Rep. Jeff Barry

Maddy summaryHB 1624 allows local governments (like cities or counties) to temporarily install traffic signs or signals on state highways without Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) permission when an existing device breaks. To do this, they must notify TxDOT of the temporary device, remove it as soon as the original device is fixed, and only use it while the original device is inoperable. The bill amends Texas Transportation Code sections 544.002 and 553.002 to create this exception, affecting local traffic management on state highways. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3507 amends Texas Penal Code Section 31.03 to reclassify theft offenses based on the property's value and specific circumstances, directly affecting anyone committing theft in Texas. It establishes tiered penalties: Class C misdemeanor for theft under $100, Class B misdemeanor for $100-$750 (or prior theft convictions), Class A misdemeanor for $750-$2,500, state jail felony for $2,500-$30,000 (or theft of firearms, driver's licenses, catalytic converters, or ballots), and third-degree felony for $30,000+ or repeated thefts. Key provisions include stricter penalties for theft of specific items like catalytic converters (valued under $30,000), firearms, or election materials, and higher penalties for repeat offenders. The bill changes sentencing outcomes without altering the definition of theft itself.

Maddy summaryHJR 98 is a Texas legislative resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It seeks to propose amendments that would impose spending limits on the federal government, reduce federal power over states, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. Texas formally applies to Congress to initiate this process, with the resolution intended as a continuing application until at least 34 states (two-thirds) support the same purpose. This is a procedural request - Texas has no authority to create new laws, but aims to join other states in advancing this constitutional mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 2587 requires Texas hospitals to report costs of providing care to patients without legal immigration status. Hospitals must ask about immigration status during intake (without affecting care) and submit quarterly data on costs and financial impact to a state agency. The agency then compiles an annual report for lawmakers by November 1, detailing total costs and how these expenses affected hospitals. This applies to all Texas hospitals serving patients who were not lawfully present at the time of care, focusing on transparency about uncompensated care expenses.

Maddy summaryHCR 64 is a ceremonial resolution designating the first full week in April as "Gifted and Talented Students Week" in Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035. It does not create new laws, funding, or requirements - it simply recognizes and celebrates gifted and talented students, their achievements, and the educators who support them. The resolution applies to all Texas students and schools identified under state gifted education programs, which currently serve over 450,000 students. It remains effective until April 2035 per Texas Government Code Section 391.004(d). This is a symbolic gesture with no direct policy or financial impact.

Maddy summaryHB 3658 requires Texas-licensed insurance adjusters to complete at least one hour of continuing education each licensing period focused on building codes. This education must cover damage assessment, policy coverage interpretations involving building codes, and reconstruction standards for insured losses. The bill mandates that the Texas Department of Insurance develop or certify these courses to be offered through multiple formats (classroom, online, self-paced). The law applies directly to insurance adjusters renewing their licenses under Chapter 4101 of the Insurance Code and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3717 establishes a Texas grant program to fund private entities conducting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug development trials using ibogaine. The program targets organizations (for-profit, nonprofit, or public benefit corporations) that can design and execute FDA trials to seek approval of ibogaine as a medication for treating opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and other neurological or mental health conditions where ibogaine shows effectiveness. Applicants must submit detailed trial designs, team expertise, and FDA approval strategies. The grant covers costs for these trials, aiming to advance ibogaine's potential approval as a treatment option.

Maddy summaryHB 4688 modifies Texas law for civil liability cases involving commercial motor vehicle accidents. It restricts when evidence of regulatory violations (like safety rules) can be used in court, requiring such evidence to directly link the violation to the injury and show the rule specifically applied to the situation. The bill also limits claims against employers for driver negligence unless the employer first admits the driver was acting within their job duties at the time of the accident. These changes apply only to cases filed or tried after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHB 32 clarifies eviction procedures in Texas by updating Property Code rules. It requires landlords to give tenants at least three days' written notice before filing eviction suits for nonpayment of rent (unless a lease specifies otherwise). The bill also limits courts to deciding actual possession rights - not property title - in eviction cases and prohibits adding counterclaims or third parties to these suits. Additionally, it states only the Texas legislature can change these eviction procedures. This bill directly affects landlords, tenants, and justice courts handling eviction cases.

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.