Rep. Janie Lopez

Maddy summaryHB 675 modifies Texas public information law to limit fees for election-related records. It prohibits governmental bodies from charging for copies of election reports required under Election Code Chapter 254 unless those reports have been publicly available online for three years. The bill also gives the Attorney General authority to cancel or reduce fees if a government body failed to maintain records properly or comply with public information requests. The changes apply only to requests received on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4660 establishes that space flight activities in Texas fall under both federal and state jurisdiction, prohibiting counties, municipalities, or other local entities from banning or regulating these activities (except as specified in Section 61.132 of the Natural Resources Code). The bill specifically applies to counties bordering the Gulf of Mexico with FAA-approved spaceports and smaller municipalities (under 150,000 population) that have beach access plans. It requires advance notice to local governments for launch dates between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (to the municipality) or 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. (to the commissioners court), and allows temporary beach closures near launch sites for public safety during those dates. The bill does not create new regulations but clarifies local governments' limited authority over space flight activities near coastal areas.

Maddy summaryHB 422 reduces the annual bond limit for water projects in Texas economically distressed areas from $100 million to $25 million. It directly affects water supply and sewer projects in these areas by limiting the Texas Water Development Board's ability to issue bonds for such initiatives. The key provision amends the Water Code to cap dedicated bonds under Section 17.0111 at $25 million annually, while maintaining a separate $50 million cap for other bond types. This change restricts funding availability for infrastructure development in underserved communities. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 365 amends the Texas Water Code to increase the maximum amount of non-repayable financial assistance the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) can provide to local governments in economically distressed areas. The bill raises the cap from 70% to 90% of the total principal amount of state-issued bonds (plus outstanding interest) authorized for water development projects under Article III of the Texas Constitution. This change allows the TWDB to grant more funding without requiring repayment, potentially expanding support for water infrastructure in struggling communities. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4049 prohibits Texas-based for-profit companies from tracking, measuring, or calculating their greenhouse gas emissions (except when required by federal law). It directly affects businesses producing goods for sale within Texas, banning them from spending resources on emissions tracking for compliance with state, federal, or foreign regulations. The bill creates a civil penalty of either $10,000 or twice the amount spent on tracking, whichever is greater, for violations. Companies cannot be penalized for choosing not to track emissions, and entities threatening such penalties face the same liability. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 8 reduces the maximum tax rate school districts can collect for the 2025-2026 school year by $0.0331, calculated using a new method in Section 48.2554 of the Education Code. It directly affects all Texas public school districts by adjusting how their maximum tax rates are determined, ensuring rates don’t drop below 90% of neighboring districts’ rates. The bill updates references to "maximum compressed tax rate" in multiple education funding laws to reflect this change and expires on September 1, 2027. It takes effect September 1, 2025, with no additional funding or program changes beyond the tax rate adjustment.

Maddy summaryHB 10, the Regulatory Reform and Efficiency Act, creates the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office within the governor's office to streamline how state agencies develop and enforce rules. The bill requires agencies to identify unnecessary regulations, reduce costs for businesses and individuals subject to rules, and improve public access to rule information through a new online portal. Key provisions mandate agencies set goals to eliminate ineffective rules and minimize regulatory burdens while maintaining public protection. This bill directly affects state agencies and the businesses, professionals, and residents regulated by their rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5189 requires the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to develop instructional materials for police chiefs on issues specific to women in law enforcement. The materials must cover physical/mental health, reproductive health, work-life balance, breast cancer awareness, and available support services. These resources would be made available for mandatory training programs under Texas Education Code Section 96.641 and distributed directly to police chiefs for self-study. The bill, if enacted, would take effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects police chiefs and female officers through required training on workplace health and support issues.

Maddy summaryHB 5239 requires state and local governmental entities to provide the public with a formal opportunity to comment on proposed emergency management plans before adoption or revision. Specifically, it mandates that agencies must allow interested persons - including those with disabilities - to submit written or oral feedback and fully consider all input received, unless the plan contains sensitive infrastructure details. The bill applies to the state emergency management division and local/interjurisdictional agencies, taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThe bill HB 5475 is a procedural measure that directs a study and report on the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act. It does not create new regulations or directly affect specific groups but requires a formal assessment of the existing Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act. The bill was filed on March 14, 2025, and referred to the Energy Resources committee on April 7, 2025. No substantive provisions or policy changes are described in the available context, as the bill's text is noted as "not currently available."