Rep. Pat Curry

Maddy summaryHR 58 amends the Texas House of Representatives' permanent rules to remove a restriction preventing the minority party from appointing a member as vice-chair of standing committees. It also eliminates a separate budget for the vice-chair position. These changes directly affect committee leadership structure by allowing bipartisan appointments for vice-chairs and removing dedicated funding for that role. The bill specifically revises Rule 4, Section 4A (removing the party restriction) and adds Rule 4, Section 6A(c) (ending the separate budget). This is a procedural rule change focused on internal committee operations, not a policy affecting public programs or services.

Maddy summaryHB 296 modifies Texas election rules for voters who change their residence within a county but haven't updated their registration. It requires voters to submit a signed statement confirming their new address and residency before voting in their current precinct, with registration changes taking effect 30 days after submitting the notice. The bill directly affects voters who move within a county but haven't completed registration updates, ensuring they can vote while their address change processes. It repeals a previous provision allowing immediate registration changes and applies only to address notices submitted on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 291 requires Texas medical schools to ensure at least 50% of required coursework for medical degrees uses letter grades (A-F) or equivalent tiered systems for assessment. It prohibits medical schools from using standardized test scores as the sole factor in admissions decisions and mandates that schools must notify the legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board before revising admission or academic standards. The bill also explicitly prohibits medical schools from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in admissions or employment decisions. These provisions apply to all medical schools in Texas offering medical degrees or certificates.

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 263 allows Texas municipalities and counties to regulate recreational vehicle (RV) parks by either prohibiting their establishment or charging a fee for setting them up. Local governments would have the option to ban RV parks entirely or, if they permit them, impose a fee for the park's formation. The bill defines "recreational vehicle park" using existing Water Code terminology and provides no new restrictions beyond these two choices for local authorities. It does not require local governments to take action but gives them regulatory flexibility regarding RV park development. The bill is set to take effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 262 defines "brine" as underground salty liquid containing dissolved minerals (like lithium, bromine, and magnesium), excluding groundwater, oil, gas, and related waste. It clarifies that landowners own brine minerals beneath their property as real property, unless otherwise specified in legal agreements. The bill requires the Railroad Commission to create rules for reporting by brine mining operators and regulates "brine mining" operations (extracting minerals from brine) while excluding oil/gas products. This directly affects landowners and businesses extracting minerals from underground brine formations in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 264 prohibits registered lobbyists in Texas from receiving state funds under current contracts or as compensation for services provided to the state. It directly affects registered lobbyists who would otherwise receive payments for lobbying work or state employment. The bill includes an exception for retirement benefits or other benefits tied to a lobbyist's prior state service. This law applies only to funds received on or after the bill's effective date, with past payments governed by previous law. The bill does not change existing rules for retirement benefits or past employment compensation.

Maddy summaryHB 194 requires municipalities and counties that experienced a declared flood disaster in the past decade to install two types of flood safety signage in high-risk areas. Specifically, it mandates signs in public gathering spots within 100-year floodplains (areas with a 1% annual flood risk) and signs indicating safe evacuation routes outside these flood zones. The law applies only to jurisdictions meeting the disaster declaration criteria and uses FEMA or USDA flood maps to define affected areas. It takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends, aiming to improve public awareness during flood events.

Maddy summaryHB 195 would add three substances - carisoprodol (a muscle relaxant), mifepristone (a medication used in medical abortions), and misoprostol (often used with mifepristone for abortions) - to Schedule IV of the Texas Controlled Substances Act. This change would regulate these substances under stricter state drug laws, affecting their legal possession, distribution, and use in Texas. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date of January 1, 2026, with prior offenses governed by existing law. The policy change directly impacts healthcare providers, pharmacies, and individuals handling these specific medications within Texas.