Rep. Jared Patterson

Maddy summaryHB 4962, titled "Relating to the disclosure of citizenship of a candidate for public office," would require candidates for public office to disclose their citizenship status as part of their filing documentation. This requirement directly affects candidates running for elected positions at the local or state level. The bill's key mechanism involves adding citizenship verification to standard candidate filing forms, though specific enforcement details are not provided in the available context. The bill was filed on March 13, 2025, and referred to the Elections committee on April 3, 2025, but its full text is unavailable for detailed analysis.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes adding a constitutional amendment to Texas law that explicitly states voters must be U.S. citizens. It would amend Article VI, Section 1(a) of the Texas Constitution to list "persons who are not citizens of the United States" as a disqualifying category for voting, alongside existing restrictions like age, mental incompetence, and felony convictions. The amendment would be submitted to Texas voters in the November 4, 2025 election, with the ballot phrasing: "The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen." This is a procedural bill focused on clarifying voting eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 4860 restricts local governments (like cities, counties, and school districts) from using public funds to hire registered lobbyists or pay nonprofit associations that represent local governments if those associations hire lobbyists. The bill prohibits spending taxpayer money for activities such as lobbying the legislature or contracting with registered lobbyists, but allows exceptions for employees providing information, advocating as elected officials, or reimbursing travel for permitted activities. It also permits nonprofits representing local governments to provide bill tracking, analysis, and testimony without registration. Violations can be challenged by taxpayers through court action, with successful plaintiffs recovering attorney fees. The law directly affects how local governments fund legislative advocacy efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 17 would prohibit citizens of designated countries (China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or others named by the governor) from purchasing real property in Texas. It creates criminal penalties for violations, making such purchases illegal under state law. Exceptions apply to U.S. citizens, lawful residents, and businesses owned by them. The law would override existing property rights for these foreign buyers, directly affecting individuals and entities from designated countries seeking to buy land in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 4353 requires voter approval for large-scale wind, solar, or energy storage projects in Texas counties with over 10,000 residents that sell electricity wholesale. It directly affects project developers and county voters, mandating a county election where residents vote "yes" or "no" on each proposed facility. The bill allows commissioners courts to order such elections upon developer request, requiring clear descriptions of each project on the ballot. Exceptions apply for facilities built before September 1, 2025. This law takes effect September 1, 2025, adding a local approval step before construction begins.

Maddy summaryHB 4378 requires electricity market participants in Texas to report purchases of critical grid equipment from certain foreign entities and attest that such purchases won’t grant those entities control over grid infrastructure. It mandates businesses to confirm compliance with security rules (referencing Chapter 117 of the Business & Commerce Code) when registering with the grid operator (ERCOT) and prohibits foreign access except for warranty support. The bill increases penalties for false or incomplete reporting to up to $1 million per violation. This primarily affects companies operating in Texas’ electricity market that use equipment from designated foreign vendors.

Maddy summaryHJR 176 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas lawmakers to create a property tax exemption for the primary homes of disabled first responders and their surviving spouses. If passed, the exemption would cover all or part of a home’s market value, with eligibility defined by the legislature (e.g., qualifying as a "first responder" and meeting disability criteria). Surviving spouses would retain the exemption if they don’t remarry and keep the home as their primary residence, and could transfer the exemption amount to a new home if they move. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election.

Maddy summaryHB 2262 requires toll road operators managing dynamic pricing lanes (where tolls adjust to maintain free-flow traffic) to install visible digital signs at every entrance. These signs must display three real-time details: the current toll cost from that entrance to the exit, the estimated travel time in the tolled lane, and the current travel time for nearby non-tolled lanes. The law applies to all such tolled lanes operated by toll project entities and takes effect September 1, 2025, with full compliance required by January 1, 2026. This bill directly affects drivers using these toll lanes by providing transparent, up-to-date cost and time information to aid decision-making.

Maddy summaryHB 3894 ensures veterans and active-duty service members in Texas cannot be denied access to veterans treatment court programs solely due to their citizenship status. The bill amends the Government Code to explicitly prohibit citizenship-based eligibility restrictions for these programs. It directly affects veterans and service members who might have faced barriers related to immigration status when seeking participation in treatment courts. The key provision requires courts to consider all eligible veterans for these specialized programs regardless of citizenship. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4090 creates a property tax exemption for the full value of a residence homestead owned by certain disabled first responders and their surviving spouses. It applies to first responders with a total and permanent disability resulting from a line-of-duty injury, requiring documented proof of the disability. Surviving spouses who were married to a qualifying disabled first responder at the time of death and continue to live in the same home (without remarrying) also qualify for the exemption. The exemption covers the entire appraised value of the home, not just a portion, and is implemented through an amendment to Texas Tax Code Section 11.1315.