Rep. Ryan Guillen

Maddy summaryHB 4755 allows specific Texas municipalities to use hotel occupancy tax revenue for certain venue projects, primarily convention centers and cultural facilities. It defines three types of qualifying cities: those bordering the Rio Grande with pre-2009 venue projects, border county cities meeting population criteria without larger cities, and small coastal cities (pop. ≤25,000) with cultural heritage museums. The bill amends tax code to authorize these cities to impose and use hotel taxes for capital projects like convention center construction or expansion, requiring adoption of a formal capital improvement plan. This directly affects eligible cities meeting the population, location, and project criteria outlined in the legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 2370 allows certain Texas municipalities (with 70,000-180,000 residents in counties bordering Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico) to use hotel occupancy tax revenue specifically for convention centers built before January 1, 2023. The law permits these cities to impose the tax only for financing such pre-2023 convention centers, with the tax authority expiring on the earlier of when the project debt is repaid or January 1, 2054. This bill amends the Local Government Code to clarify and limit the use of hotel tax revenue for these specific venue projects in designated border communities. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3196 allows specific qualifying Texas municipalities to receive and pledge tax revenue from hotel and convention center projects to cover project-related debts. It amends the Tax Code to define eligible cities, including those meeting population thresholds (e.g., 200,000+ residents with a Texas Tech University component) or geographic criteria (e.g., bordering Lake Lewisville or containing Cedar Hill State Park). The bill establishes a mechanism for these cities to use revenue from such projects to pay for development obligations. This policy change directly affects designated cities meeting the enumerated population and location requirements.

Maddy summaryHJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas lawmakers to exempt up to $125,000 of the market value of business-used tangible personal property (like equipment or vehicles) from property tax. It would directly affect business owners who hold such property for income generation, such as small business operators or farmers. The amendment would revise the state constitution to authorize this specific exemption amount, replacing the current exemption structure. If approved by voters in November 2025, this would become a permanent constitutional provision enabling future legislation to implement the tax break. The bill is now headed to the November ballot after passing both legislative chambers.

Maddy summaryHB 5692 creates the Palangana Energy District in Duval County to enhance energy security, economic development, and resource conservation in South Texas. The district gains limited eminent domain authority for specific projects, the power to issue bonds for funding, and the ability to impose assessments, fees, or taxes to support its operations. It will provide infrastructure like water, wastewater, roads, and recreational facilities while promoting community health, safety, and economic vitality. The bill directly affects Duval County residents, businesses, and energy stakeholders within the district boundaries. This legislation establishes a new local government entity with specific financial tools to achieve constitutional public purposes related to energy and economic development.

Maddy summaryHB 1741 creates a process for transferring jurisdiction over acquitted individuals requiring court-ordered outpatient or community-based mental health treatment to another county. It allows either party to file a motion to transfer jurisdiction to a county where the person has an existing support network (like family) or prior treatment, provided the new county has available resources and the local mental health authority agrees. The court must evaluate factors including resource availability, community safety, and the "nexus" between the person and the proposed county before approving the transfer. This bill directly affects individuals acquitted in criminal cases who need ongoing mental health treatment but are not required to be confined.

Maddy summarySB 1169 clarifies how local governments and water/sanitation agencies can jointly operate shared water and sewer systems. It amends Texas law to define "public entity" to include water/sewer corporations and establishes "public utility agencies" as legal entities for joint projects. Key provisions allow participating entities to jointly finance facilities through bonds, acquire land (including via eminent domain), and transfer property among partners. The law directly affects counties, municipalities, and water districts seeking to collaborate on infrastructure, streamlining their ability to plan, build, and manage shared utility systems under defined legal authority.

Maddy summaryHB 1233 requires Texas public colleges and universities to encourage students to earn "credentials of value" - industry-recognized certifications in high-demand fields, as defined by the Texas Workforce Commission. The bill mandates that institutions promote these credentials within degree programs, ensure credit transferability between schools, and allow financial aid to cover related costs. It also establishes an 8% benchmark for institutions to earn a "successful outcomes distinction" if at least 8% of graduates obtain such credentials annually. A task force, including education and workforce representatives, will develop a framework to help students earn multiple credentials alongside bachelor’s degrees within four years.

Maddy summaryHB 3339 mandates a study by Texas' Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the Department of State Health Services to examine maternal mortality and morbidity rates specifically among Black women in Texas. The study requires comparing these rates to other racial/ethnic groups, analyzing socioeconomic factors, evaluating healthcare coverage types (Medicaid, private insurance, uninsured), and assessing impacts of specific health conditions (like preeclampsia and obesity) and implicit biases in healthcare. It also requires evaluating social determinants of health and pregnancy-related complications. The committee must submit a report with recommendations to address disparities by September 1, 2026, including provider training on cultural competency and successful programs from other states. This bill directly affects Black women in Texas by focusing on data collection to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryHB 3694, known as the Exploitation Protection Act, prohibits the non-consensual production and distribution of intimate visual depictions (such as photos or videos of a person in a private moment) and requires online platforms to remove such content upon request. It directly affects platforms hosting user-generated content (like social media sites) by mandating a clear process for victims to report unauthorized intimate images, while excluding email and pre-selected content platforms. The bill also increases criminal penalties for violating these provisions, making non-consensual sharing a more serious offense. This law aims to protect individuals from exploitation by holding platforms accountable for removing unauthorized intimate content.