Rep. Angelia Orr

Maddy summaryHB 4075 requires judges to change the trial location (venue) in criminal cases where the defendant is or was a peace officer at the time of the alleged offense and is charged with a crime committed while acting in their official capacity. This law directly affects peace officers accused of crimes related to their job duties. The bill mandates venue changes if both conditions are met: the defendant's status as a peace officer and the offense occurring under color of their employment. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed with two-thirds support for immediate effect), not to past cases.

Maddy summaryHJR 98 is a Texas legislative resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It seeks to propose amendments that would impose spending limits on the federal government, reduce federal power over states, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. Texas formally applies to Congress to initiate this process, with the resolution intended as a continuing application until at least 34 states (two-thirds) support the same purpose. This is a procedural request - Texas has no authority to create new laws, but aims to join other states in advancing this constitutional mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 2587 requires Texas hospitals to report costs of providing care to patients without legal immigration status. Hospitals must ask about immigration status during intake (without affecting care) and submit quarterly data on costs and financial impact to a state agency. The agency then compiles an annual report for lawmakers by November 1, detailing total costs and how these expenses affected hospitals. This applies to all Texas hospitals serving patients who were not lawfully present at the time of care, focusing on transparency about uncompensated care expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 3733 amends Texas law to standardize fees county clerks charge for property records, directly affecting homeowners, real estate buyers, and legal professionals who request documents. It specifies exact fees: $5 for the first page and $4 per additional page for personal and real property records, $1 per page for noncertified copies, and sets clear rates for certified documents and electronic formats. The bill also requires clerks to charge electronic copies according to existing Government Code provisions for public records. It takes effect September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 2588, the "Food Freedom Act," expands home-based food production rules in Texas by defining "cottage food production operations" for individuals or small nonprofits operating from home. It allows these businesses to produce specific non-perishable foods like baked goods, jams, dried fruits, and nut butters, while excluding high-risk items such as meat, seafood, raw milk, CBD products, and canned goods. The bill sets an annual income cap of $100,000 (adjusted for inflation) for these operations and restricts sales to direct consumer purchases or other cottage food vendors. This primarily affects small-scale home food entrepreneurs seeking to legally sell their products without full commercial kitchen requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 3717 establishes a Texas grant program to fund private entities conducting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug development trials using ibogaine. The program targets organizations (for-profit, nonprofit, or public benefit corporations) that can design and execute FDA trials to seek approval of ibogaine as a medication for treating opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and other neurological or mental health conditions where ibogaine shows effectiveness. Applicants must submit detailed trial designs, team expertise, and FDA approval strategies. The grant covers costs for these trials, aiming to advance ibogaine's potential approval as a treatment option.

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 summaryHB 298 requires Texas driver's licenses and personal ID certificates to include a clear indication that the holder is a U.S. citizen. This applies to all licenses issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The bill specifies that licenses must also display the holder's full name, date of birth, a full-face photograph, a distinguishing number, and either a residence address or, for certain federal judges or officials, the courthouse address. It does not change existing requirements for non-citizens. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 41 prohibits Texas state and local government entities from acquiring or using unmanned aircraft (drones) or related equipment/services produced by companies owned by or tied to the governments of China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or Syria. The law defines "governmental entity" broadly to include state agencies, cities, counties, and school districts, with a grace period allowing existing systems (acquired before September 1, 2025) to remain in use until September 1, 2030. It also establishes a grant program to help law enforcement agencies obtain secure drone technology through the "Law Enforcement Secure Unmanned Aircraft Grant Program." The bill directly affects all Texas public entities purchasing or operating drone systems, aiming to restrict foreign technology access based on national security concerns.

Maddy summaryHB 129 prohibits Texas state and local government entities from entering contracts with companies designated as "foreign adversary companies" (those tied to countries like China, Russia, or Iran) or "federally banned companies" (listed on federal sanctions lists). The bill defines these companies based on U.S. federal designations, including entities restricted under federal defense laws or sanctions. Violating this prohibition could result in civil penalties imposed by the state. The law directly affects Texas government agencies and contractors working with them, aiming to align state procurement with federal security policies.