Rep. David Spiller

Maddy summaryHB 524 requires home-rule cities with charters allowing citizen petitions to submit proposed new ordinances or changes to existing ones to the Texas Attorney General for review before holding elections. The city must submit the measure within five days of receiving the petition, and the Attorney General must review it within 30 days to check for conflicts with state law. If the Attorney General finds a conflict, the city cannot hold the election; if the Attorney General misses the deadline, the city must proceed. Voters may also challenge the Attorney General’s finding in court, which could require the city to hold or cancel the election based on the court’s ruling. The law applies only to measures submitted on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. It directs the transfer of $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026. The fund will provide grants for research, prevention programs, and treatment development related to dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and related disorders. The institute will oversee funding for research institutions, medical facilities, and collaborative efforts across Texas, directly benefiting residents affected by these conditions through expanded research and prevention initiatives.

Maddy summarySJR 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to explicitly state that non-U.S. citizens cannot vote in Texas. It amends Article VI, Section 1(a) of the Texas Constitution by adding "persons who are not citizens of the United States" as a prohibited voting class. This would clarify existing voting eligibility rules by making citizenship a constitutional requirement, directly affecting non-citizen residents. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in the November 4, 2025, election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2667 creates new regulations for entities that connect seniors with housing providers (referred to as "referral agencies"). It defines referral agencies as organizations that provide referrals for a fee, excluding senior communities themselves and family members making referrals. The bill permits senior living communities to pay referral agencies through lump sums, per-referral fees based on care costs, or fixed fees via written contracts. It also exempts these referral agencies from certain licensing requirements under Texas law, as specified in amended sections of the Business & Commerce Code and Occupations Code.

Maddy summarySB 1194 creates the Central Texas Water Alliance, a regional water authority designed to manage water resources across multiple jurisdictions. The bill grants the Alliance the power to issue bonds for funding projects, acquire land through eminent domain, and charge fees for water services. It directly affects local governments (cities, counties) and private entities that join as members, focusing on groundwater, surface water, and treated wastewater systems. The Alliance’s operations are structured under Texas Constitution Section 59 to address regional water needs through concrete infrastructure and resource management. This legislation became effective immediately upon the Governor’s signature on May 15, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3154 creates the Wise Regional Water District to provide water and wastewater services in Wise County, Texas. It grants the district limited power to acquire private land for infrastructure (eminent domain), authority to issue bonds for funding, and the ability to charge fees to users. The bill directly affects participating governments (like cities and counties) that provide utility services within the district's boundaries, requiring them to contract with the district for infrastructure projects. The district must serve public water and wastewater needs across its defined service area, with specific rules for cost-sharing among participating entities.

Maddy summaryHB 5187 creates new regulations for converting office buildings to residential use in specific large Texas cities and counties. It applies only to municipalities over 90,000 population in counties over 300,000 population, requiring that converted buildings meet strict criteria: at least 65% residential space overall and per floor, with buildings constructed at least five years prior to conversion. The bill defines "mixed-use residential" (65% residential space) and "multifamily residential" (three or more dwelling units), while explicitly exempting historic preservation rules and short-term rentals from its requirements. This legislation standardizes conversion processes but does not override existing private property restrictions or historic district protections.

Maddy summaryHB 875 exempts small municipal construction projects from requiring contractors to have workers' compensation insurance or performance bonds. Specifically, it removes these requirements for projects costing less than 1% of a municipality's most recently adopted budget, defined as a single project at one location within 12 months. Municipalities cannot aggregate multiple projects to qualify under this exemption. The bill applies only to contracts entered into on or after September 1, 2025, and directly affects cities/towns contracting small construction work. This changes existing requirements for local governments managing minor infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryHB 5088 requires local event organizers, cities, or counties that receive reimbursements through Texas's Major Events Reimbursement Program to conduct and publicly share post-event economic impact studies. Specifically, these entities must study and document the measurable economic impact directly tied to major events, including incremental tax revenue increases, and post all findings - including source documentation - on their public websites. The bill repeals an outdated provision (Section 480.152 of the Government Code) and mandates transparency about reimbursement calculations and adherence to deadlines. It applies to all events funded by the Events Trust Fund and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit Texas from imposing state taxes on property transferred after someone's death, including estate, inheritance, or gift taxes. It specifically prevents new taxes on these transfers or increases to existing taxes that were in place before January 1, 2025. Exceptions include taxes on motor vehicle gifts, certain property taxes (ad valorem), and taxes already authorized under existing law. This amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election and would affect anyone transferring property through wills, inheritances, or gifts after the amendment takes effect.