Rep. Briscoe Cain

Maddy summaryHB 979 amends Texas Education Code sections to change how public colleges determine student residency for in-state tuition rates. It requires students to prove they established a legal home address (domicile) in Texas at least one year before the academic term's census date and maintained it continuously for that full year. The bill removes a previous exception for high school graduates who attended Texas schools and explicitly prohibits undocumented students from qualifying for in-state status. This directly affects students applying for in-state tuition at Texas public universities and colleges.

Maddy summaryHB 915 repeals a provision that allowed Texas state militia commanders to prohibit the sale or exchange of firearms, ammunition, or explosives. It removes this specific authority from militia commanders, eliminating their ability to block such transactions. The bill does not change civilian gun laws or create new restrictions on firearm sales. This change affects only the state militia's command structure regarding arms transactions, with no impact on public or private firearm regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 911 designates June 24 as "Celebration of Life Day," adding it as a state holiday in Texas. The bill amends the Government Code to include this date in the list of official state holidays, alongside existing observances like Texas Independence Day and San Jacinto Day. This change affects state government operations, requiring agencies to close on June 24 each year starting September 1, 2025. The bill does not alter other holiday provisions or provide additional funding.

Maddy summaryHB 957 requires borrowers to physically sign certain documents for home equity loans instead of using remote or electronic methods. This bill directly affects homeowners seeking home equity loans in the state, as it would change the process for signing loan paperwork. The bill was filed on November 12, 2024, and referred to the Pensions, Investments & Financial Services committee for review. No detailed provisions or effective dates are provided in the available context, as the full bill text is noted as "coming soon."

Maddy summaryHB 927 clarifies how Texas courts interpret laws protecting religious freedom under the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. It amends Section 110.009(b) to state that these protections exist "in addition to" federal and state constitutional safeguards, and explicitly prohibits using this chapter to reinterpret specific sections of the Texas Constitution (Article I, Sections 4, 5, 6, 6-a, and 7). The bill does not create new rights but aims to prevent courts from applying this code to override those constitutional provisions. It directly affects legal cases involving religious freedom claims in Texas courts. The amendment takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits tolls on specific sections of State Highway 146 and State Highway 99 in Texas. It directly affects the Texas Department of Transportation and any entities that might operate toll facilities on these routes. The legislation amends the state Transportation Code to explicitly ban toll collection on the portion of Highway 146 crossing the Houston Ship Channel and the segment of Highway 99 between its intersection with Highway 146 and its crossing of Cedar Bayou. If the bill receives a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, it becomes effective immediately; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 928 requires public Texas colleges and universities to provide students with itemized tuition and fee statements for each semester or term. These statements must show the total amount due and break down tuition charges per course, plus all other fees. The bill directly affects students enrolled at public higher education institutions by mandating clearer billing transparency. It takes effect for the 2025 fall semester, requiring institutions to consolidate tuition charges into a single line item for catalog purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 934 modifies voting eligibility for primaries of Texas political parties whose gubernatorial candidate won at least 7 of the last 10 statewide elections. It requires voters to either have voted in that party's primary within the past two years, hold a valid party affiliation certificate issued before the ballot filing period, or be under 21 years old. The bill applies only to these dominant parties' primaries and does not affect general elections or other parties. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and would directly impact voters seeking to participate in those specific primary elections.

Maddy summaryHB 925 repeals two sections (46.15(n) and (o)) of the Texas Penal Code that previously established a defense for carrying handguns in certain prohibited locations and required specific notice to prosecutors. The bill eliminates these provisions, meaning future offenses involving handguns in those locations will no longer have this defense available. The repeal applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, with prior offenses governed by the previous law. This is a procedural change to the penal code, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryHB 943 prohibits forcing or pressuring individuals lawfully residing in Texas to receive a COVID-19 vaccine against their preference. It directly affects Texas residents, healthcare providers (licensed to administer vaccines), and entities attempting to compel vaccination. The bill adds a new section to the Health and Safety Code, making it illegal for anyone to coerce individuals into accepting FDA-approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines. This creates a legal requirement for informed consent, aligning with existing medical ethics standards for treatment decisions.