Rep. Christian Manuel

Maddy summaryHJR 138 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to prohibit the state legislature from imposing taxes based on the carbon content of fuels or emissions of carbon dioxide from goods and services. If approved by voters, it would prevent Texas from enacting any carbon tax policy. The bill failed to pass the Texas Legislature on May 12, 2025, so it did not advance to a voter referendum. This would have directly affected all Texans by blocking a potential state-level carbon tax mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 1674 would ban the production, sale, and use of certain agricultural products containing PFAS chemicals (like pesticides or crop protectants). It directly affects agricultural businesses, manufacturers, and sellers of these products. The bill creates criminal penalties for violations, treating unauthorized PFAS use as a punishable offense. The bill is currently pending in the Environmental Regulation committee after committee hearings. (Note: Full bill text is not yet available; this summary is based on the title and pending status.)

Maddy summaryHB 2275 requires that surplus lines insurance contracts (specialized policies for high-risk or hard-to-place coverage) containing arbitration agreements must specify that any arbitration occurs in Texas and follows Texas law. It mandates that both the arbitration process and contract interpretation be governed by Texas statutes, applying only to contracts delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. Existing contracts before that date remain subject to prior law. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects insurers writing surplus lines policies in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 4139 restricts the use of videography (including livestreaming) in specific court proceedings to protect sensitive cases. It prohibits recording during jury selection and in cases involving child victims (under 18) of certain crimes like sexual assault or family violence, as well as in adult victim cases (18+) for similar offenses - unless the victim voluntarily consents. The bill clarifies that recorded forensic interviews remain admissible as evidence and allows limited court staff use for operational/security purposes. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to cases beginning after that date.

Maddy summarySB 262 updates Texas's requirements for becoming a licensed public accountant (CPA). It mandates that applicants must either complete 150 academic hours with an accounting focus or earn a bachelor's degree in accounting (both meeting board standards), pass the CPA exam, fulfill work experience requirements (including two years for degree holders), and pass a professional conduct exam. The bill also revises reciprocity rules to allow Texas to accept CPA exam credits from other states if administered by standard bodies like AICPA or NASBA and if the applicant met prior state requirements. These changes take effect September 1, 2025, and apply to all new applicants seeking a Texas CPA certificate.

Maddy summaryHB 4868 allows bicyclists in Texas to treat stop signs and certain traffic signals (steady red or flashing red) as yield signs instead of stop signs. Specifically, it amends the Transportation Code to exempt cyclists from stop sign requirements (Sec. 551.108) and red/flash red signals (Sec. 551.109), requiring them to follow yield sign rules at these locations. The law directly affects cyclists approaching intersections with these devices and takes effect September 1, 2025. It changes the traffic rule for bicycles without altering the underlying safety obligations at intersections.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas licensing authorities to issue provisional occupational licenses for six months to applicants with criminal convictions who are otherwise qualified for the license, unless they have specific serious convictions listed in the Occupations Code. The provisional license begins upon the applicant's release from incarceration if they were imprisoned. It applies to most occupational licensing fields (like healthcare or trades) but excludes applicants convicted of offenses under Section 53.021(a). The bill provides a pathway for certain applicants to obtain licenses without full revocation of eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 4665 requires childcare facilities in Texas to provide age-appropriate training to employees and directors, directly affecting all licensed childcare providers and their staff. The bill specifies seven categories of approved training providers, including Texas-registered trainers, educators teaching early childhood development, medical professionals, and experienced childcare directors with specific credentials. Training must align with the children's age and be delivered by individuals meeting strict qualifications outlined in the bill. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation. This focuses on ensuring trainers have relevant expertise, not changing who must receive training.

Maddy summaryHB 1194 extends the duration of emergency protection orders in Texas criminal cases. For most orders (under Subsections (a) or (b)(1)), the order now remains effective for up to 91 days (minimum 31 days) instead of the previous 61 days (minimum 31 days). For specific orders under Subsection (b)(2), the duration increases to up to 121 days (minimum 61 days) from the prior 91 days (minimum 61 days). The bill also allows courts to modify orders after a hearing if the change won’t increase risk to the victim or endanger protected persons. This applies only to orders issued on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4155 creates a Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force within Texas' criminal justice division. The task force, established by the governor, will include 14 specific members: representatives from family violence centers (rural and urban), advocacy organizations, legal services, state agencies (like the Attorney General's office and Health and Human Services), universities, prosecutors, police associations, and violence death reporting systems. Its purpose is to coordinate prevention efforts across these groups, though the bill itself does not change laws or create new programs - it only establishes the structure for collaboration.