Rep. Jeff Leach

Maddy summaryHB 4696 allows applicants and witnesses seeking or protected by a protective order to participate remotely in court hearings, unless a judge finds "good cause" to deny the request. It directly affects individuals involved in family court cases seeking or modifying protective orders, particularly those who may face safety risks or logistical barriers attending in person. The bill requires courts to provide a remote participation method upon written request, adding new provisions to Texas Family Code Sections 84.007 (for new orders) and 87.005 (for modifications). This change applies to all pending or future cases under Subtitle B, Title 4 of the Family Code starting September 1, 2025. The law aims to increase accessibility and safety for vulnerable individuals in protective order proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 4685 requires fire safety inspections at Texas public and private schools (including charter schools) to include specific checks of medical equipment. Inspectors must verify that automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are functional (checking pads, battery, and status lights) and confirm vaccines/over-the-counter medications on campus have not expired. The law mandates that inspection reports document these findings and detail how school administrators were notified of results. This bill applies to all schools subject to fire safety inspections under state or local requirements and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2695 increases criminal penalties for drug-related offenses when a social media platform is used to facilitate the delivery of a controlled substance. It applies specifically to offenses under Health and Safety Code sections 481.112, 481.1121, 481.1123, 481.113, 481.114, 481.119, 481.120, or 481.122. If proven at trial, using social media to arrange such drug deliveries elevates the offense to the next higher penalty category, adding five years to first-degree felony sentences and doubling the maximum fine. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and only applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Texas business law to give domestic entities more control over internal dispute resolution. It allows businesses formed under Texas law to require that internal disputes (like shareholder disagreements) be filed only in Texas courts and to waive jury trials for these cases. The changes apply to all Texas domestic entities, including corporations and LLCs. The law ensures Texas governance rules take precedence over other states' laws for these internal matters.

Maddy summaryHJR 112 proposes adding a new section to the Texas Constitution that affirms parents' inherent right to make decisions about their children's upbringing, including care, custody, and control. It would limit state interference with this right unless the government proves the interference is essential for a compelling interest and narrowly tailored to achieve it. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in the November 2025 election, with the ballot phrasing "The constitutional amendment establishing parents as the primary decision-makers for their children." This would directly affect all Texas parents and state agencies involved in child welfare decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1228 allows homeowners to immediately begin emergency repairs on damaged residential buildings if the repairs protect public safety, prevent further damage, or preserve structural integrity. Homeowners must apply for an emergency permit within three business days of starting repairs or when the municipality/county can accept the application. The bill requires cities and counties to permit these immediate repairs and prohibits them from blocking such work. If a local government violates this law, homeowners can sue for damages and recover attorney fees. This directly affects homeowners needing urgent repairs and local governments managing building permits.

Maddy summaryHB 4682 allows specific Texas municipalities to use hotel occupancy tax revenue for tourism-related infrastructure. It applies only to cities meeting strict population and location criteria (e.g., cities with over 100,000 residents in high-population counties or near federal space centers). The bill permits funding for constructing, maintaining, or operating facilities like convention centers, coliseums, hotels, or resorts owned by the municipality or a nonprofit partner. This expands existing rules by explicitly including tourism promotion as a qualifying purpose for these tax revenues. The change affects only designated cities under defined population and geographic thresholds.

Maddy summaryHB 4075 requires judges to change the trial location (venue) in criminal cases where the defendant is or was a peace officer at the time of the alleged offense and is charged with a crime committed while acting in their official capacity. This law directly affects peace officers accused of crimes related to their job duties. The bill mandates venue changes if both conditions are met: the defendant's status as a peace officer and the offense occurring under color of their employment. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed with two-thirds support for immediate effect), not to past cases.

Maddy summaryHB 3312 requires Texas school districts and charter schools to retain video surveillance recordings from special education settings for at least 12 months after recording, or until an incident involving staff or students is fully resolved (including all appeals). It directly affects schools, employees involved in reported incidents, and parents of students in documented incidents. The bill specifies that recordings can be released to involved employees, parents, certain investigators (like child protective services), school administrators, or attorneys within one week of a request. Schools must allow unlimited viewing of incident-related recordings by affected parties and cannot restrict access to attorneys representing them.

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.