Rep. Rafael Anchía

Maddy summaryHB 2698 requires Texas courts to appoint attorneys for low-income individuals in prison who have claims that could overturn their convictions. Specifically, if the state indicates a defendant has a potentially meritorious claim - such as actual innocence, conviction for a lesser offense, or being convicted under an unconstitutional law - the court must assign legal representation to investigate and file a habeas corpus application. This applies to all defendants in custody on or after September 1, 2025, regardless of when their offense occurred. The bill ensures indigent defendants receive legal assistance for specific relief claims without requiring them to pay for representation.

Maddy summaryHB 3208 requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install highway signs guiding drivers to Dallas's Koreatown District by 2026. These signs must be placed at specific exits: Royal Lane for I-35E (both directions) and Luna Road for I-635 (both directions). The bill mandates installation no later than September 1, 2026, while ensuring signs comply with state and federal traffic device standards. This directly affects drivers traveling through those Dallas interchanges who wish to access the Koreatown District.

Maddy summaryHB 4442 would require Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to offer an elective mindfulness course for all students in middle school, junior high school, and high school. The course must teach specific techniques to enhance focus, manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and build self-awareness and compassion. High school students would be able to count this course toward their elective credit requirements for graduation. The bill would take effect for the 2026-2027 school year, unless it receives a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, in which case it would take effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 2695 increases criminal penalties for drug-related offenses when a social media platform is used to facilitate the delivery of a controlled substance. It applies specifically to offenses under Health and Safety Code sections 481.112, 481.1121, 481.1123, 481.113, 481.114, 481.119, 481.120, or 481.122. If proven at trial, using social media to arrange such drug deliveries elevates the offense to the next higher penalty category, adding five years to first-degree felony sentences and doubling the maximum fine. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and only applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Texas business law to give domestic entities more control over internal dispute resolution. It allows businesses formed under Texas law to require that internal disputes (like shareholder disagreements) be filed only in Texas courts and to waive jury trials for these cases. The changes apply to all Texas domestic entities, including corporations and LLCs. The law ensures Texas governance rules take precedence over other states' laws for these internal matters.

Maddy summaryHB 178 requires Texas public school districts to include "ethnic studies, world geography, or world history" as one of the three required social studies credits for high school students, alongside existing mandates for U.S. history, government, and economics. It directly affects all Texas public school students in grades K-12 by modifying the social studies curriculum structure under the foundation high school program. The bill adds ethnic studies as a specific, mandatory option for fulfilling the social studies credit requirement, while maintaining other existing subject requirements. This change applies to all Texas public school districts offering grades K-12.

Maddy summaryHB 3509 amends Texas law to change how hotel owners can form public improvement districts for property enhancements. It requires petitions to be signed by hotel management (like owners, general managers, or regional managers) and show signers represent over 60% of both the hotel property's appraised value and either the number of hotels or total hotel area in the district. This applies specifically to districts in certain municipalities where hotels are the primary focus. The bill directly affects hotel businesses seeking to fund district improvements through property assessments.

Maddy summaryHB 3948 amends the definition of "peace officer" in Texas law to include specific municipal and district positions. The bill adds roles such as municipal park and recreational patrol officers, security officers commissioned by the comptroller, and investigators for hospital districts (like those in Dallas, Bexar, and El Paso counties). It updates Article 2A.001 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to formally recognize these positions as peace officers under existing licensing requirements. The bill does not create new offices or change enforcement duties - it only clarifies which municipal and district employees qualify for peace officer status under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 5261 designates the Windham School District to provide college-level education programs to inmates at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). The bill requires the district to establish a partnership with colleges through a formal agreement and create an advisory board with stakeholders like higher education representatives, workforce agencies, and inmate advocates. This program, effective September 1, 2025, directly affects TDCJ inmates by expanding access to postsecondary education within prisons. The law mandates concrete structural changes to implement these educational opportunities without specifying outcomes or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 2617 streamlines the process for expunging arrest records in Texas for individuals who successfully complete specific court programs. It requires district courts to issue expungement orders within 30 days after dismissing cases involving veterans treatment programs (per Chapter 124, Government Code), mental health court programs (Chapter 125), or other approved pretrial intervention programs. The bill mandates that the state attorney prepares the expungement order for the court's signature and notifies the Texas Department of Criminal Justice if the person is incarcerated. This change directly affects people completing these specialized court programs by making record clearance faster and more automatic.