Rep. Hillary Hickland

Maddy summaryHB 5 allocates $324 million in supplemental funds from Texas' economic stabilization fund for disaster relief and preparedness. It provides $200 million to match federal disaster aid and support state disaster funds, $50 million for flood warning systems and equipment in 27 counties affected by a July 2025 flood declaration, and $24 million to improve weather forecasting and flood management in the Texas Hill Country. An additional $50 million is contingent on passing related legislation about emergency communication systems. The bill directly affects local governments in designated counties and state agencies managing disaster response.

Maddy summaryHB 2 requires justices of the peace in counties without a medical examiner to complete training on managing mass fatality events within one year of election. The training covers autopsy decisions, body identification protocols, missing persons data collection, interagency coordination, and real-time family notifications. Failure to complete this training is defined as "incompetency" for removal under local government law. The bill also allows the Texas Commission on Fire Protection to access criminal history records for license applicants and employees while restricting disclosure of that information. It authorizes fees related to these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 177 affects junior college districts, hospital districts, and other non-school taxing units with maintenance/operations property tax rates of 2.5 cents or less per $100 of taxable value. It temporarily treats "foregone revenue" as zero for these units before 2026, altering how tax rates are calculated to avoid requiring voter approval for certain rate increases. The bill provides specific formulas for determining "no-new-revenue" and "voter-approval" tax rates, including adjustments when new sales tax revenue is generated. These changes expire December 31, 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 178 requires non-school district political subdivisions (like cities, counties, and special districts) that exceed the "no-new-revenue tax rate" for five consecutive tax years to conduct an independent efficiency audit. The audit examines fiscal management, resource use, and operational efficiency, with the political subdivision covering all costs. Exceptions apply for areas declared disaster zones under state law, allowing voter approval to bypass the audit during a two-year window. Results must be discussed in an open meeting and posted online within 30 days of the meeting, and audits must be completed within three months of hiring an auditor.

Maddy summaryHB 176 repeals specific provisions in Texas tax law related to property tax calculations. It removes the "unused increment rate" from formulas used to determine voter-approval tax rates for most local taxing units (excluding special taxing units). This change simplifies how local governments calculate the tax rate needed for voter approval when property values change or new taxes are imposed. The bill directly affects county and city governments that levy property taxes and must follow these tax rate calculation rules. The key change is eliminating a specific calculation component ("unused increment rate") from the existing formulas.

Maddy summaryHB 174 prohibits lobbyists from representing both a local government that imposes taxes (such as a city or county) and a private business or individual. The law specifically bans lobbyists from having dual representation for these conflicting interests under new contracts entered after the bill's effective date. This change applies only to political subdivisions with tax authority, not all local governments. The bill takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 64 creates a rule that Texas state senators and representatives lose their seats if absent from all legislative proceedings without approved leave for seven consecutive days when their house is in session. This provision directly affects legislators who miss sessions without permission, triggering an immediate vacancy. The bill specifies that the absence must occur during days the house is meeting, not just calendar days. It would take effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, otherwise 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 236 creates an affirmative defense for individuals prosecuted under certain laws if they were victims of human trafficking or compelled prostitution. It applies when a person engaged in criminal conduct (like prostitution or other offenses) directly because they were subjected to force, fraud, or coercion by traffickers, and would not have committed the act otherwise. The defense requires showing the conduct was compelled by such means, that a reasonable person in similar circumstances would have been compelled, and that the person wasn’t merely offered an opportunity without coercion. This applies to prosecutions for offenses under Sections 20A.02 (human trafficking) or 43.05 (prostitution) but excludes specific offenses listed in state law. The bill affects individuals prosecuted for crimes committed while trafficked, shifting legal focus to their victim status during prosecution.

Maddy summaryHB 214, the Texas Women's Privacy Act, requires certain facilities like restrooms, locker rooms, and shelters to be designated for use based on biological sex (male or female). It directly affects correctional facilities, family violence shelters, institutions of higher education, and political subdivisions (e.g., cities, school districts). The bill prohibits the use of multiple-occupancy private spaces (like shared restrooms) by individuals whose biological sex differs from the space’s designated sex, while allowing single-occupancy spaces for individual use. Violations may result in civil penalties or private lawsuits for affected individuals.

Maddy summaryHB 186 restricts how local governments (like cities, counties, and school districts) can use public funds for lobbying. It prohibits spending public money to hire registered lobbyists or pay nonprofit groups that represent local governments and employ lobbyists. Exceptions include activities by elected officials, employees providing information to legislators, travel expenses for such activities, and services by associations representing sheriffs or law enforcement. The bill allows taxpayers to sue to stop prohibited spending and recover legal fees if they win. This directly affects local government budget decisions regarding legislative advocacy.