Rep. John Smithee

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 1765 restricts the use of "no-knock" entries (police entering a property without announcing their presence or authority) in Texas. It prohibits most magistrates from issuing arrest or search warrants allowing no-knock entries, except for specific judges (district court judges, certain county judges, or municipal judges who are licensed attorneys). The bill requires law enforcement agencies to submit a signed approval from a chief administrator with the warrant request and mandates officers executing such warrants to be clearly identifiable in uniform. This directly affects police departments seeking no-knock warrants and the magistrates who review those requests. The law takes effect upon passage and applies to all warrants issued after its enactment.

Maddy summarySB 767 requires the Texas A&M Forest Service to create and maintain a real-time statewide database tracking all firefighting equipment available for wildfire response. The database must list equipment types, department contact information, allow searches by location or equipment, and be accessible for fire departments to update annually or after changes. It directly affects all fire departments in Texas, including volunteer departments and emergency services districts, which must report their available equipment. This policy change aims to improve coordination during wildfires by providing instant access to shared resources across the state.

Maddy summarySB 1062 allows local governments in Texas to publish public notices in digital newspapers instead of traditional print newspapers, provided the digital option meets specific requirements. To qualify, a digital newspaper must have an audited paid-subscriber base, operate for at least three years, employ local staff, cover local events, provide general interest news, and update weekly. This change directly affects county and municipal governments that publish public notices, expanding their options beyond traditional print requirements. The bill amends existing law to include these digital standards and took effect immediately after being signed by the governor on May 19, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3231 increases criminal penalties for human trafficking in Texas by expanding the definition of the offense. The bill specifically prohibits trafficking children or disabled individuals for forced labor or services without requiring the trafficker to know the victim's age or disability status. It also broadens the offense to include trafficking that results in prohibited acts like prostitution or sexual abuse, and receiving benefits from such trafficking ventures. These changes directly affect traffickers who exploit vulnerable victims, raising penalties for these expanded scenarios under Texas law.

Maddy summaryHB 4511 clarifies legal rights for landowners regarding wind energy development. It establishes that surface estate owners (landowners) can separately sell or transfer the right to capture wind energy - without selling their land - through formal agreements with wind developers. The bill requires these agreements to be recorded with the county clerk to protect subsequent buyers, and mandates that developers must record releases when agreements end. This law directly affects landowners, wind developers, and county record-keeping offices by creating clear, transparent rules for wind energy rights.

Maddy summaryHB 3191 creates a franchise tax credit for Texas businesses that contribute to employee child-care costs and establishes an Employer Child-Care Contribution Partnership Program. The bill requires the Texas Workforce Commission to maintain a website with resources for employers on child care access, including tax credits, dependent care savings accounts, and best practices. It authorizes a state match for employer contributions to help fund high-quality child care for working parents. The bill directly affects taxable businesses making qualifying child-care contributions and their employee parents seeking affordable care. It also mandates a study on child care access and availability across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2841 requires the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) to automatically accept new buildings constructed to specific safety standards as meeting its underwriting requirements. These standards, set by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), cover fortified homes, multifamily properties, and commercial structures. Property owners and builders who certify their new constructions meet these IBHS standards will have their projects deemed compliant with TWIA's underwriting rules, eliminating the need for additional review. The bill applies only to structures built on or after September 1, 2025, and mandates TWIA to update its operations accordingly.

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 4508 adjusts Texas early voting hours and funding rules based on county population size. It increases the population threshold for counties eligible for state funding to cover early voting costs from 10,000 to 55,000 residents. For counties with 10,000+ residents, the bill requires 12 consecutive hours of early voting daily during the last week of voting (6 a.m.-10 p.m.), plus 12 hours on the last Saturday and six hours on the last Sunday (9 a.m.-10 p.m.). Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents must schedule one weekend day for extended hours, requiring agreement from political party chairs and public posting.