Rep. Carrie Isaac

Maddy summaryHB 3142 sets new requirements for school marshals in Texas public and private schools. To qualify, a person must either hold a specific license under Texas law or be a volunteer who is a veteran, active military member, peace officer, reserve officer, or retired peace officer. School districts, charter schools, private schools, and public junior colleges must appoint marshals meeting these standards. The bill also allows school districts to reimburse volunteers for training costs related to the marshal role. This directly affects school districts, volunteers, and individuals seeking to serve as school marshals.

Maddy summaryHB 1794 amends Texas law to permit licensed handgun carriers to carry concealed handguns on polling place premises during elections or early voting. It specifically allows holders of valid concealed handgun licenses (CHL) to possess only a concealed handgun at these locations, provided no other weapons are carried. The bill removes the current prohibition against concealed weapons at polling places for CHL holders, aligning with existing exceptions for other locations like schools. This change directly affects licensed handgun carriers participating in elections but does not permit open carry or other weapons. The amendment modifies Section 46.03(a)(2) of the Penal Code to create this specific exception.

Maddy summaryHB 5014 creates a new "SPECIAL FORCES VETERAN" designation for handgun license holders in Texas. It requires applicants to list qualifying military service (12+ consecutive months in specific Army Special Forces roles like 18A detachment commander or 18B weapons sergeant) and provide proof of eligibility. The bill amends license forms to include this designation alongside existing categories like "VETERAN." It directly affects Texas veterans who served in designated Special Forces positions at E5-E9, W1-W5, or O1-O10 pay grades.

Maddy summaryHCR 89 is a symbolic resolution designating the cannon as Texas's official state gun, primarily to honor its historical significance in Texas independence. It references key events like the "Come and Take It" cannon at the Battle of Gonzales and cannons used at the Alamo and San Jacinto. The bill does not create new laws or regulations but formally recognizes cannons as a symbol of Texas heritage. This designation applies only to ceremonial purposes, not to firearm laws or policies.

Maddy summaryHB 113 modifies Texas law on how courts interpret statutes. It restricts courts from considering legislative intent (like statements from lawmakers or committee reports) when reading laws, requiring them to focus only on the plain text of the statute. The bill also prohibits courts from automatically deferring to state agencies' interpretations of laws, though reasonable agency views that match the statute's wording may still be considered. This directly affects courts, state agencies, and anyone involved in legal cases interpreting Texas laws. The changes aim to limit judicial interpretation methods and emphasize the written text of statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 3918 requires Texas municipalities to publish two specific items online: (1) all local rules governing where political signs can be placed, and (2) a map showing areas where signs are regulated or banned. It also mandates that municipal clerks send these materials to local candidates, elections officers, and county political party officials. The law aims to increase transparency about sign placement rules, directly affecting municipalities' public information practices and political candidates' access to local regulations. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and is currently pending in the State Affairs committee.

Maddy summaryHB 3231 increases criminal penalties for human trafficking in Texas by expanding the definition of the offense. The bill specifically prohibits trafficking children or disabled individuals for forced labor or services without requiring the trafficker to know the victim's age or disability status. It also broadens the offense to include trafficking that results in prohibited acts like prostitution or sexual abuse, and receiving benefits from such trafficking ventures. These changes directly affect traffickers who exploit vulnerable victims, raising penalties for these expanded scenarios under Texas law.

Maddy summaryHB 1730 requires the University of Houston to lead a study on how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (common in products like food packaging and firefighting gear) affect public health. The study must examine these chemicals in food and drink products, drinking water sources, and workplace materials used by firefighters and manufacturing workers. The University of Houston, working with Texas environmental agencies, must complete the study and submit a report to the legislature by December 1, 2026. The bill expires December 31, 2026, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2881 prohibits Texas state and local government entities from assisting federal authorities in enforcing federal laws that restrict getting, making, or possessing ammunition, if those restrictions do not already exist under Texas law. The bill specifically blocks cooperation on federal requirements such as firearm registration, licensing, background checks for private ammunition sales, confiscation programs, purchase limits, or manufacturing restrictions. However, it exempts federal laws that were in effect as of January 19, 2021, for some restrictions and as of August 31, 2025, for others. The law will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2879 protects condo owners, tenants, and their guests from penalties like fines or eviction for using justified force (including deadly force) on residential property, as defined under Texas Penal Code Chapter 9. The bill creates an "irrebuttable presumption" that force was justified if the person was acquitted, a grand jury declined to indict, or prosecutors declined to file charges for the same incident. It applies to condominiums (via Property Code Section 82.122) and leased residential properties (via Sections 92.027 and 94.258), preventing associations or landlords from taking adverse action based on legally justified force. The law overrides any conflicting terms in property declarations or leases, regardless of when they were adopted.