Rep. Mary Ann Perez

Maddy summaryHB 201 establishes Texas' Financial Crimes Intelligence Center to combat card fraud and motor fuel theft. The center coordinates law enforcement, financial institutions, and merchants to detect skimmers (devices stealing card data) and motor fuel manipulation devices (tools altering fuel meters for theft). It serves as a centralized hub for sharing information, providing training, and developing prevention strategies. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies, banks, credit card companies, and retailers by enhancing their ability to address these specific crimes. The center becomes operational September 1, 2025, after the bill was signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryTexas Senate Bill 1498 amends the state code to explicitly include digital currency, non-fungible tokens, and stablecoins as "contraband" subject to civil asset forfeiture. It allows law enforcement to seize these digital assets if used in connection with specific felonies, such as drug trafficking under Chapter 481 of the Health and Safety Code, financial crimes under Chapter 32 of the Finance Code, or healthcare fraud involving government programs. The bill directly affects individuals owning digital currency who are involved in the listed criminal activities. This change clarifies that digital assets now fall under existing forfeiture rules for tangible property, addressing gaps in how cryptocurrency was previously treated under Texas law.

Maddy summaryHB 1481 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt written policies prohibiting student use of personal communication devices (such as cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches) during the school day on school property or at school events. Exceptions allow device use for students with documented medical needs, individualized education plans (IEPs), or health/safety protocols. Schools may implement either a full device ban or a secure storage system for devices during school hours, and must return confiscated devices or dispose of them after providing parents 90 days' written notice. The law takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature.

Maddy summarySB 2129 increases criminal penalties for drivers who ignore warnings at railroad grade crossings. Specifically, it raises fines for violating crossing rules from $50-$200 to $100-$400 when a driver disregards a flagger's warning. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, with prior violations governed by older penalties. This directly affects drivers who fail to obey flagger instructions at railroad crossings, increasing the financial consequences for this specific safety violation.

Maddy summaryHB 3689 changes how the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) funds catastrophic windstorm and hail insurance losses after major disasters. Instead of relying on public securities (which incur high interest costs), the bill authorizes the state to provide loans of up to $500 million before a disaster and $1 billion after one. TWIA would repay these loans through a surcharge on certain windstorm and hail insurance policies in coastal areas. This directly affects coastal property owners who pay these insurance premiums, as the surcharge ensures repayment of state funds used to cover disaster losses.

Maddy summarySB 458 requires personal auto and residential property insurance policies in Texas to include a standardized appraisal process when policyholders and insurers disagree on the amount of a loss. The law mandates that policies contain this dispute resolution mechanism, involving qualified appraisers and an umpire to determine the loss value. An appraisal award under this process is binding on both parties, except for fraud, accident, or material mistake. This applies to most standard insurers (like capital stock or mutual companies) but excludes commercial policies and Texas Windstorm Insurance Association coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 2688 amends Texas law governing public retirement systems for firefighters in large municipalities. It lowers the population threshold for municipalities to establish such a fund from 2 million to 1.6 million residents. The bill clarifies "normal retirement age" as either 20 years of service (for pre-2017 hires) or age 50 with 10 years of service (for post-2017 hires). It also updates terminology related to actuarial cost methods used to calculate pension funding requirements. The bill became law on September 1, 2025, affecting firefighters in qualifying Texas cities.

Maddy summarySB 1939 reorganizes the Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund, designating it as a separate account within the state highway fund managed by the Texas Department of Transportation commission. The bill ensures that interest earned on this fund is not reallocated to general state revenue, preserving dedicated funding for port infrastructure projects. It requires transferring any existing unencumbered balances from the previous fund structure to this new account. This change directly affects Texas port maintenance and infrastructure development, ensuring consistent funding for the Houston Ship Channel improvements.

Maddy summaryHB 272 modifies where credit card fraud cases can be prosecuted under Texas law. It allows cases involving fraudulent use or possession of credit/debit card information (covered under Penal Code Section 32.315) to be filed in either the county where the crime occurred or the county where the victim resides. This change directly affects victims of card fraud, prosecutors, and courts by expanding jurisdiction options for these cases. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to cases filed after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 4429 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 281 in Blanco and Burnet Counties - between State Highway 71 and Ranch Road 962 - as the Muckleroy Family Memorial Highway. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the designated segment and at appropriate intermediate locations along the highway. This is a commemorative designation with no new policy or funding requirements; it solely names the highway segment for recognition. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after receiving gubernatorial approval.