Rep. Pat Curry

Maddy summaryThis bill limits late payment fees charged by municipal water utilities in Texas. It caps fees at $5 or 2% of the overdue amount before day 32, $5 or 5% between days 32-41, and $5 or 10% after day 41. Utilities cannot begin charging penalties before 21 days after billing a customer, and penalties end when the full amount is paid. The rules apply only to fees charged on or after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed by two-thirds vote).

Maddy summaryHB 1936 removes a specific provision requiring law enforcement to issue a citation for unauthorized use of disability parking spaces in Texas. This change directly affects individuals who park in designated disability spaces without authorization, as it eliminates the mandatory citation requirement for this offense. The bill repeals Section 681.011(f-2) of the Transportation Code, meaning officers will no longer be required to issue citations for this violation. The law applies only to offenses occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5083 requires Texas state agencies to conduct cost-benefit analyses before adopting new rules. The bill mandates that agencies must document expected public benefits and economic costs for the first six years of a rule’s implementation, including specific assumptions and data used. Agencies cannot adopt rules where compliance costs exceed public benefits, nor may they skip cheaper regulatory alternatives that achieve the same legislative goals. This directly affects state agencies creating regulations and the businesses or individuals required to comply with those rules. The law aims to ensure regulatory actions are economically justified before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHB 1441 requires school district peace officers and school resource officers in Texas to complete training based on a revised model curriculum. The bill mandates specific learning objectives, including child development, de-escalation techniques, mental health crisis intervention, and trauma-informed strategies to support students' behavioral and emotional needs. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement must update the model curriculum to include these requirements, effective immediately after the bill's passage. This change directly affects all school safety personnel in Texas who undergo state-mandated training.

Maddy summaryHB 3045 exempts qualifying corporations from Texas' franchise tax if they operate a spaceport meeting two specific conditions: it must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the spaceport must be critical to a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense for spaceflight or launch services. This tax exemption directly affects corporations operating spaceports that support national defense contracts, reducing their state business tax burden. The bill creates a new tax exemption provision under the Texas Tax Code, effective September 1, 2025, for reports due after that date. It does not create new requirements for spaceports but modifies tax treatment for existing qualifying operations.

Maddy summaryHB 4688 modifies Texas law for civil liability cases involving commercial motor vehicle accidents. It restricts when evidence of regulatory violations (like safety rules) can be used in court, requiring such evidence to directly link the violation to the injury and show the rule specifically applied to the situation. The bill also limits claims against employers for driver negligence unless the employer first admits the driver was acting within their job duties at the time of the accident. These changes apply only to cases filed or tried after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHJR 138 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to prohibit the state legislature from imposing taxes based on the carbon content of fuels or emissions of carbon dioxide from goods and services. If approved by voters, it would prevent Texas from enacting any carbon tax policy. The bill failed to pass the Texas Legislature on May 12, 2025, so it did not advance to a voter referendum. This would have directly affected all Texans by blocking a potential state-level carbon tax mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 1080 allows Texas cities, counties, and other local governments to publish required public notices (like meeting schedules or public hearings) using alternative media - such as social media, free newspapers, utility bills, or homeowners' association newsletters - instead of traditional newspapers. To qualify, local governments must first hold a public meeting to prove the alternative media has greater circulation than the top local newspaper, then submit specific details (including circulation numbers) to the state comptroller. The comptroller will publish the notice on their website unless they determine the alternative method doesn’t meet the circulation standard or grant a waiver. This bill modernizes notice requirements while maintaining transparency through mandatory public input and state oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement agencies to notify owners of seized weapons when no criminal charges are filed or conviction occurs. Owners have 60 days after notification to request their weapon's return; if unclaimed by day 61, the weapon must be destroyed, sold to licensed firearms dealers, or forfeited by day 121. Proceeds from sales go to the holding law enforcement agency after court and auction costs. It applies to all seized weapons regardless of when they were taken, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3223 shortens the time limit for lawsuits related to construction or repair defects on real property. It reduces the deadline from 10 years to 8 years after substantial completion for claims against architects, engineers, or contractors. If a written claim is submitted during this period, the deadline extends by two years (for most claims) or one year (for specific cases). This bill directly affects construction professionals and property owners by changing when legal action must be filed for defective work.