Rep. Terri Leo-Wilson

Maddy summaryHB 149 requires local governments (like cities and counties) to get the governor’s approval before purchasing public safety radio systems used for emergency services. The governor must establish standards ensuring these systems work with others in the region, based on a state strategic plan, and review requests within 90 days. A purchase is approved only if it won’t disrupt communication between agencies during emergencies like disasters. The bill directly affects local governments buying radio equipment for police, fire, and emergency medical services. It adds a pre-approval step to prevent incompatible systems from hindering coordinated responses.

Maddy summaryHJR 10 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to change the quorum requirement for the Texas Senate or House of Representatives from two-thirds to a simple majority of members. This would allow legislative business to proceed with fewer members present, directly affecting how both chambers conduct sessions and pass legislation. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in a May 2, 2026, election, with the ballot asking whether "a majority of the members" should constitute a quorum. If passed, this change would alter a core procedural rule governing legislative operations.

Maddy summaryHB 298 creates a rule for when Texas state legislators lose their seats due to missing sessions. If a senator or representative misses 14 unexcused floor sessions during a regular legislative session (or 3 during a special session) without majority approval from their chamber, their seat becomes vacant. This applies only to absences occurring after the bill’s effective date and does not affect existing terms. The bill directly affects legislators who fail to attend sessions without valid justification approved by their chamber’s majority.

Maddy summaryHB 12 requires the Texas Attorney General to exclusively prosecute criminal offenses under state election laws, shifting authority from local prosecutors. It mandates that law enforcement agencies report election-related crimes to the Attorney General and obligates local prosecutors to provide requested investigation information. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date, leaving pre-existing cases governed by prior law. This change centralizes election crime prosecution under the state Attorney General's office, eliminating local jurisdiction for these specific offenses.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes amending the Texas Constitution to clarify that the Attorney General has concurrent authority with county and district attorneys to prosecute criminal violations of election laws. If approved by voters (scheduled for May 2, 2026), it would establish shared jurisdiction for election-related criminal cases between the state Attorney General and local prosecutors. The bill failed to pass the legislature on August 26, 2025, and did not advance to voter approval. It does not create new criminal offenses but defines existing prosecutorial authority under election law.

Maddy summaryHB 17 requires Texas school districts to include specific enrollment and inflation data in their annual property tax notices to property owners. The notice must state the district's enrollment growth rate and the state's inflation rate from the previous year, and compare the proposed tax revenue to what it would be if adjusted only for these factors. The bill defines terms like "adjusted tax collections" to standardize this calculation for transparency. School districts must now add this statement to notices about proposed tax rates and budget meetings. This change applies to all school districts in Texas and aims to clarify how enrollment and inflation impact property tax revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 5) modifies Texas House of Representatives rules to penalize members who miss sessions without permission to disrupt legislative work. It directly affects Texas House members who are absent without leave for the purpose of impeding House business. The key provision removes one year of seniority for each day a member is absent beyond the third day without leave, as specified in new subsection (d-1). This change applies only to absences specifically intended to hinder House operations, not routine absences. The bill does not alter voting rules or create new policies, but adjusts internal House accountability measures.

Maddy summaryHR 58 amends the Texas House of Representatives' permanent rules to remove a restriction preventing the minority party from appointing a member as vice-chair of standing committees. It also eliminates a separate budget for the vice-chair position. These changes directly affect committee leadership structure by allowing bipartisan appointments for vice-chairs and removing dedicated funding for that role. The bill specifically revises Rule 4, Section 4A (removing the party restriction) and adds Rule 4, Section 6A(c) (ending the separate budget). This is a procedural rule change focused on internal committee operations, not a policy affecting public programs or services.

Maddy summaryHB 66 creates a Texas Disaster Relief and Prevention Matching Grant and Loan Program, funded through a new state account. It provides matching grants to local governments and businesses in declared disaster areas for disaster recovery, infrastructure repairs, and future disaster mitigation. The bill also authorizes loans for these entities and for individuals to repair or rebuild disaster-damaged homes with added mitigation features. Eligibility requires applicants to qualify for FEMA public assistance or SBA disaster loans.

Maddy summaryHB 291 requires Texas medical schools to ensure at least 50% of required coursework for medical degrees uses letter grades (A-F) or equivalent tiered systems for assessment. It prohibits medical schools from using standardized test scores as the sole factor in admissions decisions and mandates that schools must notify the legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board before revising admission or academic standards. The bill also explicitly prohibits medical schools from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in admissions or employment decisions. These provisions apply to all medical schools in Texas offering medical degrees or certificates.