Rep. Terri Leo-Wilson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas's attorney general to prosecute criminal election law violations if local prosecutors do not act within six months. It mandates that law enforcement agencies send election crime reports to both local prosecutors and the attorney general simultaneously. The attorney general must then take over prosecution if local officials fail to initiate proceedings within six months of receiving the report. This applies to offenses under Texas election law, such as voter fraud or ballot tampering, and takes effect September 1, 2025. The law changes the attorney general's role from optional ("may") to mandatory ("shall") for these cases.

Maddy summaryHB 4851 requires electricity providers in Texas' ERCOT power region to conduct regular practice drills focused on maintaining grid stability during emergencies. Specifically, it mandates annual summer and winter load-shedding exercises for all electric generation, transmission, and distribution providers, plus additional attack-preparation drills every two years if a critical facility (like a key substation) faces physical threat. The bill ensures these drills clearly define roles for providers, law enforcement, the grid operator, and the state utility commission. It also protects providers from having to disclose exact locations of critical infrastructure during these exercises. The law applies directly to all electricity service providers operating within ERCOT's grid.

Maddy summaryHB 4440 requires the Texas education agency to track and publicly report how funds from purchased attendance credits are used in the public school finance system. Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, the agency must annually post online a report detailing spending related to achieving wealth equalization. The bill establishes a mandatory tracking system and public reporting mechanism for these specific school finance receipts. This procedural bill does not change funding amounts or eligibility but ensures transparency about how these funds are utilized.

Maddy summaryHB 17 would prohibit citizens of designated countries (China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or others named by the governor) from purchasing real property in Texas. It creates criminal penalties for violations, making such purchases illegal under state law. Exceptions apply to U.S. citizens, lawful residents, and businesses owned by them. The law would override existing property rights for these foreign buyers, directly affecting individuals and entities from designated countries seeking to buy land in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 4194 requires local taxing units (like cities, counties, and school districts) to adjust their "no-new-revenue" tax rates annually based on inflation. The bill directs the comptroller to calculate the annual inflation rate using the Consumer Price Index and publish it by July 1 each year. Taxing units must then automatically raise or lower their tax rates to match this inflation rate, ensuring tax revenue growth aligns with cost-of-living changes. This adjustment applies starting with the 2026 tax year, as specified in the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 2283 amends Texas Education Code to establish specific rules for schools and colleges regarding epinephrine devices and respiratory medication. It creates a new Subchapter E defining "epinephrine delivery devices" (including auto-injectors and nasal spray) and "medication for respiratory distress," while removing compliance requirements for school districts maintaining these devices. The bill mandates an advisory committee to review storage, training, and staffing protocols for administering these treatments on school campuses. This directly affects all public school districts, charter schools, private schools, and colleges in Texas by standardizing emergency response procedures for anaphylaxis and respiratory distress.

Maddy summaryHB 4195 prohibits Texas public schools and universities from entering contracts or accepting money from "foreign adversaries," defined as countries like China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Qatar, or others designated under U.S. law. It specifically bans arrangements involving research partnerships, student exchanges, faculty collaborations, or intellectual property sharing with these entities. Violations could result in fines up to 150% of the contract value, with collected penalties deposited into the state’s foundation school fund. The bill directly affects all public school districts and institutions of higher education in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 2944 designates all undesignated portions of State Highway 87 as an official hurricane evacuation route. The Texas Transportation Commission must complete this designation "as soon as possible" after the bill's effective date. This directly affects residents and emergency planners in communities along State Highway 87 who rely on designated evacuation routes during hurricanes. The bill requires no new funding or complex procedures - only a formal administrative designation by the Commission.

Maddy summaryHB 4069 raises the competitive procurement threshold for Texas counties from $50,000 to $67,715 (adjusted annually for inflation). It requires the comptroller to update this threshold each February 1st ending in "5" using the Consumer Price Index, based on the 2025 base year. This change affects county purchasing decisions for items under the new threshold, reducing the need for formal competitive bidding on smaller purchases. The bill aims to streamline procurement processes for routine county expenditures while maintaining oversight for larger contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 4068 requires Texas voters to submit proof of citizenship when registering to vote or when updating their registration. It directly affects all individuals registering to vote in Texas, including existing voters who have not previously provided citizenship proof. The bill specifies acceptable documents (such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or Texas REAL ID-compliant license) and creates a new limitation: voters who fail to submit proof by December 1, 2025, will only be eligible to vote federal ballots until they provide documentation. The Texas Secretary of State must notify affected registered voters by that deadline about the requirement and procedures to submit proof.