Rep. Will Metcalf

Maddy summaryHB 1907 prohibits Texas state and local government entities from entering contracts for information and communications technology (ICT) services with companies tied to the Chinese government. It defines "scrutinized companies" as those organized in China, publicly traded with Chinese government control over leadership, or privately held with Chinese government ownership. Government entities may bypass the ban only with the governor’s approval, citing necessity. Violations face civil penalties and potential criminal charges, though the bill focuses on the contractual prohibition itself.

Maddy summaryHB 5005 changes how the San Jacinto River Authority's board of directors is elected. It replaces the previous system where the governor appointed directors with a system requiring all seven board members to be elected directly by voters in the district. The bill also specifies that four of these members must be residents of counties fully within the district, while all directors must remain freehold property taxpayers and legal voters in Texas. This procedural change affects the election process for the board, which governs water management services in the San Jacinto River Authority's area.

Maddy summaryHB 5004 requires the San Jacinto River Authority to obtain voter approval before issuing revenue bonds for water infrastructure projects. The bill amends existing law to mandate that bond issuances - used for facilities like reservoirs, water treatment plants, and flood control systems - must be approved by a majority of voters in the affected area. This applies specifically to revenue bonds (paid from project revenues, not property taxes), replacing previous requirements that allowed some bond issuances without direct voter input. The change affects the Authority’s ability to fund water-related projects and directly involves local voters in financing decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1097 requires specific professionals - including teachers, doctors, nurses, daycare staff, and school/board members who handle child-related reports - to immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect within 48 hours of having reasonable cause to suspect it. The bill prohibits these professionals from delegating the reporting duty to others. It expands the definition of "professional" to include individuals in licensed facilities, healthcare settings, and certain school or religious organizations. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies directly to these covered professionals in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 1478 requires Texas voter registrars to timely complete specific duties like processing registration changes, scheduling hearings, or delivering notices under election law. If a registrar fails to meet these deadlines, the state secretary of state may withhold state election funds from that local office. However, funds must be restored if the registrar completes the required duty within 30 days of the withholding. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects local voter registrars who manage election operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1979 allows property taxpayers to request that their ad valorem (property) tax refunds be mailed to an address different from the one listed on the appraisal roll. Taxpayers must submit a written request using a form prescribed by the comptroller, which includes a warning about penalties for false statements. Taxpayers can also revoke such requests in writing. The law applies only to requests filed on or after September 1, 2025, with prior requests governed by existing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 19 would establish rules for local governments (like cities and counties) regarding how they issue debt (such as bonds for projects) and repay it. The bill specifically requires local governments to set an ad valorem property tax rate (based on property value) and use the revenue from that tax to pay off the debt they issued. This directly affects local governments that borrow money for infrastructure or other projects. The bill focuses on creating a clear process for debt issuance and repayment using property tax revenue, without changing existing tax rates or borrowing limits. (Note: Summary based on bill title and committee actions; full text not available.)

Maddy summaryHB 2684 requires health care providers to inform pregnant women diagnosed with a life-threatening condition in their preborn child about available perinatal palliative care options. The bill mandates the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to create and maintain online informational materials describing palliative care services and a geographically indexed list of providers (excluding abortion providers). It directly affects pregnant women facing such diagnoses and their health care providers. The law aims to ensure access to supportive care focused on reducing suffering for both the pregnant woman and her preborn child. The bill also establishes an administrative penalty for noncompliance, though specific penalty details are not provided in the truncated text.

Maddy summaryHB 2739 requires that voters presenting certain identification documents at polling places must have an address matching their registered voter address. Specifically, it applies to Texas driver's licenses, election ID certificates, and handgun licenses issued by the Department of Public Safety (as listed in Section 63.0101(a)(1) and (5)). Election officials may no longer accept these documents if the address does not match the voter's registration address. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not affect other acceptable IDs like military IDs or passports.

Maddy summaryHB 496 would add a "None of the Above" option to Texas ballots for both candidate races and propositions. Voters could select this option instead of voting for any candidate or measure, though such votes would not count toward determining election winners. The bill requires the Secretary of State to design the ballot format for this option and amends election code sections to include it in ballot instructions and layout. This is a procedural change to ballot design, not a policy affecting specific groups or outcomes.