Rep. Andy Hopper

Maddy summaryHJR 129 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) members to be elected by qualified voters in general elections instead of appointed by the governor. Currently, the governor appoints TWDB board members, but this amendment would shift selection to direct voter elections. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in the November 4, 2025 election, with a temporary provision allowing current board members to serve until after the election and until January 1, 2030. This change would directly affect how TWDB leadership is chosen and requires voter approval to take effect.

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 2552 prohibits tolls on highway segments that were part of a terminated comprehensive development agreement between a toll project entity (like a private toll company) and the state. It directly affects toll project entities and drivers using those highway sections, preventing them from charging tolls after such agreements end. The bill amends the Texas Transportation Code to explicitly state that tolls cannot be charged on any part of the project covered by a terminated agreement. This creates a clear, immediate policy change without new fees or complex processes.

Maddy summaryHB 2572 prohibits Texas public libraries (including school libraries) from using public funds to support the American Library Association (ALA). The bill bans libraries from becoming ALA members, attending ALA events, or providing any financial support to the association, directly affecting all public libraries receiving state or local taxpayer funds. This restriction applies only to expenditures made on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect existing contracts entered into before that date. The legislation is a direct policy change limiting library funding choices under Texas law.

Maddy summaryHB 930 requires the Texas National Guard to obtain specific Congressional action before being activated for active combat duty. It mandates that such activation can only occur if the U.S. Congress either officially declares war (per Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution) or takes other official action authorized under Clause 15 of the same section. The bill directly affects the Texas National Guard and the governor, who must ensure compliance with this requirement. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and establishes a clear constitutional threshold for combat deployments.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts new Texas residents from paying use tax on motor vehicles they bring into the state, but only if the vehicle was previously purchased in Texas with use tax already paid at the time of purchase. It directly affects new Texas residents who bought a vehicle in Texas before moving to the state. The exemption applies to vehicles brought into Texas, not those purchased locally after relocation. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2326 would change how members of the Texas Water Development Board are selected, requiring them to be elected by qualified voters in general elections instead of being appointed by the governor. The bill specifies that board members must have experience in engineering, public/private finance, or law/business, and prohibits individuals with financial ties to entities regulated by the board from serving. It also establishes new eligibility rules, banning those who owned significant interests in regulated businesses or received substantial funds from the board. This would shift the board’s composition from executive appointments to direct voter selection, with staggered six-year terms. The bill applies directly to the 16-member board responsible for water planning and funding in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 1921 allows operators of specific off-highway vehicles - recreational side-by-side vehicles (with seating for operator and passenger) and utility vehicles - to operate on certain public roadways. It permits these unregistered vehicles on highways with speed limits of 65 mph or lower, provided the highway is not an interstate or limited-access road and the vehicle displays a license plate issued under Transportation Code Section 551A.052. The bill directly affects owners and operators of these vehicle types who currently face restrictions on public road use. The law takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, otherwise September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1774 would repeal an existing legal defense that currently allows individuals to avoid criminal charges for selling, distributing, or displaying harmful material to minors. This change means defendants in such cases would no longer be able to use this specific defense in court. The bill directly affects those who sell, distribute, or display harmful material to minors and the legal process for prosecuting these offenses. The key provision removes the affirmative defense from the law, requiring prosecutors to prove the case without this defense being available.