Rep. Cecil Bell

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. It directs the transfer of $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026. The fund will provide grants for research, prevention programs, and treatment development related to dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and related disorders. The institute will oversee funding for research institutions, medical facilities, and collaborative efforts across Texas, directly benefiting residents affected by these conditions through expanded research and prevention initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 2132 modifies Texas' low-income housing tax credit allocation process to specifically benefit projects reserved for elderly residents. The bill amends the Government Code to allow the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to award more points in project scoring for elderly-focused housing compared to general population housing, even when both projects meet the same criteria. This change applies only to applications submitted during the 2026 or later allocation cycles, not earlier ones. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and repeals prior sections of the Government Code related to this process. The policy directly affects developers seeking tax credits for senior housing projects by adjusting how their applications are evaluated.

Maddy summaryHB 370 amends Texas law to restrict eligibility for funding from the Events Trust Fund. It prohibits funding for events that allow biological males to compete in sports designated for female athletes. The bill defines "biological male" using official birth certificates or government records stating biological sex, requiring statements entered near birth or corrected for clerical errors. This applies only to events seeking trust fund support and does not affect biological males serving as coaches or support staff. The policy change directly affects sports events applying for state funding under the Events Trust Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 4045 modifies how Texas allocates low-income housing tax credits by changing scoring rules for applications. It requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to automatically award maximum points in one scoring category if local governments (cities or counties) fail to submit written support or opposition for a project. For applications with resolutions, the department will assign positive points for supportive votes, negative points for opposition, and zero points for neutral positions. This applies only to applications submitted during 2026 or later allocation cycles, not earlier ones.

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 summaryHB 3892 limits county regulatory authority over subdivision development in Texas. It prohibits counties from regulating aspects like minimum lot sizes, building floor space ratios, or the number of residential units per acre (density restrictions). The bill allows counties to establish reasonable building set-back lines and lot frontage standards only on *existing* county roads, not new roads, with specific limits (25 feet for regular roads, 50 feet for major highways). This directly affects how counties can plan and regulate new residential subdivisions and infrastructure. The bill was introduced by Representative Bell and failed to pass in the 2025 legislative session.

Maddy summaryHB 644 protects businesses from civil lawsuits if they allow licensed concealed handgun carriers on their premises. It directly affects Texas businesses (like restaurants or retail stores) and license holders who carry concealed handguns legally under Texas law. The bill states that simply not posting "no concealed weapons" notices - rather than requiring explicit written or verbal permission - counts as allowing concealed carry, removing liability for damages from lawful concealed carry. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not apply to incidents that occurred before that date.

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 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.