Rep. Stan Gerdes

Maddy summaryHB 4962, titled "Relating to the disclosure of citizenship of a candidate for public office," would require candidates for public office to disclose their citizenship status as part of their filing documentation. This requirement directly affects candidates running for elected positions at the local or state level. The bill's key mechanism involves adding citizenship verification to standard candidate filing forms, though specific enforcement details are not provided in the available context. The bill was filed on March 13, 2025, and referred to the Elections committee on April 3, 2025, but its full text is unavailable for detailed analysis.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Texas public schools to provisionally admit students who haven't completed required immunizations but have submitted a request for an exemption affidavit to the Department of State Health Services. It requires schools to accept documentation proving such a request was made, and mandates the health department to provide standardized receipts for all exemption requests (submitted online, in person, by mail, or fax). The policy applies to elementary and secondary schools for the 2025-2026 school year. This creates a temporary enrollment pathway while exemption requests are processed, without altering existing immunization requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 17 would prohibit citizens of designated countries (China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or others named by the governor) from purchasing real property in Texas. It creates criminal penalties for violations, making such purchases illegal under state law. Exceptions apply to U.S. citizens, lawful residents, and businesses owned by them. The law would override existing property rights for these foreign buyers, directly affecting individuals and entities from designated countries seeking to buy land in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 16 expands funding options for water infrastructure projects under the Texas Water Development Board. It allows the state water fund to provide financial assistance to local governments (political subdivisions) for specific projects like desalination plants (marine and brackish water), produced water treatment (excluding oil/gas exploration), aquifer storage, reservoirs with federal/state permits, and potable water reuse systems. The bill also clarifies that funds can be transferred to designated state water programs, including the state water implementation fund and water bank account. This directly affects communities and local agencies developing new water sources to address Texas' growing demand. The changes amend existing Water Code sections to enable these financing mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 4381 requires the Texas Education Agency to create a plain-language document in English and Spanish explaining parents' rights regarding their child's health information and decisions in public schools. The document must cover specific rights, including accessing health records (like counseling or immunization data), withholding consent for health activities, removing children from classes conflicting with religious beliefs, and opting out of certain screenings or vaccinations. School districts must post the document online and email it to all parents before the first day of each school year. The bill also authorizes administrative penalties for schools that fail to comply with these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 3908 amends Texas Property Code to set clear deadlines for property owners' associations (POAs) regarding enforcement of rules. It requires POAs to provide written notice of violations within 180 days of occurrence; failure to do so means no fine can be assessed for that violation. For subsequent violations, POAs must levy fines before the 180th day after the initial violation or 30 days after notice, whichever is later. The bill directly affects POAs and homeowners subject to association rules, applying only to enforcement actions initiated on or after September 1, 2025. It focuses on procedural deadlines, not changes to association rules or homeowner obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 1668 increases penalties for enticing a child by raising the offense from a Class B misdemeanor to a third-degree felony (unless sexual intent is proven, making it a second-degree felony). It also expands sex offender registration requirements to apply to this specific offense. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of enticing children with the intent to sexually violate or abuse them. Key provisions clarify that sexual intent elevates the felony classification and mandate registration under existing sex offender laws. This change modifies Texas Penal Code Section 25.04 and the Code of Criminal Procedure's definition of reportable offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 3433 sets limits on fees charged by the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District for water use. It caps agricultural fees at 20% of municipal rates and establishes specific fee amounts: $1 per acre-foot for crop irrigation and 17 cents per thousand gallons for other agricultural uses. The bill directly affects farmers and ranchers in the district who withdraw groundwater for irrigation or livestock. It amends existing law to standardize these fee structures under Texas Water Code provisions. The bill does not change current fee rates but provides clear, capped rates for future assessments.

Maddy summaryHB 3444 sets new deadlines for appointing members of early voting ballot boards in Texas counties. County chairs must submit lists of eligible candidates by June 30 (for counties over 500,000 population) or July 31 (for smaller counties), and county election boards must make appointments by August 15 each year. The bill affects county election officials responsible for organizing early voting locations. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and is procedural, focusing on timing rather than changing voting rules.

Maddy summaryHB 3422 requires operators of battery energy storage facilities (grantees) to fully remove all equipment and restore land to its original condition when a lease agreement ends. It mandates that grantees clear, clean, and remove all battery storage equipment, foundations (to at least 3 feet deep), and buried cables, then refill holes with matching topsoil. This directly affects landowners leasing property for these facilities and the companies operating them. The law voids any agreement clauses waiving these removal responsibilities and provides landowners with legal remedies for non-compliance.