Rep. Steve Toth

Maddy summaryHB 121 amends Texas law to define which school districts qualify for a property value study conducted by the comptroller. An "eligible school district" must have had invalid local property values (but not exceeding state values) in the most recent study, while maintaining valid local values in the two prior studies. The bill does not change the study process but sets specific eligibility criteria based on historical valuation compliance. This definition applies only to studies for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 130 requires the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to perform rapid DNA tests (using buccal swabs) on individuals detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Texas-Mexico border who are suspected of human trafficking offenses under Texas Penal Code Chapter 20A. The bill mandates that DPS destroy all biological samples after testing and prohibits Texas from storing DNA results in any database or sharing them with federal systems like CODIS. Results may only be provided to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immigration enforcement purposes. The program requires DHS funding to operate and explicitly bans Texas from building a DNA database or using the results for any purpose beyond federal immigration enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 143 requires that local governments hold elections to authorize bond issuances on the standard November uniform election date, rather than other dates. It prohibits holding such elections as emergency elections and overrides any existing law requiring a different date for bond elections. This directly affects counties, cities, and school districts that issue bonds for projects like infrastructure or facilities. The change applies only to elections ordered after the bill's effective date (91 days after the legislative session ends).

Maddy summaryHB 141 establishes that a Texas state legislator (senator or representative) must vacate their office if absent from all legislative sessions for seven consecutive days without approved leave from their chamber. The rule applies only to days when the legislature is actively meeting, and does not affect absences with prior approval. This bill sets a clear threshold for automatic vacancy due to extended absence, without altering existing policies for approved leave. The rule would take effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, or 91 days after the legislative session if not.

Maddy summaryHB 4 establishes new congressional district boundaries for Texas voters to be used in the 2026 U.S. House elections. It adopts the PLANC2308 redistricting plan based on 2020 Census data (TIGER/Line Shapefiles) to define district lines. The bill replaces all prior Texas congressional district maps, including those from 2021, and applies to elections starting with the 120th Congress (2026). This is a procedural redistricting bill directly affecting Texas residents' voting districts for federal elections beginning in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 173 prohibits political subdivisions (like cities, counties, or school districts) from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay nonprofit associations that primarily represent such entities and hire lobbyists. It specifically bans spending public money to: (1) contract with registered lobbyists, or (2) support organizations that hire registered lobbyists for legislative advocacy. Exceptions include activities by sheriffs' associations, employees providing basic information to legislators, or nonprofits offering bill tracking or non-lobbying legislative services. The bill allows taxpayers to seek court injunctions and recover legal fees if a subdivision violates these restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 136 establishes the Texas Division of Emergency Management Hill Country 2025 Flood Response Grant Program to provide financial assistance to local governments (including cities, counties, and special districts) in the Hill Country region. The program funds the purchase of interoperable emergency communication equipment (like radios), construction of communication infrastructure, and employee training for first responders. Grants require applicants to submit proposals meeting Division-established criteria and may mandate completion of incident command system training and adoption of standardized emergency procedures. Funds can only be used for flood response-related communication needs, ensuring first responders can effectively communicate during emergencies. The bill creates specific administrative procedures for grant eligibility, award amounts, and contract monitoring.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would give Texas' Attorney General concurrent authority with county and district attorneys to prosecute criminal violations of election laws. It specifically adds a provision to the state constitution stating the AG "shall have concurrent jurisdiction" to handle these cases alongside local prosecutors. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2025 election to take effect. This change directly affects how election-related criminal cases are handled across Texas, clarifying the AG's role in enforcing election law violations.

Maddy summaryHB 98 amends Texas law to require judges to disqualify district or county attorneys who consistently refuse to prosecute violations of election laws. If an attorney has a pattern of declining to pursue such cases, a judge must remove them from handling those specific prosecutions. The Attorney General then gains authority to step in and prosecute these election-related offenses when a local prosecutor is disqualified. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, with prior cases governed by existing law.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 9) would limit how fast state and local government spending can grow each fiscal cycle. It requires that annual spending increases not exceed "the average taxpayer's ability to pay," with the Legislative Budget Board calculating this limit annually. If government collects more tax revenue than needed, the amendment mandates lowering tax rates to return the surplus directly to taxpayers. The measure must be approved by voters in November 2025 to take effect, as it requires a constitutional amendment.