Rep. Philip Cortez

Maddy summaryHB 2275 requires that surplus lines insurance contracts (specialized policies for high-risk or hard-to-place coverage) containing arbitration agreements must specify that any arbitration occurs in Texas and follows Texas law. It mandates that both the arbitration process and contract interpretation be governed by Texas statutes, applying only to contracts delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. Existing contracts before that date remain subject to prior law. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects insurers writing surplus lines policies in Texas.

Maddy summaryHJR 161 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to explicitly prohibit non-citizen residents from voting in Texas elections. The bill would add "persons who are not citizens of the United States" as a new category barred from voting, alongside existing restrictions for minors, those declared mentally incompetent, and convicted felons. If approved by voters in November 2025, this constitutional change would formally enshrine the current legal standard - non-citizens already cannot vote in Texas - into the state constitution. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2025 general election, with ballot language specifying the change. This is a procedural constitutional amendment, not a new voting law.

Maddy summaryHB 1585 restricts where housing finance corporations in Texas can operate. It limits their area of operation based on their sponsoring local government: municipal sponsors must stay within the sponsoring city's boundaries, county sponsors are limited to unincorporated county areas, and multi-sponsor corporations can only operate within all sponsoring cities' boundaries and the unincorporated areas of all sponsoring counties. The bill amends Texas Local Government Code sections to clarify these geographic boundaries for all housing finance corporations. This directly affects housing finance corporations sponsored by cities, counties, or multiple local governments across Texas.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas licensing authorities to issue provisional occupational licenses for six months to applicants with criminal convictions who are otherwise qualified for the license, unless they have specific serious convictions listed in the Occupations Code. The provisional license begins upon the applicant's release from incarceration if they were imprisoned. It applies to most occupational licensing fields (like healthcare or trades) but excludes applicants convicted of offenses under Section 53.021(a). The bill provides a pathway for certain applicants to obtain licenses without full revocation of eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 1773 allows certain Texas school districts to appoint a nonvoting student trustee to their board of trustees. This position enables students to attend board meetings, participate in discussions, and provide student perspectives, but the student trustee cannot vote or count toward meeting quorums. The bill applies only to school districts not covered by existing rules (Section 11.0511 of the Education Code). It takes effect September 1, 2025, and creates a formal mechanism for student input without altering voting authority.

Maddy summaryHB 2783 requires certain Texas counties to automatically enroll eligible county employees in the county’s deferred compensation plan (a retirement savings program) unless the employee opts out. Employees would contribute 3% of their pay automatically through payroll deductions to a default investment option chosen by the plan administrator, replacing the previous requirement for employees to actively consent. This applies to counties that choose to adopt the automatic enrollment policy through a commissioners court order, and counties must inform new employees about their participation options and responsibilities. Employees can later adjust their contribution amount, switch investment options, or opt out entirely through the county’s designated process.

Maddy summaryHR 1066 is a commemorative resolution honoring Gilbert Edward Reinhard Jr. of Floresville, Texas, who passed away on October 10, 2024, at age 75. The resolution recognizes his 45-year career as a chemist with EG&G Automotive Research and PerkinElmer, his family life as a husband and father, and his personal interests in art, music, and coastal landscapes. It does not create new laws or policies - it simply serves as a formal tribute from the Texas House of Representatives to honor his life and extend sympathy to his family. This resolution is procedural and has no direct impact on any individuals, groups, or government operations.

Maddy summaryHB 485 would allow emergency services districts to impose a sales tax on residential gas and electricity. This tax would directly affect homeowners and renters in districts that choose to implement it, adding to their utility bills. The bill creates a new revenue mechanism for these districts to fund emergency services like fire and ambulance response. Currently, the bill is pending in committee and has not been enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 294 prevents municipalities and property owners' associations from banning fruit/vegetable gardening or keeping small numbers of domestic animals (up to six chickens or rabbits) on single-family residential lots. The bill allows local governments to impose reasonable rules on visibility, noise, safety, and sanitation - such as requiring fenced areas, limiting roosters, or setting minimum space requirements (20 sq. ft per chicken, 9 sq. ft per rabbit) - without prohibiting the activities. It specifically excludes condominiums and voids any ordinances violating these provisions. The bill aims to support small-scale food production in residential areas while maintaining community standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1819 amends Texas law to adjust matching grant requirements for community mental health programs serving veterans and their families. It requires grantees to provide local or private funds equal to 25% (for counties under 100,000 population), 50% (100,000-250,000), or 100% (250,000+ population) of the grant amount, depending on the county size where services are provided. The changes apply only to grants awarded on or after September 1, 2025, and require new state funding for implementation - otherwise, the Health and Human Services Commission may use existing funds but isn’t obligated to act. This bill directly affects community mental health programs seeking state grants to support veteran mental health services.