Rep. Stan Gerdes

Maddy summaryHB 3253 creates a state grant program to help rural counties pay constable salaries. It provides counties with $75,000-$150,000 per constable precinct annually, depending on county population, to cover minimum salary requirements. Counties must contribute 75% of the required salary amount (e.g., $65,000 for constables, $45,000 for deputies making traffic stops), and grant funds can only be used for salaries, hiring staff, or purchasing equipment - not other expenses. The comptroller will establish application rules, deadlines, and monitoring procedures to ensure compliance. This directly affects rural counties with constable offices serving populations under 300,000.

Maddy summaryHB 3743 repeals a requirement in the Texas Government Code that mandated state agencies maintain specific management-to-staff ratios. This bill directly affects all state agencies by removing an existing staffing ratio rule. The key mechanism is the deletion of Section 651.004 of the Government Code, which previously governed these ratios. The repeal takes effect on September 1, 2025, unless approved by a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation. This is a procedural change eliminating an existing administrative requirement.

Maddy summaryHJR 98 is a Texas legislative resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It seeks to propose amendments that would impose spending limits on the federal government, reduce federal power over states, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. Texas formally applies to Congress to initiate this process, with the resolution intended as a continuing application until at least 34 states (two-thirds) support the same purpose. This is a procedural request - Texas has no authority to create new laws, but aims to join other states in advancing this constitutional mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 3134 establishes a regulatory framework for "advanced air mobility" in Texas, primarily affecting electric aircraft and vertiports (landing/takeoff sites for air taxis). The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to create an office for technical support, develop a statewide strategic plan, identify uniform planning standards for vertiports, estimate electric grid capacity needs, and provide guidebooks to local governments. It specifically applies to aircraft over 300 pounds capable of carrying passengers or cargo, focusing on electric vertical takeoff aircraft and urban air mobility infrastructure. The law aims to enable future air taxi services by standardizing planning and infrastructure requirements across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2587 requires Texas hospitals to report costs of providing care to patients without legal immigration status. Hospitals must ask about immigration status during intake (without affecting care) and submit quarterly data on costs and financial impact to a state agency. The agency then compiles an annual report for lawmakers by November 1, detailing total costs and how these expenses affected hospitals. This applies to all Texas hospitals serving patients who were not lawfully present at the time of care, focusing on transparency about uncompensated care expenses.

Maddy summarySB 711 requires condominium associations with 60+ units or those using a management company to make their governing documents (like declarations and bylaws) available online on a member-accessible website. It also updates record-keeping rules to mandate that associations include their website address and transfer fee details in county-recorded management certificates. These changes apply to associations organized under Texas Property Code Chapter 82, effective September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects condominium owners and management companies by standardizing document access and transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5539 requires licensed child-placing agencies in Texas to post an itemized list of all adoption-related costs on their public websites. This directly affects adoption agencies, which must now disclose every fee associated with the adoption process (such as agency fees, legal costs, or travel expenses). The bill mandates that this information be clearly listed and accessible online, helping prospective adoptive parents understand full costs upfront. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2876 amends a 2007 agreement for State Highway 130 (Segments 5 and 6) to extend its term by up to 20 years. It requires the private participant to provide consideration (such as payments) and detail public benefits for the extension. Funds from this agreement must be used exclusively for nontolled transportation projects between I-35 and SH 130 in the affected county, with county approval required before spending. The Texas Department of Transportation must report on implementation by December 1, 2026. The bill passed in May 2025 and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 74 creates the Puerto Verde Port Authority District in Maverick County, Texas, as a special district to advance economic development in the area. The bill grants the district authority to issue bonds for infrastructure, impose fees and taxes on properties within the district, and acquire private property through limited eminent domain for port-related projects. It directly affects property owners and businesses in the designated district area by enabling the district to fund and develop port facilities, transportation infrastructure, and economic initiatives. The legislation aims to promote job growth, commerce, and community development in Maverick County under Texas Constitution provisions for special districts.

Maddy summaryHB 3227 establishes rules for changing monuments or memorials on Texas state property. It requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers to remove, relocate, or alter monuments that have stood for 25 years or more, while allowing state agencies to make changes to newer monuments (under 25 years) through their own governing bodies. The bill specifically defines "monument or memorial" to include statues, plaques, and named places honoring historical events or individuals. It directly affects state agencies managing public monuments and the Texas legislature when handling older memorials. The bill also authorizes civil penalties for violations of these rules.