Rep. Philip Cortez

Maddy summaryHB 1112 allows legal permanent residents (green card holders) to be licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and hired by local governments for positions requiring licensure, such as law enforcement roles, provided they hold the required license and submit an affidavit of intent to apply for U.S. citizenship within six months of becoming eligible. The bill replaces a prior requirement that limited these positions to honorably discharged veterans. It also mandates that law enforcement agencies obtain written consent from applicants and conduct background checks before hiring them, as specified in updated licensing and hiring procedures. The legislation directly affects legal permanent residents seeking licensure and local governments that hire for licensed positions.

Maddy summaryHB 1049 would establish a Texas-issued currency backed by physical gold and silver held in a state-managed depository. It authorizes the comptroller to create this currency, representing specific fractions of a troy ounce of gold or silver, and requires it to function as legal tender for debt payments. The bill mandates electronic transfer capabilities for the currency and designates the Texas Bullion Depository as the exclusive issuer. It also authorizes a fee to cover administrative costs, though specific fee amounts are not detailed in the provided text. This bill is procedural in nature, creating a new currency framework rather than altering existing laws.

Maddy summaryHB 780 changes Texas' medical assistance program rules for children, extending their eligibility period without requiring reapplication. It ensures children remain covered until their 19th birthday or one year after their eligibility was first determined, whichever comes first, eliminating the need for ongoing income/resource reviews during that time. The bill repeals existing sections of the law related to child eligibility and recertification. This applies directly to children enrolled in Texas' medical assistance program (similar to Medicaid), providing more stable coverage. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 751 allows the Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel to accept gifts, grants, or donations from any source to fund employee training and education. The funds can cover training on insurance products/services or other topics relevant to their duties under state law. This provision supplements existing state appropriations and does not restrict the sources of such contributions. The bill requires the commissioner to adopt rules for implementation but does not alter existing funding structures.

Maddy summaryHB 684 makes contracts for traffic camera systems void if they violate Texas Transportation Code rules. It repeals prior provisions from a 2019 law (H.B. 1631) regarding these contracts. The bill directly affects cities and private companies operating photographic traffic signal enforcement systems. Contracts must now comply with current code requirements to be valid. The law would take effect immediately with two-thirds legislative approval or September 1, 2025, if not approved.

Maddy summaryThis bill would waive state park entrance fees and hunting/fishing license fees for Texas resident first responders who meet specific criteria. To qualify, individuals must have completed 20+ years of continuous service as a first responder or have a service-connected disability (loss of lower extremity or 50%+ disability rating). The bill defines "first responder" to include firefighters, EMTs, police officers, sheriffs, and constables. It applies only to Texas residents who have lived in the state continuously for over six months.

Maddy summaryThe bill text for HB 564 is not available in the provided context (only the title and basic tracking details are shown). The title indicates it concerns health benefit plan coverage for autism spectrum disorder treatments, but specific provisions, affected parties, or mechanisms cannot be summarized without the full bill text. Recent actions show it was filed in November 2024 and referred to the Insurance committee in March 2025. To obtain a detailed summary, please consult the official bill PDF or legislative database.

Maddy summaryThe full text of HB 533 is currently unavailable, so a detailed summary cannot be provided. The bill's title indicates it relates to imposing liens for labor and supplies provided by cleaners, but specific provisions or mechanisms are not accessible. Without the bill text, we cannot confirm who it directly affects or describe concrete policy changes. Please check back when the full text is published for an accurate summary.

Maddy summaryHB 465, titled "Relating to preferential voting in runoff elections for certain voters voting by mail," requires Texas counties to provide mail-in voters with runoff election ballots and a second envelope for returning them. It establishes a preferential voting system allowing mail voters to rank runoff candidates from most to least preferred, rather than selecting just one candidate. County clerks must post instructions for this system online and mail them with ballots, and runoff ballots will only be counted if returned with the general election ballot. The bill would take effect January 1, 2026, and applies specifically to voters who request early voting by mail.

Maddy summaryHB 377 requires municipalities to obtain written agreements with landowners before annexing areas requested by those landowners. These agreements must cover service provisions (like water, roads, or utilities) in the annexed area. The bill prohibits municipalities from waiving this consent requirement through any agreement or contract. It applies to new annexation requests after its effective date of September 1, 2025.