and receiving the governor's approval.

Maddy summaryHB 1188, the Caytlin Handley Act, requires Texas school districts to provide parents or guardians of students with intellectual disabilities or developmental delays with information about local disability authority services during their first individualized education program (IEP) meeting. The bill mandates that schools share details about public benefits and waiver programs (like Section 1915(c) services under federal law) offered by the county disability authority. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission must develop and distribute clear informational materials to schools for this purpose. This law took effect immediately on May 29, 2025, applying to the 2025-2026 school year.