Rep. Drew Darby

Maddy summaryHB 49 limits legal liability for businesses and landowners handling oil and gas waste in Texas. It shields parties who treat or reuse this waste (e.g., for drilling operations) from tort claims related to subsequent use, unless they acted with gross negligence or failed to follow environmental rules. The law specifically protects those who generate, transport, or treat waste, including surface estate owners, but does not cover cases involving intentional misconduct or negligence. Signed into law on June 20, 2025, and effective September 1, 2025, it directly affects oil and gas operators, waste treatment facilities, and landowners managing such waste.

Maddy summarySB 1036 requires solar retailers and salespeople to register with the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation. It establishes fees for registration and imposes civil or administrative penalties for violations. The bill directly affects companies and individuals selling or leasing residential solar energy systems (intended for home use) to homeowners. Key provisions define terms like "residential solar retailer" and set up a regulatory framework for these transactions, including requirements for controlling persons within solar businesses.

Maddy summarySB 1737 clarifies and expands the definitions of "custodial officer" and "law enforcement officer" for retirement benefits under Texas' Employees Retirement System. It adds specific categories of correctional and juvenile justice positions to the "custodial officer" definition, including those with direct contact with inmates or youth in facilities. It also clarifies which law enforcement officers, including those from agencies like the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Parks and Wildlife Department, and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, qualify for retirement benefits. These changes ensure more officers in these roles can receive retirement benefits based on their service. The bill requires agencies to certify these officers to the retirement system.

Maddy summaryHB 4426 sets a maximum 10-year term for permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas to commercial surface disposal facilities (like waste management sites). It requires renewal applications to be submitted 120 days before expiration and allows the Commission to consider an applicant's compliance history - including past inspections, reports, and rule adherence - when determining permit terms for new, amended, or renewal applications. The law applies only to permits issued, amended, or renewed on or after September 1, 2025, leaving existing permits governed by prior rules. This changes how long facilities can operate under a single permit and influences renewal decisions based on their regulatory track record.

Maddy summaryHB 3595 requires Texas assisted living facilities to create emergency plans ensuring resident safety during power outages. Specifically, facilities must provide climate-controlled areas (at least 15 square feet per resident) for non-bedfast residents and dedicated climate-controlled rooms for bedfast residents (those unable to move during emergencies). The bill mandates maintaining temperatures between 68°F and 82°F in these spaces and reporting extended power outages (over 12 hours) to the state commission. It also sets new construction standards for facilities built after September 2026, including backup power systems. The law applies directly to all assisted living facilities and their residents, prioritizing safety during emergencies.

Maddy summaryHB 2525 exempts from property taxes certain housing and related facilities owned by charitable organizations that provide services specifically for people aged 62 or older. The bill amends Texas tax law to add a new provision (Subsection (k-1)) allowing these properties - such as senior housing with recreational activities or special-needs facilities - to qualify for tax exemption if the organization meets other charitable requirements. This directly affects nonprofit housing providers serving seniors, reducing their property tax burden. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 3159 provides a severance tax exemption for oil and gas produced from specific restimulation wells that were previously inactive. The exemption applies to wells certified by the Railroad Commission as "qualifying wells" after undergoing restimulation treatment, excluding wells with less than 60 months of prior production or those part of enhanced oil recovery projects. Hydrocarbons from these wells are exempt from severance taxes for up to 36 consecutive months or until the total exempted tax value reaches $750,000 (whichever is lower), whichever is lower. This policy directly affects oil and gas operators who perform restimulation on eligible inactive wells, reducing their tax burden during the exemption period.

Maddy summaryHB 4429 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 281 in Blanco and Burnet Counties - between State Highway 71 and Ranch Road 962 - as the Muckleroy Family Memorial Highway. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the designated segment and at appropriate intermediate locations along the highway. This is a commemorative designation with no new policy or funding requirements; it solely names the highway segment for recognition. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after receiving gubernatorial approval.

Maddy summarySB 31, titled the "Life of the Mother Act," amends Texas Health and Safety Code to create a specific exception allowing abortions when a physician determines in "reasonable medical judgment" that a pregnancy poses a life-threatening risk of death or serious risk of substantial impairment to a major bodily function. It directly affects pregnant individuals with pregnancy-related conditions that threaten life or major bodily function, removing prior requirements that risks be imminent or that physical damage already occur. The law permits physicians to act proactively to address such risks before symptoms manifest, without needing to wait for documented harm. Signed by the governor on June 20, 2025, it became effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 2 amends Texas education law to change how public school districts and charter schools compensate teachers. It requires schools to implement performance-based pay systems where teacher salaries differentiate based on appraisals, prohibits routine across-the-board raises, and mandates that all teachers be eligible for designations like "master" or "exemplary" based on evaluations. The bill also establishes criteria for districts to qualify for enhanced teacher incentive funding, including strategic evaluation systems for principals and placing highly effective teachers at high-need campuses. This directly affects school districts, charter schools, and classroom teachers by restructuring compensation and evaluation practices.