Rep. Stan Gerdes

Maddy summaryThe bill HB 257, titled "Relating to a vacancy in the office of senator or representative due to excessive absence," was filed on August 4, 2025. However, the full text of the bill is not available in the provided context, and no specific provisions or mechanisms are described. Without access to the bill's details, a summary of its concrete policy changes or who it directly affects cannot be generated. The context only confirms the bill's title and filing date, not its substantive content.

Maddy summaryHB 232 exempts certain local government entities from needing a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) permit to build or maintain small dams or reservoirs used for erosion, floodwater, and sediment control. Specifically, it applies to "qualified local sponsors" (like soil and water conservation districts with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service agreements) that own or control dams with normal storage under 200 acre-feet. These entities can construct, maintain, or divert water for repairs without a TCEQ permit, and the exemption continues even if their USDA agreement ends, as long as the dam remains used for its intended purpose. The bill requires TCEQ to adopt implementing rules by April 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 218 modifies Texas groundwater permit rules for large transfers outside a conservation district's boundaries. It requires districts to obtain approval from at least two-thirds of other districts in the management area (with each district voting by majority) before issuing permits for wells producing 25,000+ gallons of groundwater daily outside their boundaries. The bill also clarifies that transfers for potable water supply within a utility's service area (if part is inside the district) and emergency interconnects between utilities are not considered "outside" transfers. These changes apply only to permits issued after the bill's effective date, which is 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 215 modifies Texas law to limit landowner liability for groundwater use. It specifically protects landowners (including lessees, heirs, and assigns) who pump 25,000+ gallons of groundwater daily for beneficial use, stating they cannot be sued for interference unless their pumping: (1) lowers water tables harming neighboring land, or (2) unreasonably harms watercourses/lakes. The bill applies only to lawsuits filed after its effective date. This change directly affects large-scale groundwater users, such as agricultural or industrial operations, by reducing legal risks for routine use.

Maddy summaryHB 217 creates legal immunity for groundwater conservation districts in Texas when they restrict well production. The bill states that districts cannot be held liable for damages resulting from actions like enforcing water rules, issuing permits, or limiting well output. This applies specifically to cases where the legal claim arises after the bill becomes effective. The law directly affects groundwater districts (which manage local water resources) and well owners who might otherwise sue over production restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 216 would require Texas groundwater conservation districts to limit new permits so that no single applicant can produce and transfer out more than 5% of the district's modeled available groundwater across all permits issued to them. This directly affects groundwater conservation districts when reviewing permit applications and applicants seeking new groundwater rights for production and transfer. The key provision mandates districts to calculate this 5% cap based on the district's modeled available groundwater, as determined by the executive administrator. The bill applies only to permits issued on or after its effective date, which is 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 120 temporarily lowers the maximum tax rate school districts can charge for the 2026-2027 school year by using federal border security funds. It requires the commissioner to reduce each district's tax rate calculation by an equal amount, with a minimum rate set at 90% of the highest district's rate. The bill applies to all Texas public school districts and expires September 1, 2028, with funding coming from federal reimbursements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Maddy summaryHB 89 limits annual spending for Texas cities and counties by requiring their total expenditures to not exceed either last year's spending or a modified amount based on inflation and population growth. The adjustment factor - calculated annually by the Legislative Budget Board using the product of the state's inflation rate and population growth rate - is applied to the previous year's spending. Exceptions allow higher spending if voters approve it at a special election or if a governor declares a state of disaster affecting the area. The law applies to fiscal years starting December 1, 2025, and excludes bond proceeds and grants from the spending calculation.

Maddy summaryBased on the provided context, no substantive text for HB 63 is available. The document states: "This version is not currently available, but is coming soon. In the meantime, please see the PDF for the content of this bill." The bill's summary field is empty, and only a filing date (2025-07-14) is listed. Without access to the actual bill text or PDF, a summary cannot be generated.

Maddy summaryHB 32, the Texas Women's Privacy Act, requires that certain facilities - such as restrooms, locker rooms, and family violence shelters - be designated and used based on biological sex, defined as the physical condition of being male or female at birth as determined by sex organs, chromosomes, and original birth records. The law applies to correctional facilities, family violence shelters, institutions of higher education, local governments (political subdivisions), and state agencies. It authorizes civil penalties for violations and creates a private right of action, allowing individuals to file lawsuits if they believe the law has been breached. The bill does not apply to state agencies as political subdivisions but covers them separately under the law's definition of "state agency."