Rep. Janie Lopez

Maddy summaryHB 217 creates legal immunity for groundwater conservation districts in Texas when they restrict well production. The bill states that districts cannot be held liable for damages resulting from actions like enforcing water rules, issuing permits, or limiting well output. This applies specifically to cases where the legal claim arises after the bill becomes effective. The law directly affects groundwater districts (which manage local water resources) and well owners who might otherwise sue over production restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 216 would require Texas groundwater conservation districts to limit new permits so that no single applicant can produce and transfer out more than 5% of the district's modeled available groundwater across all permits issued to them. This directly affects groundwater conservation districts when reviewing permit applications and applicants seeking new groundwater rights for production and transfer. The key provision mandates districts to calculate this 5% cap based on the district's modeled available groundwater, as determined by the executive administrator. The bill applies only to permits issued on or after its effective date, which is 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 210 requires the Texas Water Development Board to study the costs of developing flood infrastructure across Texas, focusing on areas where such projects are unusually expensive due to natural or logistical factors. The study must map "high-cost drainage zones," analyze cost drivers (like soil conditions, regulatory hurdles, and material expenses), and evaluate flood mitigation strategies such as expanding drainage systems or restoring natural features. It will create a visual cost map showing regional variations, project future expenses using updated weather data, and propose cost-effective solutions and funding options. The Board must submit a final report to the legislature by December 1, 2026, to inform future infrastructure planning.

Maddy summaryHB 186 requires the Texas Water Development Board to study how to simplify the state environmental review process for flood control and drainage projects seeking funding from the state's flood infrastructure fund (under Water Code Chapter 15). The study must be completed by January 1, 2027, after which the Board must implement new internal procedures to streamline these reviews based on the findings. This bill directly affects projects eligible for flood infrastructure funding, aiming to reduce administrative delays without changing funding eligibility. The bill expires September 1, 2027, and is procedural in nature (focusing on study and process changes, not direct policy or funding).

Maddy summaryHB 109 creates a state-funded disaster recovery loan program to help Texas small businesses (20-100 employees) and micro-businesses access capital after declared disasters. The program provides zero-interest loans to community development financial institutions (CDFIs), which then make interest-bearing loans directly to qualifying businesses. To qualify, businesses must be Texas-based (with 51% of employees in the state), for-profit, independently owned, and have difficulty accessing capital post-disaster. The program uses funds from a dedicated state account in the general revenue fund to support these loans, aiming to stabilize local economies and job creation after emergencies.

Maddy summaryHB 85 requires Texas law enforcement agencies to send reports about election-related crimes to both local prosecutors and the attorney general. If a local prosecutor doesn't file charges within six months of receiving such a report, the attorney general must prosecute the offense. The bill amends Texas law to make the attorney general's role in prosecuting election crimes mandatory (replacing "may" with "shall") rather than discretionary. This directly affects the attorney general's office, local law enforcement, and county prosecutors by clarifying jurisdiction and timelines for handling election law violations.

Maddy summaryBased solely on the provided context, a summary of HB 44 cannot be generated. The bill text is unavailable ("This version is not currently available"), and the only detail provided is the filing date (July 14, 2025). No specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties are described in the context. Without access to the bill's actual text or a substantive summary, it is not possible to accurately describe what the bill does or who it affects.

Maddy summaryHB 32, the Texas Women's Privacy Act, requires that certain facilities - such as restrooms, locker rooms, and family violence shelters - be designated and used based on biological sex, defined as the physical condition of being male or female at birth as determined by sex organs, chromosomes, and original birth records. The law applies to correctional facilities, family violence shelters, institutions of higher education, local governments (political subdivisions), and state agencies. It authorizes civil penalties for violations and creates a private right of action, allowing individuals to file lawsuits if they believe the law has been breached. The bill does not apply to state agencies as political subdivisions but covers them separately under the law's definition of "state agency."

Maddy summaryHJR 7 proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that Texas's Attorney General has concurrent authority with local county or district attorneys to prosecute criminal violations of election laws. This amendment would modify Article IV, Section 22 of the Texas Constitution to explicitly state that the Attorney General shares prosecution jurisdiction for election-related offenses. If approved by voters in the May 2, 2026 election, it would establish a clear legal framework for handling election law violations without creating new offenses or altering existing election laws. The change directly affects the Attorney General's office and local prosecutors in election-related criminal cases.

Maddy summaryHB 84 authorizes Texas pharmacists to dispense ivermectin for human use without a doctor's prescription, directly affecting pharmacists and patients seeking this medication. The bill requires the state health commissioner to issue a statewide order with standardized protocols for pharmacists, including patient instructions and annual reporting on dispensing volumes. It also provides legal protection for pharmacists who follow the order, shielding them from liability or disciplinary action. The commissioner must issue this order within 91 days after the legislative session ends, implementing the policy changes outlined in the new Health and Safety Code section.