Rep. Morgan Meyer

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 2966 requires courts to automatically award attorney fees and court costs to defendants when a lawsuit challenging constitutional rights is dismissed. It directly affects plaintiffs who file such cases, as they may face these costs if their lawsuit is dismissed. The bill mandates these fees upon dismissal (Section 27.009(a)) and allows courts to impose additional sanctions on the plaintiff to deter future similar lawsuits. This change applies only to cases filed on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit Texas from imposing state taxes on property transferred after someone's death, including estate, inheritance, or gift taxes. It specifically prevents new taxes on these transfers or increases to existing taxes that were in place before January 1, 2025. Exceptions include taxes on motor vehicle gifts, certain property taxes (ad valorem), and taxes already authorized under existing law. This amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election and would affect anyone transferring property through wills, inheritances, or gifts after the amendment takes effect.

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 135 exempts the purchase and sale of game animals (such as deer and elk) and exotic animals (like reptiles or big cats) from Texas sales and use taxes. This means businesses and individuals involved in trading these animals - such as breeders, pet stores, or hunters - no longer pay state sales tax on these transactions. The bill amends the Texas Tax Code to add these animals as a new category of exempt items, similar to existing agricultural exemptions for feed or farm equipment. This directly reduces tax costs for the wildlife trade and pet industries while aligning with broader agricultural tax policies.

Maddy summaryHB 3458 bans pet stores from selling dogs or cats, with limited exceptions for animal control agencies and nonprofit adoption organizations that meet specific criteria. These exceptions require organizations to not obtain animals for compensation, breed them, or have ties to breeders or brokers, and pet stores cannot charge fees or claim ownership for adoption showcases. Violations carry a civil penalty of up to $500 per day per animal sold. The law applies only to animals obtained by pet stores on or after the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits late payment fees charged by municipal water utilities in Texas. It caps fees at $5 or 2% of the overdue amount before day 32, $5 or 5% between days 32-41, and $5 or 10% after day 41. Utilities cannot begin charging penalties before 21 days after billing a customer, and penalties end when the full amount is paid. The rules apply only to fees charged on or after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed by two-thirds vote).

Maddy summaryHB 5543 creates a legal remedy for people or businesses using patented products who face patent infringement claims made in bad faith. It allows courts to order the party making the false claim to post a bond covering the defendant's legal costs - up to $500,000 - to protect against frivolous lawsuits. The bill directly affects patent holders who file questionable infringement claims and the end users who get sued. It becomes effective September 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 4688 modifies Texas law for civil liability cases involving commercial motor vehicle accidents. It restricts when evidence of regulatory violations (like safety rules) can be used in court, requiring such evidence to directly link the violation to the injury and show the rule specifically applied to the situation. The bill also limits claims against employers for driver negligence unless the employer first admits the driver was acting within their job duties at the time of the accident. These changes apply only to cases filed or tried after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHJR 138 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to prohibit the state legislature from imposing taxes based on the carbon content of fuels or emissions of carbon dioxide from goods and services. If approved by voters, it would prevent Texas from enacting any carbon tax policy. The bill failed to pass the Texas Legislature on May 12, 2025, so it did not advance to a voter referendum. This would have directly affected all Texans by blocking a potential state-level carbon tax mechanism.