Rep. Drew Darby

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 summaryHB 2438 amends administrative rules for the Concho County Hospital District board. It requires director candidates to be district residents and registered voters (replacing prior freeholder/age requirements), prohibits district employees from serving as directors, and clarifies procedures for electing board officers (president, vice president, secretary). The bill also updates how the district hires administrators (at the board's will) and enters construction contracts, aligning with existing state contract laws. These changes affect the district's governance structure but do not alter healthcare services or funding.

Maddy summarySB 304 allows Texas municipalities to expand municipal court authority to enforce existing health, safety, and nuisance abatement ordinances. It grants courts civil jurisdiction within city limits and on city-owned property in surrounding areas, plus power to issue search warrants for investigations and seizure warrants to secure or remove hazardous property. This directly affects cities and their municipal courts by altering enforcement mechanisms under current laws. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3448 requires electric cooperatives in Texas to provide certificated telecommunications providers (like internet or phone companies) with fair, nondiscriminatory access to their rights-of-way (public pathways) and poles (utility structures). The bill mandates that cooperatives cannot charge telecom providers more for pole attachments than what's in existing contracts or the federal rate set by the FCC for similar services. It also gives the Public Utility Commission authority to enforce these rules and resolve disputes over rates. This bill directly affects electric cooperatives and telecom providers by standardizing access terms and preventing excessive fees for infrastructure use. If passed, it would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4773 permits licensed breweries and brewpubs operating under the same ownership or management to transfer their own malt beverages between multiple licensed locations during specified hours. It requires vehicles used for transport to be described to the commission and clearly marked, while prohibiting violations of motor carrier laws. The bill specifically allows transfers between brewpubs (under Section 74.12) or package store permits (Section 69.11), but clarifies that transferred beverages remain legally considered produced at their original location for tax purposes. This primarily affects multi-location brewery and brewpub operators seeking operational flexibility.

Maddy summaryHB 3970 creates a priority interconnection program for large electricity consumers (facilities with over 75 megawatts of peak demand) in Texas. It requires the grid operator (ERCOT) to develop an expedited process for facilities that install on-site power generation (like solar or storage) and agree to stop drawing power from the grid during emergencies. The program gives these facilities faster approval for connecting their on-site generation and reduces their grid consumption when directed, while allowing parallel processing of their interconnection applications. This directly affects major industrial facilities, data centers, and large commercial sites seeking to reduce grid reliance during power shortages.

Maddy summaryHB 2790 establishes limited liability for entities involved in carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Texas. It protects owners and operators of carbon dioxide storage facilities, transport systems (like pipelines), and carbon dioxide producers from certain lawsuits brought by landowners who have signed written agreements about the use of their land for CCS activities. The bill defines "captured carbon dioxide" to include carbon from industrial sources, the atmosphere, and other specified sources, and "geologic storage" as underground storage in reservoirs. This liability protection applies only to cases with prior written agreements between landowners and defendants, aiming to reduce legal risks for CCS project development.

Maddy summaryHB 4442 would require Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to offer an elective mindfulness course for all students in middle school, junior high school, and high school. The course must teach specific techniques to enhance focus, manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and build self-awareness and compassion. High school students would be able to count this course toward their elective credit requirements for graduation. The bill would take effect for the 2026-2027 school year, unless it receives a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, in which case it would take effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 2494 allows residents in annexed areas to petition their city council to revert land back to unincorporated status if the municipality fails to provide basic services (like water or roads) as required by law. It specifically applies to areas annexed under certain Texas codes, requiring cities to act within 60 days of a valid petition or face potential court-ordered disannexation. If a court rules in favor of the petitioners, the city must disannex the area and pay the residents' legal fees. The bill establishes a clear process for residents to seek relief when cities neglect service obligations, without specifying which services must be provided.

Maddy summaryHB 3710 modifies Texas Tax Code Section 31.08 to clarify the effect of tax certificates accompanying property transfers. If a tax certificate wrongly states no delinquent taxes are owed (due to a canceled homestead exemption), the taxing unit's lien on the property is typically extinguished, absolving the new owner of liability for those taxes. However, this exception does not apply to transfers between related family members (first degree), employers/employees, parent companies/subsidiaries, or trusts/beneficiaries. The law applies only to tax certificates issued on or after September 1, 2025.