Rep. Mary Ann Perez

Maddy summaryHB 4906 redirects revenue from oversize and overweight vehicle permit fees in Texas. Specifically, it requires that 50% of these fees be deposited into the state highway fund, while the remaining 50% is distributed to the counties listed in each permit application. This bill modifies existing Transportation Code provisions to formalize this allocation, affecting both state highway funding and local county budgets. The change applies to fees collected under Sections 623.0171 and 623.322 of the Transportation Code.

Maddy summaryHB 4853 creates new rules for addressing skimmers - devices thieves attach to card readers at ATMs or point-of-sale terminals to steal payment card data. It requires merchants and service technicians to report skimmers to Texas’ Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, with penalties for failing to do so. The bill authorizes civil fines and establishes criminal penalties for skimmer-related fraud. It directly affects merchants, service technicians, and financial institutions that use electronic payment terminals. The bill is currently pending in committee and has not yet become law.

Maddy summaryHB 3727 creates a state grant program to fund railroad grade separation projects at non-state highway intersections and pedestrian crossings. It directly affects local governments and railroad companies by providing grants for projects that improve safety and reduce traffic. Key requirements include a 10% non-state funding match (from other sources or as matching funds) and restrictions on using state highway funds. The program can only use state appropriations, federal grants, or donations, and the Transportation Commission must adopt rules by October 2025.

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 summaryHB 1160 increases criminal penalties for assaults against specific public service workers, upgrading certain offenses from misdemeanors to felonies. It directly affects utility employees, emergency personnel, security officers, process servers, hospital staff, and pregnant individuals when assaults occur during work duties or as retaliation for performing those duties. Key provisions include making it a felony to assault a utility employee while they are performing services, harass a security officer during duty, or assault a pregnant person to force an abortion. The bill applies when the actor knows the victim is performing a protected duty.

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 summaryHCR 114 is a non-binding resolution urging the Houston City Council to build a pedestrian bridge near Charles H. Milby High School in honor of Sergio Ivan Rodriguez, a 15-year-old Houston student who died in 2024. The resolution commemorates Rodriguez's life, highlighting his passion for football, dedication to family and friends, and love for his community. It does not create new laws or funding but formally requests the city council to construct the memorial bridge. This is a ceremonial gesture with no legal effect, solely intended to honor Rodriguez's legacy.

Maddy summaryHB 3109 transfers the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center from the Occupations Code to Government Code Chapter 426, establishing it under the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation. The bill defines key terms like "card fraud," "check fraud," and "payment fraud" (including skimmer-related crimes) to clarify the center's focus. It requires the Commission to adopt rules for implementation and designates the center as the state's primary entity for coordinating law enforcement agencies responding to payment fraud. This reorganization affects state agencies and law enforcement entities working together to detect and prevent financial crime.

Maddy summaryHB 3364 prohibits veterinarians in Texas from establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship **solely** through telephone or electronic means. This means an initial in-person meeting is required to form the relationship, directly affecting veterinarians and pet owners seeking veterinary services. The bill amends the Occupations Code to clarify this requirement, taking effect September 1, 2025. It focuses on defining the foundational relationship for veterinary care, not on specific treatment protocols.

Maddy summaryHB 3014 creates a new criminal offense for fraudulent use, possession, or tampering with gift cards or their redemption information in Texas. It prohibits unauthorized possession of gift cards or redemption codes, altering gift cards, or using stolen or modified cards with knowledge of the fraud. Penalties range from Class C misdemeanors (under $100 value) to first-degree felonies ($300,000+ value), based on the card's monetary value. The law directly targets individuals committing gift card fraud, while protecting cardholders, issuers, and sellers from financial harm.