Rep. Rafael Anchía

Maddy summaryHB 2836 sets Texas' minimum wage at $13 per hour, requiring employers to pay the higher of this rate or the current federal minimum wage. It directly affects all Texas employers and their employees, particularly low-wage workers in the state. The bill repeals existing Section 62.151 of the Labor Code and takes effect September 1, 2025, replacing the previous minimum wage structure with this new standard. This is a concrete policy change that increases the legal minimum pay rate for covered workers.

Maddy summaryHB 2837 repeals nine existing Texas laws that required courts, law enforcement, and prosecutors to verify the immigration status of victims, witnesses, and certain detained or incarcerated individuals in criminal cases. Specifically, it removes provisions like Article 17.16(a-1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Section 402.0241 of the Government Code. The bill eliminates the requirement for courts to determine whether these individuals are "lawfully present" in the U.S. before proceeding with legal matters. This change directly affects victims, witnesses, and detained persons involved in Texas criminal proceedings by removing a specific immigration verification step. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025, unless approved for immediate effect by a two-thirds vote.

Maddy summaryHB 2902 establishes a Supported Independent Living Program to help young adults (16+) in foster care transition to independent living after leaving foster care. The program provides independent living placements with case management and support services (with limited supervision), focusing on helping youth achieve self-sufficiency through education, employment, life skills training, and accessing community resources. It also requires caseworkers to develop detailed housing plans for these youth, including reviewing rental applications and securing housing by the youth’s 18th birthday. This bill directly affects youth aging out of foster care in Texas and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Maddy summaryHB 2700 amends Texas law to define "holster" as a leather, fabric, or plastic case specifically designed for carrying a handgun. This change affects individuals charged with criminal offenses involving holsters, clarifying the legal definition for prosecution. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, meaning past offenses remain governed by the previous definition. It does not create new penalties but standardizes how holsters are legally interpreted in criminal cases.

Maddy summaryHB 2619 establishes an online voter registration system for Texas residents, allowing people to submit registration applications via the state's official website. It provides two pathways: applicants with a Texas driver's license or ID card must confirm their information is true and agree to use their existing signature for registration, while those without ID must print, sign, and mail a form while receiving information about obtaining an ID. The bill requires digital signature verification for ID holders and mandates security rules to protect application integrity. All electronic applications will be treated as mail-in submissions under existing election law, with website notices about voter registration fraud offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 2720 would commit Texas to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), an agreement among states to award all electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote. If enacted, Texas would automatically cast all 40 of its electoral votes for the presidential candidate who receives the most votes nationwide, rather than following the state's current winner-takes-all system. The bill adds a new chapter to Texas Election Code requiring the state to join the compact and follow its procedures, such as certifying the national popular vote winner and aligning Texas' electors with that candidate. This is a procedural bill that does not change Texas' current voting method but commits the state to participate in the NPVIC.

Maddy summaryHB 2727 requires background checks and record-keeping for firearm sales at gun shows in Texas. It defines a "gun show" as an event with three or more exhibitors charging fees for display or admission, and creates new criminal offenses for sellers who fail to: (1) conduct a background check via the National Instant Criminal Background Check System before a sale, or (2) maintain sales records. Promoters face penalties if they permit unvetted sales through criminal negligence. Exemptions apply for peace officers and individuals licensed to carry handguns. Violations are classified as Class A misdemeanors.

Maddy summaryHB 2722 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to deny permits for new facilities under the Clean Air Act if emissions would disproportionately harm the health, property, or environment of nearby low-income communities compared to other areas. It specifically mandates consideration of both the facility's individual impact and the cumulative effect of all nearby facilities on low-income populations. The bill applies only to permit applications filed on or after September 1, 2025, leaving pre-existing applications governed by current law. This policy change directly affects developers seeking new industrial permits in areas with significant low-income populations.

Maddy summaryHB 2714 requires Texas public and private high schools to issue student ID cards containing a student's name, photograph, and date of birth. It amends Texas election law to accept these school-issued IDs as valid photo identification for voting, alongside existing forms like driver's licenses and passports. The bill directly affects high school students (who receive the ID cards) and election officials (who must accept them). The key provision expands acceptable voting identification to include school IDs meeting specific criteria, effective for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 2717 creates a new payment for individuals wrongfully imprisoned who received compensation under Texas law before September 1, 2009. It provides an "equalizing compensation" amount calculated as the present-value sum they would have received on that date, minus what they already received. Applicants must file by September 1, 2028, with payments made within 30 days of eligibility confirmation. The program expires on September 1, 2029, and applies only to those who received prior compensation under Section 103.052.