Rep. Stan Gerdes

Maddy summaryHB 115 restricts Texas local governments (like cities and counties) from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay organizations that hire lobbyists to influence state legislation. The bill specifically prohibits spending public money to contract with registered lobbyists or fund associations primarily representing local governments if those associations employ registered lobbyists, with exceptions for sheriffs' associations and certain staff activities. It allows local government employees to provide information to lawmakers, advocate for policies without registering as lobbyists, and cover direct travel expenses for such activities. Taxpayers or residents can sue to stop prohibited spending and recover legal fees if they win the case. The law aims to prevent public funds from being used to directly lobby the state legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 95 establishes minimum training and certification standards for Emergency Management Coordinators in Texas counties with populations over 500,000. It requires these coordinators, appointed by Emergency Management Directors, to meet qualifications set by the Texas Division of Emergency Management. The bill directly affects county emergency management staff in larger jurisdictions who handle disaster response coordination. Key provisions mandate that coordinators' qualifications be defined through division rules, ensuring standardized emergency management capacity across qualifying counties.

Maddy summaryHJR 8 proposes a constitutional amendment to deny Texas legislators salary, per diem, or mileage reimbursement for unexcused absences when their legislative chamber lacks a quorum. This would directly affect all Texas state legislators (House and Senate members) who miss sessions without a valid excuse during periods when no quorum exists. The amendment would change the current pay structure by withholding compensation for those specific unexcused absences, as outlined in the proposed addition to Article III, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution. The measure must be approved by voters in a 2026 election before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHJR 7 proposes a constitutional amendment to change the quorum requirement for the Texas Senate and House of Representatives from a simple majority of members to two-thirds of members. Currently, a majority (more than half) is needed to conduct business, but the amendment would require two-thirds of members to be present for either chamber to form a quorum. This change would make it harder to achieve a quorum, potentially slowing legislative proceedings. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in a statewide election on May 2, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges Governor Greg Abbott to return federal reconciliation funds to Texas taxpayers by implementing property tax relief. The Texas House of Representatives passed this non-binding resolution to formally request the Governor use the funds for property tax cuts, directing the chief clerk to forward a copy to the Governor's office. It does not require legal action or change existing tax policy, as resolutions like this serve only as a formal expression of legislative opinion.

Maddy summaryHB 162 prohibits political subdivisions (like cities or counties) from using eminent domain to acquire property outside their own boundaries. The bill adds a new provision (Section 2206.003) to the Government Code stating that political subdivisions "may not take through eminent domain public or private property located outside the political subdivision's boundaries." This directly affects local governments seeking to acquire land for projects beyond their jurisdictional limits. The law creates a clear restriction on eminent domain use, overriding prior allowances that permitted such acquisitions outside boundaries.

Maddy summaryHJR 40 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to require a two-thirds majority of members present for a quorum in either the Texas Senate or House of Representatives, instead of the current simple majority requirement. If approved by voters in the May 2026 election, this change would directly affect how often Texas lawmakers can legally conduct business, potentially making it harder to reach quorum. The amendment would alter a core procedural rule governing legislative operations for both chambers. This is a procedural change requiring voter approval, not a policy shift affecting public programs or services.

Maddy summaryHJR 35 proposes a constitutional amendment in Texas that would deny state pay (salary, per diem, or mileage reimbursement) to legislators who miss sessions without an excused absence when their legislative chamber lacks a quorum. It directly affects Texas state legislators by withholding compensation for unexcused absences during periods when the required number of members is not present to conduct business. The amendment requires voter approval in a 2026 election before taking effect. This change would only apply to absences where the legislature lacks quorum, not to all missed sessions.

Maddy summaryHB 259 changes the voter approval threshold for property tax rate increases that exceed a taxing unit's current voter-approved rate from two-thirds to a simple majority. This affects cities, counties, and school districts when seeking to raise property taxes above existing approved levels, as they will now need only over half of votes cast instead of two-thirds. The bill also updates required election notices to clearly compare the proposed tax rate with the current no-new-revenue and voter-approval rates. This policy change lowers the barrier for passing tax increases, requiring fewer voter approvals to implement rate changes.

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.