Rep. Carrie Isaac

Maddy summarySB 2938 requires counties to verify and include an inmate’s veteran status in documentation when transferring defendants to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Specifically, it amends the transfer process to mandate that counties provide a "copy of the veteran status of the defendant as determined by an investigation" under existing state law (Section 511.009(a)(17)(A) of the Government Code). This affects county courts and correctional facilities handling inmate transfers, ensuring veteran status is formally documented during the transfer process. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on record-keeping requirements, not on altering veteran benefits or eligibility. It became law on September 1, 2025, after passing unanimously in both chambers.

Maddy summarySB 2180 requires peace officers to obtain certification before conducting specific polygraph examinations for pre-employment screenings of license applicants or criminal investigations. To qualify, officers must complete a commission-approved training course and pass a knowledge exam on investigative polygraph techniques. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement must establish these certification rules, with the requirement taking effect for all peace officers starting January 1, 2027. This law, effective September 1, 2025, creates a standardized process for ensuring officers meet minimum competency standards in polygraph examinations.

Maddy summaryHB 5138 shifts responsibility for prosecuting election-related crimes from local prosecutors to the Texas Attorney General's office. It requires law enforcement agencies to report election law violations to the Attorney General and mandates that local prosecutors cooperate with the AG’s office. The bill creates new provisions in the Government Code (Subchapter D) and amends the Election Code to give the Attorney General sole authority to prosecute such offenses, effective September 1, 2026. This directly affects local law enforcement, county prosecutors, and the Attorney General’s office by centralizing prosecution authority for election crimes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a split-payment option for local property taxes (ad valorem taxes) in Texas. Property owners can pay half their annual tax bill by December 1 (or by the first day of the next month if tax bills are mailed after November 30) and the remaining half by July 1 of the following year, without penalties or interest. The adjustment for mailed tax bills after November 30 ensures the first payment deadline aligns with when property owners actually receive their bills. This change applies to property taxes for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1130 creates limited liability for commercial cavern tour operators (cavern entities) in Texas for injuries sustained by participants during recreational or educational cavern activities. It requires cavern entities to post a specific warning sign at all entrances stating Texas law limits their liability for such injuries, unless the injury resulted from the entity's negligence, known dangerous conditions, or intentional harm. The law applies to injuries occurring after its effective date (May 29, 2025) and exempts cases involving the cavern entity's failure to address safety hazards or properly train staff. This directly affects cavern tour businesses and their participants by shifting legal responsibility unless the required warning is displayed.

Maddy summaryHB 142 streamlines how Texas' Medicaid Inspector General reviews claims and recovers overpayments. It allows the Inspector General to directly contract with qualified experts for claim reviews without competitive bidding when no bids are received, and clarifies that the office may share certain oversight information with state, federal, or local agencies. The bill directly affects Medicaid providers (through revised eligibility checks) and the Health and Human Services Commission's Inspector General office (by changing its review processes). Key provisions include simplified contracting for expert reviews and expanded information-sharing authority for oversight purposes, all while maintaining compliance with federal Medicaid requirements. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 29 requires large municipally owned water utilities (those serving over 150,000 connections) to verify their annual water loss reports through independent validation within 180 days of filing. It mandates these utilities to develop and submit a water loss mitigation plan within one year, updated every 10 years with detailed goals and projects. The bill also requires these plans to be integrated into existing water conservation reporting and includes specific guidelines for certified validation personnel. This law directly affects major municipal water providers across Texas, focusing on improving accuracy in water loss reporting and reducing waste through structured planning.

Maddy summaryHB 451 requires Texas child welfare and juvenile justice systems to screen children in state custody or under juvenile probation for risk of commercial sexual exploitation. It mandates this screening using validated tools within 45 days of a child entering state conservatorship or before juvenile case dispositions, if age-appropriate or concerns exist. The screening must be conducted by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit under the Texas Government Code. Implementation depends on legislative funding, with the law taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 210 prohibits vendors from bidding on or receiving contracts with Texas school districts or open-enrollment charter schools if a board member or related individual has certain financial ties to the vendor. Specifically, it bans contracts when a board member owns over 10% of the vendor, is closely related to someone who does, or has received gifts worth more than $250. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors (escalating to felonies for repeat offenses or when money/gifts were given as consideration), targeting vendors - not board members. The law applies to all vendors providing goods or services to school districts and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5061, the Texas Integrity in State Contracting and Privacy Protection Act, prohibits state agency contractors and vendors from engaging in specific harmful activities. It bans surveillance targeting legislators, their families, state employees, or whistleblowers; intimidation or coercion to silence concerns; and misuse of private information to influence contracting decisions. Contractors violating these rules face administrative penalties enforced by the state auditor’s office. The law applies to all state agency contracts, including those managed by the comptroller or universities, and takes effect on September 1, 2025.