Rep. Pat Curry

Maddy summaryHB 2816 protects healthcare providers and facilities from being required to participate in or provide certain health care services that conflict with their sincerely held religious or philosophical beliefs. It defines key terms like "conscience," "health care provider" (including students and non-licensed staff), and "health care service" (covering family planning, abortion-related counseling, and treatment). The bill creates a civil remedy for violations and authorizes disciplinary action against entities that force non-participation in services due to conscience objections. It directly affects hospitals, clinics, pharmacists, and all healthcare workers who may decline services like abortion care or contraception-related counseling. The law aims to prevent adverse actions against providers who refuse such services based on personal beliefs.

Maddy summaryHB 2732 prohibits Texas public school districts from providing student instruction on Memorial Day or Veterans Day. The bill amends the Education Code to ban regular classroom lessons about these holidays, with one exception: if schools need to make up lost instructional time due to disasters, floods, extreme weather, or other emergencies, they may teach about the holidays for fewer minutes than required. This law applies to all public school districts in Texas starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill does not affect existing Veterans Day observances or commemorative activities.

Maddy summaryHB 76 prohibits local governments (like cities, counties, and school districts) from using public funds to pay nonprofit organizations that accept public donations to post bail bonds for defendants. It directly affects political subdivisions that might fund such bail programs through public money. The bill bans this spending and allows taxpayers or residents to sue to stop it, with successful plaintiffs able to recover legal fees. The law would take effect September 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryHJR 15 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing judges to deny bail to individuals accused of specific serious crimes - including first-degree sexual offenses, violent offenses, or continuous human trafficking - pending trial. Judges may deny bail only after a hearing where they find, by clear and convincing evidence, that bail would not ensure the defendant’s court appearance or community safety. The amendment requires judges to issue a written order detailing their findings and reasoning. It does not restrict defendants’ rights to challenge bail denials under existing law and specifies that judges must consider standard bail factors when making decisions. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in the 2025 election.

Maddy summaryHJR 16 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Texas courts to deny bail to non-citizens (defined as "illegal aliens" under the bill) charged with felony offenses if a judge finds probable cause they committed the crime. The amendment specifies that bail denial applies only after a hearing where probable cause is established, not automatically. This change would require voter approval in November 2025 before taking effect, as it seeks to amend the Texas Constitution. The bill directly affects non-citizens facing felony charges in Texas courts who meet the defined "illegal alien" criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 2696 requires Texas public elementary and secondary schools to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The display must be at least 16 inches wide by 20 inches tall, contain only the specific text listed in the bill (including the full biblical wording), and be legible from any point in the classroom. Schools may accept privately donated displays meeting these requirements or use district funds to purchase compliant displays if needed. This law applies to all public schools and explicitly states they cannot claim exemption from this requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 2484 requires contractors to place retainage - money withheld from payments under construction contracts - into a dedicated escrow account. This ensures subcontractors can access withheld funds within three months of completing work, or face a 3% late payment penalty. The bill applies only to new contracts entered into on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect existing agreements. It directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and construction projects in Texas by creating a clear mechanism for timely payment of retainage. The law aims to reduce payment disputes by mandating escrow accounts and setting specific deadlines.

Maddy summaryHB 2482 prohibits Texas' Parks and Wildlife Commission and Department from establishing or maintaining "chronic wasting disease containment zones" (areas where CWD is detected or likely present) or "surveillance zones" (areas where CWD presence could reasonably be expected). The bill bans any regulations restricting activities like hunting or land use for license/permit holders based on CWD detection or likelihood in a zone. It also abolishes all existing CWD zones immediately upon the bill's effective date. The law takes effect either immediately (if passed with two-thirds vote) or September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2439 would abolish the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and transfer all its responsibilities to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). The bill amends specific sections of the Agriculture Code to remove the TAHC from roles like border pest inspections, council memberships, and contracting authority, assigning these duties solely to the TDA. This change would dissolve the TAHC as a separate agency and consolidate animal health oversight under the TDA. The bill directly affects the TAHC (which would be eliminated) and the TDA (which would assume the Commission's functions).

Maddy summaryHB 2483 requires contractors to place construction retainage (money withheld from payments until project completion) into a separate escrow account instead of holding it directly. This applies only to new contracts entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2025, affecting contractors and subcontractors in Texas construction projects. The bill ensures retainage funds are held securely to satisfy payment obligations to subcontractors upon project completion, without changing how much retainage is withheld.