Rep. Matt Morgan

Maddy summaryHB 20 establishes a voluntary certification program for disaster relief organizations in Texas, allowing the state attorney general to maintain a public registry of certified groups to help donors identify legitimate charities during disasters. The program requires the attorney general to set eligibility rules, application procedures, and processes for renewal or revocation, though organizations may choose not to participate. Additionally, the bill mandates that the attorney general create and share public educational materials on recognizing and avoiding fraudulent charitable solicitations during disaster situations. This directly affects disaster relief organizations (through optional certification) and the public (via the registry and educational resources).

Maddy summaryHB 18 expands the Texas comptroller’s authority to fund emergency communication systems by adding specific provisions to the state’s funding rules. It authorizes state funds to support early warning systems for natural disasters and interoperable emergency radio systems, including their equipment, operations, and administration. This change directly affects local governments and emergency services providers who deploy these systems. The bill modifies existing funding mechanisms under the Government Code to ensure resources are available for these critical communication tools.

Maddy summaryHB 4 establishes new congressional district boundaries for Texas voters to be used in the 2026 U.S. House elections. It adopts the PLANC2308 redistricting plan based on 2020 Census data (TIGER/Line Shapefiles) to define district lines. The bill replaces all prior Texas congressional district maps, including those from 2021, and applies to elections starting with the 120th Congress (2026). This is a procedural redistricting bill directly affecting Texas residents' voting districts for federal elections beginning in 2026.

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 8 establishes a statewide "instructionally supportive assessment program" for Texas public schools, requiring the Texas Education Agency to create assessments focused on student progress monitoring and essential knowledge. It mandates that school districts provide parents with one-click access to their child's assessment results through a parent portal on the agency's website, including secure, unique access codes. The bill also updates school performance ratings and interventions under the accountability system, while creating a grant program to help districts develop local accountability plans. This directly affects public school students, parents, and school districts by changing how assessment data is shared and used to evaluate school performance.

Maddy summaryHB 11 requires the Texas Attorney General to prosecute criminal offenses related to election laws, shifting responsibility from local prosecutors to the state level. It mandates that law enforcement agencies report such offenses to the Attorney General and obligates local prosecutors to provide requested information and assist in prosecutions. The Attorney General may also direct local district attorneys to either prosecute these cases or support the state's efforts. These changes apply only to offenses committed after the bill's effective date, which is set for 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas law enforcement agencies to maintain confidential "department files" for each employee who holds a law enforcement license (such as a peace officer). These files must include any documents about the employee not in their regular personnel file, including unsubstantiated misconduct allegations. Agencies must allow the licensing commission to access these files during hiring or investigations, and the files may be disclosed under specific legal provisions but remain confidential otherwise, not subject to public disclosure under Texas open records law. The bill applies to all Texas law enforcement agencies and their licensed employees.

Maddy summaryHB 173 prohibits political subdivisions (like cities, counties, or school districts) from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay nonprofit associations that primarily represent such entities and hire lobbyists. It specifically bans spending public money to: (1) contract with registered lobbyists, or (2) support organizations that hire registered lobbyists for legislative advocacy. Exceptions include activities by sheriffs' associations, employees providing basic information to legislators, or nonprofits offering bill tracking or non-lobbying legislative services. The bill allows taxpayers to seek court injunctions and recover legal fees if a subdivision violates these restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 133 limits annual spending for Texas local governments like counties, cities, school districts, and special districts that impose property taxes or issue bonds. It sets a spending cap based on either the previous year’s total expenditures or a formula adjusted for inflation and population growth, calculated annually by each local entity. Local governments must publicly post this calculation each January using a state-prescribed form. Exceeding the cap requires a two-thirds voter approval in a special election. The bill does not affect non-taxing entities or disaster relief costs.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would give Texas' Attorney General concurrent authority with county and district attorneys to prosecute criminal violations of election laws. It specifically adds a provision to the state constitution stating the AG "shall have concurrent jurisdiction" to handle these cases alongside local prosecutors. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2025 election to take effect. This change directly affects how election-related criminal cases are handled across Texas, clarifying the AG's role in enforcing election law violations.