Rep. Caroline Harris Davila

Maddy summaryHB 173 prohibits political subdivisions (like cities, counties, or school districts) from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay nonprofit associations that primarily represent such entities and hire lobbyists. It specifically bans spending public money to: (1) contract with registered lobbyists, or (2) support organizations that hire registered lobbyists for legislative advocacy. Exceptions include activities by sheriffs' associations, employees providing basic information to legislators, or nonprofits offering bill tracking or non-lobbying legislative services. The bill allows taxpayers to seek court injunctions and recover legal fees if a subdivision violates these restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution, not a legislative bill with policy provisions. HR 22 honors Kent Monroe Wattinger of Marble Falls, who died in a flood while saving his wife, Samantha, on July 8, 2025. The resolution extends condolences to his family, including his three children (Violet, Hunter, Zoey), wife, and parents, and directs the Texas House of Representatives to adjourn in his memory. It has no binding policy effects or direct impact on constituents.

Maddy summaryHB 128 establishes a $1,000 annual grant program for eligible Texas teachers to purchase classroom supplies through an online account system managed by the comptroller. It directly affects certified teachers employed full-time (at least four hours daily) in public school districts or charter schools. Teachers may use funds for classroom supplies or professional development costs, with unused balances rolling over to the next school year. The program begins for the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 106 requires the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to partner with U.S. Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct DNA testing via rapid tests on individuals crossing the Texas-Mexico border between ports of entry who are detained by DHS and suspected of human trafficking offenses under Texas Penal Code Chapter 20A. The bill mandates DPS destroy all biological samples after testing and prohibits DPS from maintaining a DNA database, entering results into federal CODIS systems, or searching existing DNA databases. DHS must cover all costs for this program, and any agreement between DPS and DHS must include these destruction and prohibition requirements. The law directly affects DPS operations, DHS enforcement, and individuals detained for suspected trafficking-related activity.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would give Texas' Attorney General concurrent authority with county and district attorneys to prosecute criminal violations of election laws. It specifically adds a provision to the state constitution stating the AG "shall have concurrent jurisdiction" to handle these cases alongside local prosecutors. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2025 election to take effect. This change directly affects how election-related criminal cases are handled across Texas, clarifying the AG's role in enforcing election law violations.

Maddy summaryHB 98 amends Texas law to require judges to disqualify district or county attorneys who consistently refuse to prosecute violations of election laws. If an attorney has a pattern of declining to pursue such cases, a judge must remove them from handling those specific prosecutions. The Attorney General then gains authority to step in and prosecute these election-related offenses when a local prosecutor is disqualified. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, with prior cases governed by existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 34 revises the definition of "eligible school district" for the comptroller's study of school district property values. A district qualifies only if, in the most recent study, its local property value was invalid (not meeting standards) but did not exceed the state value, and for the two prior studies, its local value was valid (met standards). This change applies exclusively to property value studies for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, meaning it will not affect past studies. The bill focuses on clarifying eligibility criteria for the comptroller's ongoing assessment process.

Maddy summaryHJR 6 proposes a constitutional amendment clarifying that the Texas Attorney General has the authority to prosecute criminal offenses under state election laws, alongside county or district attorneys. This would allow the Attorney General's office to directly handle election-related criminal cases in addition to local prosecutors. The bill does not create new election crimes but specifies that the Attorney General shares jurisdiction with local officials for existing election law violations. If approved by voters in May 2026, this change would modify Article IV, Section 22 of the Texas Constitution.

Maddy summaryBased on the provided context, no substantive text for HB 63 is available. The document states: "This version is not currently available, but is coming soon. In the meantime, please see the PDF for the content of this bill." The bill's summary field is empty, and only a filing date (2025-07-14) is listed. Without access to the actual bill text or PDF, a summary cannot be generated.

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.