Rep. Jared Patterson

Maddy summaryHB 1494 restricts where lawsuits challenging state agency rules can be filed. It requires such cases to be filed only in the plaintiff's county of residence, their office county (if not an individual), the agency's headquarters county, or Travis County. The bill also prohibits agencies from limiting these venue options and mandates that these cases be filed in Travis County district court, with potential transfer to the Court of Appeals for faster review under specific conditions. This affects anyone challenging a state agency's administrative rules, including emergency rules.

Maddy summaryHB 2816 protects healthcare providers and facilities from being required to participate in or provide certain health care services that conflict with their sincerely held religious or philosophical beliefs. It defines key terms like "conscience," "health care provider" (including students and non-licensed staff), and "health care service" (covering family planning, abortion-related counseling, and treatment). The bill creates a civil remedy for violations and authorizes disciplinary action against entities that force non-participation in services due to conscience objections. It directly affects hospitals, clinics, pharmacists, and all healthcare workers who may decline services like abortion care or contraception-related counseling. The law aims to prevent adverse actions against providers who refuse such services based on personal beliefs.

Maddy summaryHB 76 prohibits local governments (like cities, counties, and school districts) from using public funds to pay nonprofit organizations that accept public donations to post bail bonds for defendants. It directly affects political subdivisions that might fund such bail programs through public money. The bill bans this spending and allows taxpayers or residents to sue to stop it, with successful plaintiffs able to recover legal fees. The law would take effect September 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryHJR 15 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing judges to deny bail to individuals accused of specific serious crimes - including first-degree sexual offenses, violent offenses, or continuous human trafficking - pending trial. Judges may deny bail only after a hearing where they find, by clear and convincing evidence, that bail would not ensure the defendant’s court appearance or community safety. The amendment requires judges to issue a written order detailing their findings and reasoning. It does not restrict defendants’ rights to challenge bail denials under existing law and specifies that judges must consider standard bail factors when making decisions. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in the 2025 election.

Maddy summaryHJR 16 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Texas courts to deny bail to non-citizens (defined as "illegal aliens" under the bill) charged with felony offenses if a judge finds probable cause they committed the crime. The amendment specifies that bail denial applies only after a hearing where probable cause is established, not automatically. This change would require voter approval in November 2025 before taking effect, as it seeks to amend the Texas Constitution. The bill directly affects non-citizens facing felony charges in Texas courts who meet the defined "illegal alien" criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 2696 requires Texas public elementary and secondary schools to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The display must be at least 16 inches wide by 20 inches tall, contain only the specific text listed in the bill (including the full biblical wording), and be legible from any point in the classroom. Schools may accept privately donated displays meeting these requirements or use district funds to purchase compliant displays if needed. This law applies to all public schools and explicitly states they cannot claim exemption from this requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 2519 requires property sellers and buyers (grantors and grantees) to submit a completed "notice of real property title transfer" form when recording property deeds in Texas. This form must include both parties' full names, addresses, telephone numbers, citizenship status, and social security numbers or taxpayer identification numbers. The county clerk must keep this notice separate from public property records, making it confidential under state law, though it may be shared with state agencies for government purposes. The bill directly affects all individuals or entities buying or selling real property in Texas by adding new disclosure requirements for property transfers.

Maddy summaryHB 1812 requires property owners' associations (POAs) to maintain and regulate common areas (like parks or pools) according to existing rules in their subdivision's governing documents. It directly affects homeowners in communities governed by POAs who use these shared spaces. The bill establishes that if a POA fails to comply, owners can seek court-ordered enforcement (injunctive relief), recover court costs, and claim reasonable attorney fees. This creates clear legal remedies for homeowners when POAs neglect common area maintenance. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1815 modifies Texas law governing in-state tuition eligibility for students at public colleges and universities. It establishes specific requirements for establishing residency: individuals must have established a Texas domicile within one year before the academic term's census date and maintained it continuously for the prior year, while dependents must meet the same standards through their parent's domicile. The bill removes a previous provision that allowed high school graduates to qualify based on prior residence. Students must now submit documentation verifying their residency period and purpose, and the law explicitly prohibits non-U.S. authorized individuals from qualifying for in-state status. This directly affects students applying for in-state tuition rates at Texas public higher education institutions.

Maddy summaryHB 1897 requires the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) to evaluate new coastal wind power facilities and their connecting transmission lines in the Gulf of Mexico (seaward of the coast within three marine leagues) before granting approval. It mandates the PUC to deny permits if the project could harm shipping routes, tourism, fishing, wildlife, migratory patterns, or coastal safety in disaster-prone areas, or if existing electricity service already meets demand. The bill applies only to pending PUC applications not finalized before its September 1, 2025, effective date. This directly affects developers planning offshore wind projects in the specified Gulf zone by adding environmental, economic, and safety review requirements to the approval process.