Rep. Rafael Anchía

Maddy summaryThis law sets requirements for shareholder proposals at major publicly traded companies with Texas ties (those headquartered in Texas or listed on Texas-based exchanges). To submit a proposal, shareholders must hold $1 million in stock value or 3% of voting shares for six continuous months and secure support from 67% of shareholders. It excludes director nominations and routine procedural votes from these rules. Companies must include these proposal requirements in shareholder voting materials. The law applies only to corporations that voluntarily adopt it through their bylaws.

Maddy summaryHB 1738 repeals the criminal penalty for homosexual conduct (previously codified in Section 21.06 of the Penal Code). It simultaneously amends health education requirements in Texas schools to mandate that materials for minors include the statement that "homosexual conduct is not an acceptable lifestyle," while incorrectly referencing the repealed law. The bill affects public school health curricula for students under 18, requiring this specific language to be included in sexual education programs. The legislation passed the Texas legislature on May 16, 2025, and would take effect immediately if approved by a two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025, otherwise.

Maddy summaryHB 1820 allows individuals arrested for a crime but never charged to clear their arrest records under specific conditions. It directly affects people who were arrested but not prosecuted, including those where a grand jury failed to find probable cause for the alleged offense. The bill establishes timeframes for expungement: 180 days for Class C misdemeanors, one year for Class B/A misdemeanors, and three years for felonies, or if the state attorney certifies records aren't needed for investigations. If no indictment or information was filed within these periods, or if the grand jury declined to find probable cause, the person can request record removal. The law applies to offenses occurring before, during, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas utility regulators to use an electric utility's actual debt and equity mix (as reported in its most recent financial statement) when calculating rates for utilities operating solely within the ERCOT grid. If regulators determine this actual ratio is unreasonable, they must instead use the national average equity ratio for similar electric utilities. The law applies only to new rate cases initiated after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote). It does not change how rates are calculated, but establishes a new presumption about what constitutes a reasonable capital structure for rate-setting.

Maddy summaryHB 5562 amends Texas Tax Code Section 351.152 to expand which municipalities can use hotel and convention center tax revenue for related projects. It specifically authorizes 16 types of cities - based on population size, geographic features (like bordering Lake Palestine or the San Gabriel River), or specific locations (such as containing a Texas Tech University component) - to redirect these taxes toward funding convention center developments. The bill clarifies that this authority applies only to the listed municipalities, not all Texas cities. It does not create new taxes but defines how existing hotel tax revenue may be allocated for convention center obligations.

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 2413 allows Texas counties to destroy "sensitive media devices" (data storage devices containing information regulated by state or federal law, like personal records) that are classified as salvage or surplus property. The bill requires county commissioners courts to approve destruction only when it prevents inadvertent disclosure of protected information during disposal. It specifically amends Local Government Code Section 263.1521 to establish this process, effective September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects county governments managing data storage devices, providing a clear procedure for secure disposal without requiring new data collection or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 4398 requires municipalities with over 100,000 residents to process building permits for affordable housing projects using federal low-income housing tax credits within half the usual time allowed for residential permits. It directly affects large cities and developers of projects receiving these tax credits, streamlining approval for housing aimed at lower-income residents. The bill mandates that permit decisions must be made in 50% of the standard processing time, and allows applicants to use any existing accelerated review process. This policy change, effective September 1, 2025, aims to reduce delays for qualifying housing developments.

Maddy summaryHB 2048 establishes a refund program for beverage containers in Texas, requiring producers to fund a system where consumers receive money back for returning eligible containers. It directly affects beverage producers (who pay for the program), consumers (who return containers at redemption centers), and redemption centers (which process returns and issue refunds). The law defines eligible containers as sealed glass, metal, or plastic vessels holding drinks (excluding large containers, milk, infant formula, and medical foods), with redemption centers required to pay at least the container’s refund value. The Texas Beverage Container Recycling Consortium will manage the program under oversight by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Maddy summaryHB 4893 establishes the "Breakthrough Program" to provide targeted academic advising for Texas students who are the first in their families to pursue college or who qualify for free/reduced-price lunch. The program requires the Texas Education Agency to coordinate with schools and social services, set performance goals for academic achievement, graduation rates, and college enrollment, and provide training for participating communities. Local school districts must develop funding plans to sustain services if state funding decreases, and may use federal, state, private, or school district funds to support the program. This bill directly affects first-generation college students and educationally disadvantaged youth in Texas public schools.