Rep. Stan Gerdes

Maddy summaryHB 2983 sets specific fee limits for vehicle storage facilities in Texas, including a $20 impoundment fee, $20-$35 daily storage fees (based on vehicle size), and a $50 cap on notification fees. It requires annual adjustments to these fees each odd-numbered year based on the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation. The bill directly affects vehicle storage facilities (both private and government-operated) and vehicle owners who pay these fees. The bill failed to pass on May 15, 2025, after failing to advance to engrossment.

Maddy summaryHB 370 amends Texas law to restrict eligibility for funding from the Events Trust Fund. It prohibits funding for events that allow biological males to compete in sports designated for female athletes. The bill defines "biological male" using official birth certificates or government records stating biological sex, requiring statements entered near birth or corrected for clerical errors. This applies only to events seeking trust fund support and does not affect biological males serving as coaches or support staff. The policy change directly affects sports events applying for state funding under the Events Trust Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 1085 allows Texas public high schools to offer a lifetime recreation and outdoor pursuits course - featuring a hunter education component - to fulfill physical education credit requirements. The State Board of Education, working with the Parks and Wildlife Department, must develop this course's curriculum. It directly affects public high school students and school districts, providing an alternative to traditional PE courses. The policy change takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySB 2230 requires Texas municipalities and county commissioners courts to mandate evacuations of unauthorized people from hazard zones calculated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during space flight activities. Violating these evacuation orders would be a Class B misdemeanor (Class A for repeat offenses). The bill’s effective date depends on another related bill (S.B. 2188) also passing into law. It creates a legal mechanism to enforce safety zones around space launch sites without specifying new safety protocols or altering FAA regulations.

Maddy summaryHJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit Texas from imposing state taxes on property transferred after someone's death, including estate, inheritance, or gift taxes. It specifically prevents new taxes on these transfers or increases to existing taxes that were in place before January 1, 2025. Exceptions include taxes on motor vehicle gifts, certain property taxes (ad valorem), and taxes already authorized under existing law. This amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election and would affect anyone transferring property through wills, inheritances, or gifts after the amendment takes effect.

Maddy summaryHB 1431 defines "cell-cultured protein" as food made by harvesting animal cells and replicating them in a growth medium, then adds it to Texas' prohibited acts under the Health and Safety Code. The bill specifically bans the manufacture, processing, possession, distribution, sale, or offer for sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption within Texas. This targets companies producing or selling lab-grown meat alternatives, making such activities unlawful under existing food safety prohibitions without creating new regulatory requirements. The bill remains pending after being postponed on May 14, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2458 adds a new defense for people accused of aggravated assault in Texas. It allows a defendant to claim they threatened to use a deadly weapon if two conditions were met: the threat would have been justified under self-defense law (Chapter 9 of the Penal Code), and they reasonably believed the threat was immediately necessary to defend against another person’s unlawful force or deadly force. This defense only applies to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The bill modifies Texas law to clarify when threatening to use a weapon can be part of a valid self-defense claim in aggravated assault cases.

Maddy summaryHB 2545 establishes the Rural Workforce Training Grant Program to provide targeted funding for job-specific training in Texas rural counties (population under 200,000). The Texas Workforce Commission will award grants to public, private, or nonprofit entities - including businesses, educational institutions, and workforce boards - that offer on-the-job training, apprenticeships, or workforce education courses in qualifying areas. Grant funds can cover training materials, instructor fees, participant support services, and related costs, but not general operations. Recipients must report on fund usage and participant outcomes annually, with the Commission submitting program effectiveness reports to the legislature each December.

Maddy summaryHB 170 creates civil immunity for individuals who use or threaten to use force or deadly force that is justified under Texas Penal Code Chapter 9 (e.g., self-defense or defense of others). It protects such individuals from civil lawsuits seeking damages for personal injury or death resulting from their justified actions. The bill also requires courts to award defendants who win immunity claims reasonable attorney fees, court costs, and related expenses. It repeals Section 9.06 of the Penal Code and applies only to cases occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3911 allows oil and gas operators in good standing (those with active leases or mineral ownership) to contract with Railroad Commission-approved well pluggers to plug or replug "orphaned wells" (inactive wells without a responsible operator). The bill requires pluggers to provide 30 days' notice to the well operator and assume physical control of the well, while protecting operators from liability for the plugging work or related damages. It also prohibits using payment or contracting evidence in future lawsuits about well-plugging obligations, making such evidence inadmissible in court. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects operators, mineral owners, and approved well pluggers.