Rep. Wes Virdell

Maddy summaryHB 2638 designates Farm-to-Market Road 10 in Panola County as the "Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson Memorial Highway" under Texas Transportation Code. The bill requires the state transportation department to install markers at both ends of the road and at appropriate intermediate locations along its route. This commemorative designation, honoring a specific deputy sheriff, does not alter road maintenance or create new transportation policies. It is a standard memorial road designation with no other substantive provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1765 restricts the use of "no-knock" entries (police entering a property without announcing their presence or authority) in Texas. It prohibits most magistrates from issuing arrest or search warrants allowing no-knock entries, except for specific judges (district court judges, certain county judges, or municipal judges who are licensed attorneys). The bill requires law enforcement agencies to submit a signed approval from a chief administrator with the warrant request and mandates officers executing such warrants to be clearly identifiable in uniform. This directly affects police departments seeking no-knock warrants and the magistrates who review those requests. The law takes effect upon passage and applies to all warrants issued after its enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1794 amends Texas law to permit licensed handgun carriers to carry concealed handguns on polling place premises during elections or early voting. It specifically allows holders of valid concealed handgun licenses (CHL) to possess only a concealed handgun at these locations, provided no other weapons are carried. The bill removes the current prohibition against concealed weapons at polling places for CHL holders, aligning with existing exceptions for other locations like schools. This change directly affects licensed handgun carriers participating in elections but does not permit open carry or other weapons. The amendment modifies Section 46.03(a)(2) of the Penal Code to create this specific exception.

Maddy summaryHB 5014 creates a new "SPECIAL FORCES VETERAN" designation for handgun license holders in Texas. It requires applicants to list qualifying military service (12+ consecutive months in specific Army Special Forces roles like 18A detachment commander or 18B weapons sergeant) and provide proof of eligibility. The bill amends license forms to include this designation alongside existing categories like "VETERAN." It directly affects Texas veterans who served in designated Special Forces positions at E5-E9, W1-W5, or O1-O10 pay grades.

Maddy summaryHB 3231 increases criminal penalties for human trafficking in Texas by expanding the definition of the offense. The bill specifically prohibits trafficking children or disabled individuals for forced labor or services without requiring the trafficker to know the victim's age or disability status. It also broadens the offense to include trafficking that results in prohibited acts like prostitution or sexual abuse, and receiving benefits from such trafficking ventures. These changes directly affect traffickers who exploit vulnerable victims, raising penalties for these expanded scenarios under Texas law.

Maddy summaryHB 4897 clarifies when a subdivision map (plat) is considered officially submitted to a municipality for review. It requires municipalities to provide a complete list of all required documents upfront and states that a plat is deemed submitted once all required documents are provided and any fee is paid. This bill directly affects municipalities handling land development approvals and developers seeking to subdivide property. The key change streamlines the submission process by establishing clear criteria for when a plat is officially received, reducing ambiguity in approval timelines. The bill is procedural and does not alter the actual approval standards or timeframes for municipalities.

Maddy summaryHB 2879 protects condo owners, tenants, and their guests from penalties like fines or eviction for using justified force (including deadly force) on residential property, as defined under Texas Penal Code Chapter 9. The bill creates an "irrebuttable presumption" that force was justified if the person was acquitted, a grand jury declined to indict, or prosecutors declined to file charges for the same incident. It applies to condominiums (via Property Code Section 82.122) and leased residential properties (via Sections 92.027 and 94.258), preventing associations or landlords from taking adverse action based on legally justified force. The law overrides any conflicting terms in property declarations or leases, regardless of when they were adopted.

Maddy summarySJR 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to explicitly state that non-U.S. citizens cannot vote in Texas. It amends Article VI, Section 1(a) of the Texas Constitution by adding "persons who are not citizens of the United States" as a prohibited voting class. This would clarify existing voting eligibility rules by making citizenship a constitutional requirement, directly affecting non-citizen residents. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in the November 4, 2025, election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 3993 changes Texas tax rates for wine based on alcohol content. It imposes a 20.4-cent-per-gallon tax on wine containing 14% or less alcohol by volume and a 40.8-cent-per-gallon tax on wine with more than 14% alcohol. The bill directly affects wine producers and sellers, as the tax applies to the first sale of wine. The changes take effect on September 1, 2025, and do not apply to taxes owed before that date.

Maddy summaryHB 2015 requires new petitions for municipal utility districts in Texas to include a water conservation plan meeting specific standards, directly affecting developers and local entities seeking to create such districts. The bill amends the Water Code to mandate this plan as part of the petition (Section 54.015) and adds water conservation as a key factor the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must consider when reviewing petitions (Section 54.021). It applies only to petitions filed on or after September 1, 2025, with existing petitions governed by prior law. This policy change ensures water conservation is formally integrated into the approval process for new utility districts.