Rep. Rafael Anchía

Maddy summaryHB 3113 requires counties in Texas that manually count paper ballots to use ballots designed to be scanned by automatic tabulating equipment. This affects counties currently conducting hand counts of paper ballots, mandating they adopt scannable ballot formats by September 1, 2025. The bill specifies that ballots must be compatible with existing election equipment to ensure accurate processing during elections.

Maddy summaryHB 2145 requires new state-owned parking lots and garages (constructed on or after September 1, 2025) to include a sufficient number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The bill directs the state agency responsible for these facilities to determine the required number based on five factors: current/future EV registrations, state employee EV usage, parking lot usage patterns, charging technology types, and anticipated demand. The state energy conservation office must help develop guidelines for installation standards. This applies specifically to new state parking infrastructure, not existing facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas licensing authorities to issue provisional occupational licenses for six months to applicants with criminal convictions who are otherwise qualified for the license, unless they have specific serious convictions listed in the Occupations Code. The provisional license begins upon the applicant's release from incarceration if they were imprisoned. It applies to most occupational licensing fields (like healthcare or trades) but excludes applicants convicted of offenses under Section 53.021(a). The bill provides a pathway for certain applicants to obtain licenses without full revocation of eligibility.

Maddy summaryHR 1063 is a resolution recognizing May 6, 2025, as Dallas Housing Coalition Advocacy Day at the Texas State Capitol, extending a formal welcome to the coalition's delegation. The resolution commends the Dallas Housing Coalition - a nonprofit formed in 2023 that unites over 300 organizations and individuals - for its advocacy on affordable housing solutions in Dallas. It specifically acknowledges their work supporting initiatives like the $82 million May 2024 Bond Program and efforts to adjust parking requirements and promote "missing middle" housing. This is a symbolic gesture of legislative recognition, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 4290 amends Texas Utilities Code to clarify that certain energy facilities - specifically qualifying cogenerators serving digital product manufacturing and co-located desalination plants - do not count as retail electric utilities. The bill defines a qualifying cogenerator as one providing electricity and thermal/steam waste heat to a desalination facility on the same site, while primarily powering digital manufacturing operations. This exemption prevents such facilities from being regulated as retail electric providers under Texas law, streamlining their operations. The change applies to existing facilities that met specific environmental and construction timelines (e.g., pre-1998 permits and construction).

Maddy summaryHB 4115 establishes requirements for shareholders to submit proposals to certain Texas corporations with national stock listings. It applies to Texas-formed companies listed on national exchanges that either have their main office in Texas or are listed on a Texas-approved exchange. To submit a proposal, shareholders must own either $1 million in market value of voting shares or 3% of the company’s voting shares for six months and secure support from 67% of voting shareholders. The bill does not apply to director nominations or procedural meeting resolutions. This is a procedural rule change affecting shareholder voting rights, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas colleges, universities, and local governments to reduce electricity use by 5% annually for six years, beginning September 1, 2025. It applies to all public entities covered under the Health and Safety Code, including state agencies. Each entity must establish yearly targets to meet the 5% annual reduction goal. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 4 proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit Texas from imposing an occupation tax on financial firms regulated by federal agencies (like stock exchanges, brokers, and clearinghouses) or taxing their securities transactions. It directly affects entities such as stock exchanges, broker-dealers, and other registered securities market operators. The amendment explicitly allows existing taxes like sales taxes, insurance premiums, and general business taxes but blocks new state taxes targeting securities transactions or these specific firms. This is a constitutional change, not a regular law, requiring voter approval after legislative passage.

Maddy summaryHB 3288 prevents trustees from withholding or diverting trust funds tied to a construction project due to disputes unrelated to that specific project. It requires trustees to apply funds only to the contract that generated them, making it illegal to withhold money for other disputes (e.g., disagreements about separate projects). The law applies only to construction contracts entered into on or after September 1, 2025, directly affecting contractors, developers, and trustees handling project-specific trust funds. This clarifies that misapplying funds during unrelated disputes constitutes a violation under Texas Property Code.

Maddy summaryHB 15 would modify Texas business law to strengthen the state's control over domestic business entities. It requires that internal disputes (like shareholder disagreements) must be resolved in Texas courts only, and allows companies to include in their governing documents a waiver of jury trials for such claims. This applies to all Texas-formed businesses (corporations, LLCs, etc.) and prevents other states' laws from overriding Texas business regulations. The bill does not change how businesses are formed but dictates where internal legal conflicts must be handled. The law would take effect if passed, making Texas the exclusive venue for internal business disputes.