Rep. Daniel Alders

Maddy summaryHB 1661 requires election authorities to provide each precinct with ballots equal to 25% more than the number of voters in the last election for that precinct (capped at registered voters unless using countywide polling), aiming to prevent shortages. It creates criminal penalties for intentionally failing to meet this requirement or to promptly supplement ballots upon polling place requests, classifying these offenses as Class A misdemeanors (punishable by up to a year in jail). The bill modifies Texas Election Code sections 51.005, 51.008, 51.010, 51.011, and 61.007 to establish these specific requirements and penalties. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 3810 dissolves the Rose City Municipal Utility District, directly affecting the district and its directors. The bill requires the district's directors to wind up operations and file dissolution documents with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. It specifies that the district officially dissolves 60 days after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025), and director terms expire simultaneously. The bill also repeals Chapter 7958 of the Special District Local Laws Code, which governed the district. This is a procedural dissolution bill with no new policy provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 75 requires magistrates in Texas to provide written findings within 24 hours when they determine no probable cause exists for a criminal arrest. This applies specifically to cases involving offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The law aims to create a clear, documented record of the magistrate's decision in these initial proceedings. It directly affects magistrates handling pretrial detention hearings for criminal defendants.

Maddy summaryHB 4623 creates new liability standards for Texas public schools and their employees regarding student sexual misconduct. It holds schools financially responsible if they act with gross negligence or intentional misconduct in hiring or supervising employees who commit sexual misconduct against students or fail to report suspected abuse. The law caps damages at $500,000 per victim in successful claims and requires the employee who committed the act to be named as a defendant. This directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and all professional school employees covered by the definition, including teachers, administrators, and even student interns. The law became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 1481 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt written policies prohibiting student use of personal communication devices (such as cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches) during the school day on school property or at school events. Exceptions allow device use for students with documented medical needs, individualized education plans (IEPs), or health/safety protocols. Schools may implement either a full device ban or a secure storage system for devices during school hours, and must return confiscated devices or dispose of them after providing parents 90 days' written notice. The law takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature.

Maddy summaryHB 2217 creates a state grant program to help law enforcement agencies purchase and install bullet-resistant components on vehicles used by peace officers. It directly affects state and local law enforcement agencies (including county and city police departments) by providing funding for bullet-resistant windshields, side windows, rear windows, and door panels. The program requires the Criminal Justice Division to set eligibility rules, application procedures, and grant amounts, while agencies must submit proof of installation after using funds. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and focuses solely on funding vehicle safety upgrades for officers.

Maddy summarySB 1281 amends Texas Penal Code Section 31.20 to create a new criminal offense for intentionally taking mail without consent when intending to deprive someone of it or steal negotiable instruments. The bill increases penalties based on the scale of the crime: stealing mail from 50+ addressees or 50+ negotiable instruments becomes a first-degree felony, while smaller-scale offenses range from state jail felonies to third-degree felonies. This law directly affects individuals who steal mail from residential or business mailboxes, including packages, letters, or sealed items delivered by carriers. The policy change clarifies and escalates criminal penalties for mail theft to better address thefts targeting multiple victims or financial instruments. The bill was signed into law and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1443 creates a new criminal offense in Texas for promoting or possessing a "child-like sex doll," defined as an obscene, anatomically correct doll or robot designed to look like a child and intended for sexual use. It prohibits three specific actions: promoting such dolls (felony, second degree), possessing them with intent to promote (felony, third degree), or simply possessing them (state jail felony). The law presumes intent to promote if someone possesses two or more dolls, but includes an exception for law enforcement using them for legitimate purposes. This bill directly affects individuals who manufacture, sell, or own these dolls, making the specified actions punishable under Texas Penal Code.

Maddy summaryHB 6 amends Texas Education Code Section 12.111 to update requirements for charter schools. The bill specifically adds new criteria allowing charter schools to exclude students who were expelled under Section 37.007, placed in disciplinary alternative education programs under Section 37.006, or have documented criminal histories or discipline problems. While the bill title mentions telehealth mental health services in public schools, the provided text does not detail provisions for telehealth access. The legislation primarily affects charter schools by modifying their student admission policies and discipline management standards. HB 6 was signed into law by the governor on June 20, 2025, and is now effective.

Maddy summarySB 1233, the Perinatal Palliative Care Act, requires healthcare providers to inform pregnant women diagnosed with a life-threatening or life-limiting fetal condition about available perinatal palliative care. This applies to approximately 2% of pregnancies where the unborn child has a severe medical condition. The law mandates providers to explain comprehensive supportive care options - including medical, social, and mental health services - to reduce suffering for the mother, unborn child, and family during the perinatal period. It creates administrative penalties for noncompliance and defines perinatal palliative care to exclude actions intended to hasten death. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.