Rep. Cecil Bell

Maddy summaryThe bill text for HB 5197 is not currently available in the provided context. The title indicates it relates to ratepayer eligibility for appealing water, drainage, or sewer rates with the Public Utility Commission of Texas, but specific provisions or mechanisms are not described. Without access to the full bill text or detailed summary, a factual summary cannot be generated. The bill was filed on March 14, 2025, and referred to the Natural Resources committee.

Maddy summaryThe bill text for HB 5172 is unavailable in the provided context, with a note stating "This version is not currently available, but is coming soon." No substantive details about the bill's provisions, affected parties, or policy mechanisms are included. Without access to the actual bill content or summary, a factual summary cannot be generated. Please check back when the full bill text is published.

Maddy summaryHB 5167 allows Texas National Guard members called to state active duty for 60+ consecutive days to join the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) during that service period. It specifically applies to Guard members serving under state authority (not federal orders), making them eligible for ERS membership and retirement benefits while on state duty. The bill creates new rules for establishing membership, calculating service credit, and collecting contributions during this temporary state employment. Existing Guard members who already completed 60+ consecutive days of state duty before the law takes effect are automatically eligible without the waiting period. This policy change directly affects Texas National Guard service members during state active duty assignments.

Maddy summaryHB 5176 establishes retirement eligibility for Texas State Guard members. It requires the governor or adjutant general to place on retired status any officer or enlisted member who is physically disabled due to service or has completed at least 20 years of satisfactory service. The bill also allows the governor to advance a member's rank by one grade upon retirement. This applies directly to current Texas State Guard members meeting these criteria and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5266 would give Texas' attorney general new authority to investigate and sue municipalities or counties (local governments) suspected of violating state law. If the attorney general sues and wins, the local government faces immediate consequences: the state would withhold payments owed to it, restrict property tax increases to the "no-new-revenue" rate (a rate that doesn’t raise new tax revenue), and block access to state grant funds for five years. The bill also sets strict court deadlines, requiring a hearing within 30 days of a lawsuit and directing cases to specific courts for resolution. This bill directly affects local governments by creating legal and financial consequences for alleged law violations.

Maddy summaryThe bill text for HB 5203 is not currently available in the provided context, preventing a substantive summary. The title indicates it concerns state preemption of municipal and county regulations, but specific provisions, affected entities, or mechanisms cannot be detailed without the full text. Recent actions show it was filed on March 14, 2025, and referred to the State Affairs committee on April 7, 2025. A complete summary requires access to the bill's actual language, which is unavailable at this time.

Maddy summaryThe provided context does not include the actual text or detailed provisions of HB 546. The bill title mentions "eligibility of land taken by condemnation for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land," but no specific policy changes, mechanisms, or affected parties are described in the available information. Without access to the bill's full text or a substantive summary, a factual summary cannot be generated. The recent actions (e.g., "Filed," "Referred to committee") do not clarify the bill's content. For an accurate summary, the full bill text or an official summary would be required.

Maddy summaryHB 4872 amends Texas Insurance Code sections 843.342 and 1301.137 to change how penalties are calculated when health insurers delay payments to physicians or healthcare providers. It specifies that the "contracted rate" used for penalty calculations must be the usual and customary rate for that service in the provider's geographic area, rather than a potentially lower negotiated rate. This directly affects healthcare providers who submit claims to insurers and insurers who may face penalties for late payments. The change applies only to penalties for claims submitted on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4756 prohibits paid advertisements for prescription drugs in Texas, directly affecting pharmaceutical companies and advertisers who currently run such promotions. The bill allows exceptions for ads distributed solely to medical professionals in scientific journals or for non-commercial public health education. Violations would be treated as deceptive trade practices under existing law, subject to enforcement under Chapter 17 of the Business & Commerce Code. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4495 sets a rule requiring no more than one oil or gas well per 640 acres on land with active ranching operations, where existing well spacing rules (proration units) don't already apply. This directly affects ranchers who operate on large parcels of land and oil/gas companies seeking to drill new wells in those areas. The Texas Railroad Commission must establish these minimum spacing standards by rule to prevent excessive well density on ranch properties. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025.