Rep. Carrie Isaac

Maddy summaryHB 115 restricts Texas local governments (like cities and counties) from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay organizations that hire lobbyists to influence state legislation. The bill specifically prohibits spending public money to contract with registered lobbyists or fund associations primarily representing local governments if those associations employ registered lobbyists, with exceptions for sheriffs' associations and certain staff activities. It allows local government employees to provide information to lawmakers, advocate for policies without registering as lobbyists, and cover direct travel expenses for such activities. Taxpayers or residents can sue to stop prohibited spending and recover legal fees if they win the case. The law aims to prevent public funds from being used to directly lobby the state legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 145 requires developers to attach a certification to land subdivision plans (plats) in areas relying on groundwater. This certification, prepared by a licensed engineer or geoscientist, must confirm adequate groundwater availability and follow rules set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Local governments (municipalities and county commissioners courts) must reject any plat lacking this certification. The bill directly affects developers seeking to subdivide land and local authorities reviewing subdivision applications, ensuring groundwater supply is verified before development proceeds.

Maddy summaryHB 147 prohibits Texas government entities from considering race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or diversity, equity, and inclusion programs when awarding contracts. Instead, contracts must be based solely on merit-based criteria like price and qualifications. The bill eliminates Texas' "historically underutilized business program" (Chapter 2161 of the Government Code), which previously provided preferential treatment to certain businesses. This applies to all state and local government contracting decisions made on or after the bill's effective date. The law does not affect existing contracts entered into before the effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 146 is a procedural bill that names itself the "Terrin Solbrig Act" for citation purposes. It does not change any laws related to temporary vehicle tags or the offense of tampering with governmental records. The bill will take effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 4 establishes new congressional district boundaries for Texas voters to be used in the 2026 U.S. House elections. It adopts the PLANC2308 redistricting plan based on 2020 Census data (TIGER/Line Shapefiles) to define district lines. The bill replaces all prior Texas congressional district maps, including those from 2021, and applies to elections starting with the 120th Congress (2026). This is a procedural redistricting bill directly affecting Texas residents' voting districts for federal elections beginning in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 251 prohibits Texas governmental entities from considering factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, or diversity programs when awarding contracts. Instead, contracts must be awarded based solely on merit-based criteria such as price, qualifications, and other non-discriminatory standards. The bill also eliminates the state's Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program, which previously provided support for certain businesses. These changes apply only to contracts entered into after the bill's effective date, leaving existing contracts unaffected.

Maddy summaryHB 250 modifies how Texas taxing units calculate certain ad valorem tax rates, specifically changing the formulas for "no-new-revenue tax rates" and "voter-approval tax rates." It introduces a "sales tax gain rate" factor when new sales tax revenue affects calculations, with different formulas for special taxing units (using a 1.08 multiplier) versus other units (using a 1.035 multiplier). The bill directly affects local governments that impose property taxes, ensuring tax rate increases beyond voter-approved levels follow updated calculation methods. It makes technical adjustments to Tax Code sections 26.04 and 26.05 to align with these new formulas. The changes aim to clarify how taxing units can adjust rates when new revenue sources, like sales taxes, impact their budgets.

Maddy summaryHB 218 modifies Texas groundwater permit rules for large transfers outside a conservation district's boundaries. It requires districts to obtain approval from at least two-thirds of other districts in the management area (with each district voting by majority) before issuing permits for wells producing 25,000+ gallons of groundwater daily outside their boundaries. The bill also clarifies that transfers for potable water supply within a utility's service area (if part is inside the district) and emergency interconnects between utilities are not considered "outside" transfers. These changes apply only to permits issued after the bill's effective date, which is 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 215 modifies Texas law to limit landowner liability for groundwater use. It specifically protects landowners (including lessees, heirs, and assigns) who pump 25,000+ gallons of groundwater daily for beneficial use, stating they cannot be sued for interference unless their pumping: (1) lowers water tables harming neighboring land, or (2) unreasonably harms watercourses/lakes. The bill applies only to lawsuits filed after its effective date. This change directly affects large-scale groundwater users, such as agricultural or industrial operations, by reducing legal risks for routine use.

Maddy summaryHB 217 creates legal immunity for groundwater conservation districts in Texas when they restrict well production. The bill states that districts cannot be held liable for damages resulting from actions like enforcing water rules, issuing permits, or limiting well output. This applies specifically to cases where the legal claim arises after the bill becomes effective. The law directly affects groundwater districts (which manage local water resources) and well owners who might otherwise sue over production restrictions.