Rep. David Spiller

Maddy summaryHB 1461 requires state agencies like the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Texas Juvenile Justice Department to take custody of individuals confined in county facilities within 45 days. If they fail to do so, the agencies must compensate counties for the cost of each day the individuals remain confined beyond that deadline, at the rate the agency would have paid for confinement. This applies to defendants in criminal cases, children in juvenile justice cases, and releasees for administrative violations. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, for all cases occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases retirement payments for Texas judicial retirees whose benefits are based on retirement or death dates before September 1, 2024. Starting September 1, 2025, the Judicial Retirement System will increase each monthly payment by 7.5%, with a second 7.5% increase applied on September 1, 2026. These adjustments apply only to payments beginning after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025), affecting current retirees under Plan One or Plan Two of the Judicial Retirement System. The changes are automatic and require no action from beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryHB 1033 modifies eligibility rules for a state grant program funding public improvement projects in unincorporated communities. It changes which counties qualify by adding two new criteria: (1) counties on an international border with specific population and adjacency requirements, or (2) counties on an international border that partially contain a national park under 100,000 acres. The bill directly affects unincorporated communities in qualifying counties by determining their access to these grants. It does not create new funding but adjusts which existing counties can apply under the current program. The bill is pending further legislative action after committee approval.

Maddy summaryHB 644 protects businesses from civil lawsuits if they allow licensed concealed handgun carriers on their premises. It directly affects Texas businesses (like restaurants or retail stores) and license holders who carry concealed handguns legally under Texas law. The bill states that simply not posting "no concealed weapons" notices - rather than requiring explicit written or verbal permission - counts as allowing concealed carry, removing liability for damages from lawful concealed carry. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not apply to incidents that occurred before that date.

Maddy summaryHB 256 authorizes the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to conduct rapid DNA tests using mouth swabs on individuals detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Texas-Mexico border who are suspected of falsely claiming family relationships with others detained by CBP. The program requires DPS to destroy biological samples after testing and prohibits creating a DNA database from these tests. Results must be shared with CBP for federal immigration enforcement, and the agreement with CBP must include these destruction and database restrictions. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3219 would allow Texas pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a doctor's prescription by requiring the state health commissioner to issue a statewide order. The bill mandates standardized protocols for pharmacists, including providing patient instructions on proper use, and protects pharmacists from liability when acting in good faith. It also requires pharmacists to submit annual reports on dispensing volumes. This directly affects licensed pharmacists and patients seeking ivermectin, changing current requirements that typically require a prescription.

Maddy summaryHB 4688 modifies Texas law for civil liability cases involving commercial motor vehicle accidents. It restricts when evidence of regulatory violations (like safety rules) can be used in court, requiring such evidence to directly link the violation to the injury and show the rule specifically applied to the situation. The bill also limits claims against employers for driver negligence unless the employer first admits the driver was acting within their job duties at the time of the accident. These changes apply only to cases filed or tried after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHB 954 clarifies when counties can cancel subdivisions in areas outside city limits but within a municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). It modifies a local government code section to specify that county authority over subdivisions applies only to property outside cities and outside ETJ areas not covered by specific agreements between cities and counties (under Sections 242.001(d)(2) or (d)(3)). This directly affects counties and municipalities in ETJ areas where such agreements exist. The bill does not create new policy but refines existing legal boundaries for subdivision approvals.

Maddy summaryHB 3371 allows Texas to seek federal reimbursement for state border security costs incurred during specific budget periods. It requires the governor to submit applications requesting $4.72 billion for the 2023 biennium and $6.54 billion for the 2025 biennium, with the attorney general authorized to sue the federal government if payments are delayed. Any recovered funds would be deposited into the state's general revenue fund. The bill expires August 31, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 380 amends Texas law to require sex offender registration for individuals convicted of "improper relationship between educator and student" (Penal Code Section 21.12). This change adds the offense to the list of crimes triggering mandatory registration, aligning it with other serious sexual offenses like sexual assault and child abuse. The bill directly affects educators found guilty of this specific relationship with students, requiring them to register as sex offenders under state law. It modifies the definition of "reportable conviction" in the Code of Criminal Procedure to explicitly include this offense, ensuring consistent application of registration requirements.