Rep. Shelley Luther

Maddy summaryHB 2704 defines "female," "male," and "sex" based on biological characteristics observed at birth, including reproductive anatomy. It requires facilities like restrooms, changing rooms, and sleeping quarters to be designated for "women" or "men" according to these biological definitions. The bill creates a civil right of action, allowing individuals to sue if they believe a facility designated for women is used by someone not biologically female. Its stated purpose is to protect women and girls from sexual assault in gender-segregated spaces.

Maddy summaryHB 2657 would abolish the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and eliminate the position of commissioner of education. It transfers all TEA powers and duties - including oversight of public schools, assessments, and accountability systems - to the State Board of Education and the comptroller of public accounts. The bill removes statewide school accountability and assessment requirements, reserving non-delegated educational functions exclusively to local school districts and charter schools. This structural change directly affects all Texas public schools by shifting oversight from the state agency to the State Board and local entities.

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 2441 regulates the direct delivery of malt beverages (beer) to consumers in Texas. It creates a new "consumer delivery permit" allowing licensed businesses (like package stores, breweries, or certain restaurants) to deliver alcohol directly to consumers only in areas where sales are legal, based on written orders. The bill requires delivery companies to provide detailed shipping invoices and restricts deliveries to specific licensed sellers. Violating these rules would constitute a criminal offense under the bill's title. This primarily affects alcohol delivery services, retailers with delivery permits, and consumers seeking direct beer shipments.

Maddy summaryHB 2566 requires Texas peace officers to verify a person's immigration status within 48 hours if the person fails to provide acceptable identification (like a driver's license, passport, or DHS document) during a lawful detention for a suspected crime. It limits officers' ability to inquire about immigration status to specific circumstances: only when necessary for investigating the current crime or assisting victims/witnesses with federal protective visas. The bill creates civil penalties for violations of these requirements and applies to state agencies, local entities, and peace officers enforcing state or federal immigration laws. This legislation directly affects law enforcement procedures during criminal investigations and individuals stopped for suspected offenses who cannot produce standard ID.

Maddy summaryHJR 118 is a Texas legislative resolution applying to Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention. It specifically requests a convention limited to proposing a constitutional amendment that would restrict members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to a maximum number of terms. The resolution directs Texas officials to transmit copies to Congress and other states, seeking to aggregate Texas's application with similar efforts from other states to reach the required two-thirds threshold. This is a procedural step only - it does not change term limits but aims to initiate the process for a potential constitutional amendment.

Maddy summaryHB 2519 requires property sellers and buyers (grantors and grantees) to submit a completed "notice of real property title transfer" form when recording property deeds in Texas. This form must include both parties' full names, addresses, telephone numbers, citizenship status, and social security numbers or taxpayer identification numbers. The county clerk must keep this notice separate from public property records, making it confidential under state law, though it may be shared with state agencies for government purposes. The bill directly affects all individuals or entities buying or selling real property in Texas by adding new disclosure requirements for property transfers.