Rep. Terry Wilson

Maddy summaryHB 205 allows Type B economic development corporations to provide financial assistance to businesses damaged by declared disasters (by Texas governor or U.S. president) and to support workforce development and economic stabilization in affected areas. Specifically, it authorizes grants or loans for business relocation, repair, or elevation of infrastructure, and workforce/economic stabilization efforts. All projects must be approved by the municipality, completed within two years of the disaster declaration, and properly documented for oversight. The bill amends Texas Local Government Code to create this framework for disaster recovery projects.

Maddy summaryHB 273 allows certain taxing units (like special districts, but not school districts, counties, or municipalities) to cap property taxes on the homesteads of low-income disabled or elderly homeowners. It defines "eligible individuals" as those with household income below 200% of the federal poverty level. The bill requires taxing units to calculate taxes normally but limits the total annual tax to the amount charged in the first year the homeowner qualified for the homestead exemption, preventing future increases above that level. Exceptions apply only if the homeowner makes non-repair improvements to their home. This directly affects qualifying taxing units and eligible homeowners aged 65+ or disabled individuals with low incomes.

Maddy summaryHJR 30 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas cities, counties, and other local governments (excluding school districts and junior colleges) to limit property taxes on the primary homes of low-income elderly (65+) or disabled residents and their surviving spouses. It would let local governments set a tax cap that cannot increase as long as the homeowner maintains their qualifying homestead exemption, or require a voter referendum if 5% of registered voters petition for it. Surviving spouses aged 55+ who meet financial criteria would retain the tax cap after the homeowner's death. The amendment does not create new taxes but restricts existing property tax increases for eligible homeowners, with exceptions for significant home improvements. This is a proposed constitutional change, not an enacted law.

Maddy summaryHB 226 requires youth camp operators in Texas to provide each camper with an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag capable of tracking location if a camper goes missing or during severe weather/disasters. The bill directly affects youth camp operators and requires them to obtain written consent from a camper’s parent or legal guardian before issuing a tag. Key provisions include mandating the tags for emergency location tracking, prohibiting their use without parental consent, and directing the health commissioner to adopt implementing rules. The bill does not require ongoing tracking but only activates the tag during specific emergency scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 64 creates a rule that Texas state senators and representatives lose their seats if absent from all legislative proceedings without approved leave for seven consecutive days when their house is in session. This provision directly affects legislators who miss sessions without permission, triggering an immediate vacancy. The bill specifies that the absence must occur during days the house is meeting, not just calendar days. It would take effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, otherwise 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 236 creates an affirmative defense for individuals prosecuted under certain laws if they were victims of human trafficking or compelled prostitution. It applies when a person engaged in criminal conduct (like prostitution or other offenses) directly because they were subjected to force, fraud, or coercion by traffickers, and would not have committed the act otherwise. The defense requires showing the conduct was compelled by such means, that a reasonable person in similar circumstances would have been compelled, and that the person wasn’t merely offered an opportunity without coercion. This applies to prosecutions for offenses under Sections 20A.02 (human trafficking) or 43.05 (prostitution) but excludes specific offenses listed in state law. The bill affects individuals prosecuted for crimes committed while trafficked, shifting legal focus to their victim status during prosecution.

Maddy summaryHB 214, the Texas Women's Privacy Act, requires certain facilities like restrooms, locker rooms, and shelters to be designated for use based on biological sex (male or female). It directly affects correctional facilities, family violence shelters, institutions of higher education, and political subdivisions (e.g., cities, school districts). The bill prohibits the use of multiple-occupancy private spaces (like shared restrooms) by individuals whose biological sex differs from the space’s designated sex, while allowing single-occupancy spaces for individual use. Violations may result in civil penalties or private lawsuits for affected individuals.

Maddy summaryHB 186 restricts how local governments (like cities, counties, and school districts) can use public funds for lobbying. It prohibits spending public money to hire registered lobbyists or pay nonprofit groups that represent local governments and employ lobbyists. Exceptions include activities by elected officials, employees providing information to legislators, travel expenses for such activities, and services by associations representing sheriffs or law enforcement. The bill allows taxpayers to sue to stop prohibited spending and recover legal fees if they win. This directly affects local government budget decisions regarding legislative advocacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that Texas's Attorney General can prosecute election-related criminal offenses alongside local district attorneys. It amends Article IV, Section 22 of the Texas Constitution to explicitly grant the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction with county/district attorneys for enforcing election laws. The amendment does not create new laws but specifies existing prosecutorial authority for election crimes. If approved by voters in the May 2026 election, it would change how election law violations are handled in criminal cases.

Maddy summaryBased on the available information, HB 252 establishes an affirmative defense for individuals who are victims of human trafficking or compelling prostitution when prosecuted for offenses directly related to their victimization. The bill would allow these individuals to assert this defense in court, potentially avoiding criminal charges for acts committed under coercion. However, the specific legal mechanisms, eligibility criteria, and affected parties are not detailed in the provided context. The bill text is currently unavailable (noted as "coming soon"), so a full summary of provisions cannot be generated. For accurate details, the official bill text or PDF should be consulted once available.