Rep. Katrina Pierson

Maddy summaryHJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit Texas from imposing state taxes on property transferred after someone's death, including estate, inheritance, or gift taxes. It specifically prevents new taxes on these transfers or increases to existing taxes that were in place before January 1, 2025. Exceptions include taxes on motor vehicle gifts, certain property taxes (ad valorem), and taxes already authorized under existing law. This amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election and would affect anyone transferring property through wills, inheritances, or gifts after the amendment takes effect.

Maddy summaryHB 3515 regulates parental reunification therapy in custody cases by requiring court orders for such therapy to have both parents' consent. It prohibits courts from mandating therapy that restricts contact with other parents or family members, involves overnight stays together, transfers custody temporarily, uses unsafe transportation, or employs physical force or isolation. Therapy providers must use written contracts detailing their methods, signed by all participants after full disclosure. The bill directly affects courts, therapy providers, and parents in family law cases involving child-parent reunification. The bill is currently pending in committee after being reported favorably on May 8, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1431 defines "cell-cultured protein" as food made by harvesting animal cells and replicating them in a growth medium, then adds it to Texas' prohibited acts under the Health and Safety Code. The bill specifically bans the manufacture, processing, possession, distribution, sale, or offer for sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption within Texas. This targets companies producing or selling lab-grown meat alternatives, making such activities unlawful under existing food safety prohibitions without creating new regulatory requirements. The bill remains pending after being postponed on May 14, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2215 removes a prohibition on handgun possession for retired attorneys who previously represented the state in legal roles (such as district attorneys or county attorneys). Specifically, it amends the Penal Code to exempt these retired attorneys from handgun possession restrictions if they hold a valid state license to carry a handgun under Texas Government Code Subchapter H. The bill directly affects honorably retired state attorneys who were licensed to carry weapons during their active service. This change aligns their carrying rights with current state attorneys and ensures continuity for retired legal professionals who maintained their licensing. The provision does not create new licensing requirements but clarifies that existing state-licensed retired attorneys may carry handguns without violating Penal Code restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2458 adds a new defense for people accused of aggravated assault in Texas. It allows a defendant to claim they threatened to use a deadly weapon if two conditions were met: the threat would have been justified under self-defense law (Chapter 9 of the Penal Code), and they reasonably believed the threat was immediately necessary to defend against another person’s unlawful force or deadly force. This defense only applies to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The bill modifies Texas law to clarify when threatening to use a weapon can be part of a valid self-defense claim in aggravated assault cases.

Maddy summaryHB 170 creates civil immunity for individuals who use or threaten to use force or deadly force that is justified under Texas Penal Code Chapter 9 (e.g., self-defense or defense of others). It protects such individuals from civil lawsuits seeking damages for personal injury or death resulting from their justified actions. The bill also requires courts to award defendants who win immunity claims reasonable attorney fees, court costs, and related expenses. It repeals Section 9.06 of the Penal Code and applies only to cases occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3253 creates a state grant program to help rural counties pay constable salaries. It provides counties with $75,000-$150,000 per constable precinct annually, depending on county population, to cover minimum salary requirements. Counties must contribute 75% of the required salary amount (e.g., $65,000 for constables, $45,000 for deputies making traffic stops), and grant funds can only be used for salaries, hiring staff, or purchasing equipment - not other expenses. The comptroller will establish application rules, deadlines, and monitoring procedures to ensure compliance. This directly affects rural counties with constable offices serving populations under 300,000.

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 2031 prevents landlords from banning tenants from lawfully possessing firearms in specific areas of rental properties. It allows tenants to keep firearms in their rental units, vehicles parked in landlord-provided lots, and areas needed to access their unit or premises. Landlords who violate this law face civil penalties: $1,000-$1,500 for a first offense and $10,000-$10,500 for repeat violations. Tenants must first give landlords written notice of the violation and allow 3 business days to fix it before reporting to the attorney general. The collected penalties fund crime victim compensation.