Rep. Carrie Isaac

Maddy summaryHB 3134 establishes a regulatory framework for "advanced air mobility" in Texas, primarily affecting electric aircraft and vertiports (landing/takeoff sites for air taxis). The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to create an office for technical support, develop a statewide strategic plan, identify uniform planning standards for vertiports, estimate electric grid capacity needs, and provide guidebooks to local governments. It specifically applies to aircraft over 300 pounds capable of carrying passengers or cargo, focusing on electric vertical takeoff aircraft and urban air mobility infrastructure. The law aims to enable future air taxi services by standardizing planning and infrastructure requirements across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2587 requires Texas hospitals to report costs of providing care to patients without legal immigration status. Hospitals must ask about immigration status during intake (without affecting care) and submit quarterly data on costs and financial impact to a state agency. The agency then compiles an annual report for lawmakers by November 1, detailing total costs and how these expenses affected hospitals. This applies to all Texas hospitals serving patients who were not lawfully present at the time of care, focusing on transparency about uncompensated care expenses.

Maddy summaryHCR 35 is a Texas concurrent resolution urging Congress to change federal tax law. It requests that spaceports be added to the list of facilities eligible for tax-exempt private activity bonds - currently available for airports, docks, and similar transportation hubs. This would allow spaceport projects in Texas (where the state ranks second nationally in spaceport locations and hosts over 2,000 aerospace businesses) to access lower-cost financing for infrastructure development. The resolution does not change state law but formally asks federal lawmakers to amend the Internal Revenue Code to support this change.

Maddy summaryHB 497 requires Texas school staff to obtain written parental consent before providing students with behavioral or mental health services, including counseling, contraceptives, or materials on family planning, sexuality, or mental health. The bill directly affects students in Texas public schools and their parents, as it mandates consent for these specific services starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Key provisions include exceptions for special education requirements under existing law and prohibitions on school staff conducting psychological exams or recording students without parental permission. The law does not apply to general school counseling but specifically targets services involving sensitive health topics. It remains pending in committee as of the latest actions.

Maddy summaryHB 2031 prevents landlords from banning tenants from lawfully possessing firearms in specific areas of rental properties. It allows tenants to keep firearms in their rental units, vehicles parked in landlord-provided lots, and areas needed to access their unit or premises. Landlords who violate this law face civil penalties: $1,000-$1,500 for a first offense and $10,000-$10,500 for repeat violations. Tenants must first give landlords written notice of the violation and allow 3 business days to fix it before reporting to the attorney general. The collected penalties fund crime victim compensation.

Maddy summaryHB 1128 amends Texas Penal Code Section 46.03 to create an exception allowing licensed election judges and certain early voting staff to carry concealed handguns while performing their duties at polling places. This directly affects election judges (as defined in Election Code Chapter 32) and early voting clerks/deputies serving as election judges at early voting locations. The bill modifies the existing prohibition on concealed carry at polling places to exclude these specific election personnel who hold valid handgun licenses. The change applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHJR 88 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Texas counties to create tax exemptions for property owners who install rainwater harvesting or graywater systems. If approved by voters in 2025, it would let county commissioners courts exempt the portion of a property's assessed value tied to these water systems from local property taxes. This would directly affect homeowners and property owners who invest in such sustainable water infrastructure. The measure is currently pending voter approval after passing the Texas legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 2882 amends Texas law to clarify the legal definition of a "short-barrel firearm" for criminal offenses. The bill defines it as a rifle with a barrel under 16 inches, a shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches, or any modified rifle/shotgun with an overall length under 26 inches. It specifically excludes handguns equipped with stabilizing braces designed for one-handed use. This definition change will apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, affecting individuals charged with crimes involving these firearms under current criminal statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 2266 prioritizes processing applications for standard permits at rock or concrete crushing facilities for operators who previously held such permits and reclaimed land disturbed by their facility within 180 days after closing. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to require the commission to give priority to these operators when reviewing new permit applications. It directly affects existing or former operators of these facilities who meet the reclamation and prior authorization criteria. The policy change aims to encourage responsible land reclamation by streamlining permit access for compliant operators, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 964 requires Texas-issued personal identification certificates and driver's licenses for non-citizens to display the phrase "NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE" prominently on the front in the same font size as the ID number. It also mandates that non-citizen driver's licenses be oriented vertically (unlike citizen licenses) to visually distinguish them. The bill applies only to licenses issued or renewed on or after September 1, 2025, leaving older documents unaffected. This directly affects non-citizen residents who obtain or renew these Texas IDs, altering their physical appearance without changing eligibility for holding them.