Rep. Ben Bumgarner

Maddy summaryHB 2545 establishes the Rural Workforce Training Grant Program to provide targeted funding for job-specific training in Texas rural counties (population under 200,000). The Texas Workforce Commission will award grants to public, private, or nonprofit entities - including businesses, educational institutions, and workforce boards - that offer on-the-job training, apprenticeships, or workforce education courses in qualifying areas. Grant funds can cover training materials, instructor fees, participant support services, and related costs, but not general operations. Recipients must report on fund usage and participant outcomes annually, with the Commission submitting program effectiveness reports to the legislature each December.

Maddy summaryHB 170 creates civil immunity for individuals who use or threaten to use force or deadly force that is justified under Texas Penal Code Chapter 9 (e.g., self-defense or defense of others). It protects such individuals from civil lawsuits seeking damages for personal injury or death resulting from their justified actions. The bill also requires courts to award defendants who win immunity claims reasonable attorney fees, court costs, and related expenses. It repeals Section 9.06 of the Penal Code and applies only to cases occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3507 amends Texas Penal Code Section 31.03 to reclassify theft offenses based on the property's value and specific circumstances, directly affecting anyone committing theft in Texas. It establishes tiered penalties: Class C misdemeanor for theft under $100, Class B misdemeanor for $100-$750 (or prior theft convictions), Class A misdemeanor for $750-$2,500, state jail felony for $2,500-$30,000 (or theft of firearms, driver's licenses, catalytic converters, or ballots), and third-degree felony for $30,000+ or repeated thefts. Key provisions include stricter penalties for theft of specific items like catalytic converters (valued under $30,000), firearms, or election materials, and higher penalties for repeat offenders. The bill changes sentencing outcomes without altering the definition of theft itself.

Maddy summaryHB 3945 amends Texas licensing rules for massage therapy by restricting eligibility for licenses based on criminal history. It bars individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses (including those under Penal Code Sections 22.011 or 22.021) or similar offenses from becoming massage therapists, instructors, or owning massage establishments. The bill also prevents entities (businesses) from obtaining licenses if owners or operators have such convictions, or if the business location is under an emergency regulatory order. These changes apply to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's oversight of massage therapy programs and establish civil penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryHJR 98 is a Texas legislative resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It seeks to propose amendments that would impose spending limits on the federal government, reduce federal power over states, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. Texas formally applies to Congress to initiate this process, with the resolution intended as a continuing application until at least 34 states (two-thirds) support the same purpose. This is a procedural request - Texas has no authority to create new laws, but aims to join other states in advancing this constitutional mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 2587 requires Texas hospitals to report costs of providing care to patients without legal immigration status. Hospitals must ask about immigration status during intake (without affecting care) and submit quarterly data on costs and financial impact to a state agency. The agency then compiles an annual report for lawmakers by November 1, detailing total costs and how these expenses affected hospitals. This applies to all Texas hospitals serving patients who were not lawfully present at the time of care, focusing on transparency about uncompensated care expenses.

Maddy summaryHCR 35 is a Texas concurrent resolution urging Congress to change federal tax law. It requests that spaceports be added to the list of facilities eligible for tax-exempt private activity bonds - currently available for airports, docks, and similar transportation hubs. This would allow spaceport projects in Texas (where the state ranks second nationally in spaceport locations and hosts over 2,000 aerospace businesses) to access lower-cost financing for infrastructure development. The resolution does not change state law but formally asks federal lawmakers to amend the Internal Revenue Code to support this change.

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 3227 establishes rules for changing monuments or memorials on Texas state property. It requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers to remove, relocate, or alter monuments that have stood for 25 years or more, while allowing state agencies to make changes to newer monuments (under 25 years) through their own governing bodies. The bill specifically defines "monument or memorial" to include statues, plaques, and named places honoring historical events or individuals. It directly affects state agencies managing public monuments and the Texas legislature when handling older memorials. The bill also authorizes civil penalties for violations of these rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5274 creates a new licensing system for anesthesiologist assistants in Texas, requiring them to obtain a state license to use that title or the initials "C.A.A." or "A.A." The bill establishes the Texas Anesthesiologist Assistant Board (with two assistants, two anesthesiologists, and one public member) to regulate the profession, set standards, and impose administrative penalties for violations. It specifically clarifies that healthcare workers performing similar tasks without using the title "anesthesiologist assistant" do not need this license. The bill directly affects individuals seeking to practice as anesthesiologist assistants and the healthcare facilities employing them under this new framework.