Rep. Cody Harris

Maddy summaryHB 817 clarifies how majority votes are determined in Texas elections for public office. It states that a candidate must receive more than half of the votes as originally cast, prohibiting the use of preferential voting systems (where voters rank candidates) to reassign votes and calculate a majority. This bill directly affects local and state elections requiring a majority vote to win, ensuring results are based solely on initial vote counts. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and amends the Election Code to prioritize original vote totals over ranked-choice reassignment methods.

Maddy summaryHB 5337 requires Texas voters to submit proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. Applicants must provide documents like a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or citizenship papers to county registrars. If proof isn't submitted, voters would only qualify for a limited federal ballot under Chapter 115. The bill creates criminal penalties for failing to provide required documentation and amends election code sections to implement these requirements. This directly affects all new voter registrants in Texas seeking full voting rights.

Maddy summaryHB 342 allows Texas counties with populations under 1.2 million (that don't use countywide polling) to combine election precincts under specific conditions. It permits combining precincts with fewer than 500 registered voters to reduce election costs, or for larger counties (250,000+ population) to combine precincts with 500-750 voters. Combined precincts must not exceed 10,000 voters and cannot dilute voting rights for protected groups under federal law. The bill affects county election administrators in smaller Texas counties managing precinct boundaries.

Maddy summaryHB 952 requires all mail-in early voting ballots to include a unique electronic code that election officials can scan to verify authenticity. It mandates that clerks and ballot boards use electronic devices to check these codes against issued ballots before counting, rejecting any ballot with a mismatched code. The bill explicitly prohibits creating records linking individual voters to these codes, ensuring voter anonymity. This change applies to all mail-in ballots processed under Texas election law, taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1832 increases criminal penalties for non-citizens who illegally enter or remain in Texas. It amends Texas Penal Code sections to upgrade offenses from misdemeanors to felonies based on prior convictions involving immigration violations, drug crimes, or crimes against persons. For example, a prior misdemeanor under immigration law can elevate a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony, and multiple prior offenses can trigger third-degree or higher felonies. The bill specifically targets individuals removed under federal law (citing 8 U.S.C. sections) or convicted of related crimes. The bill is pending in committee and has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 3265 prohibits health benefit plan issuers, pharmacy benefit managers, and drug manufacturers from discriminating against entities participating in the federal 340B drug discount program. It bans denying access to discounted drugs, restricting acquisitions, or requiring unnecessary data submission as a condition for 340B drug access. Covered entities (like community health centers and hospitals), pharmacies under contract with them, and their authorized partners are directly protected. Violations carry a civil penalty of up to $50,000 per offense, enforceable through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Maddy summaryHJR 4 proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit Texas from imposing an occupation tax on financial firms regulated by federal agencies (like stock exchanges, brokers, and clearinghouses) or taxing their securities transactions. It directly affects entities such as stock exchanges, broker-dealers, and other registered securities market operators. The amendment explicitly allows existing taxes like sales taxes, insurance premiums, and general business taxes but blocks new state taxes targeting securities transactions or these specific firms. This is a constitutional change, not a regular law, requiring voter approval after legislative passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1887 allows adopted Texans and specific relatives (adult descendants, adult siblings, surviving spouses, or adoptive parents) to request noncertified copies of original birth certificates without a court order. To qualify, the person must have been born in Texas, make the request after turning 18, have a supplementary birth certificate issued, and provide identity proof. The state registrar will charge the same fee as for standard noncertified birth certificates. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, but the new access provisions won't apply until July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2 establishes a state-funded education savings account program in Texas, allowing eligible families to use public funds for approved educational expenses. The program directly affects Texas families with children who have disabilities or who live in low-income households (at or below 500% of the federal poverty level). The comptroller administers the program, funding accounts with state money that can cover approved education costs like tuition, books, or tutoring. The bill becomes effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on May 3, 2025. This creates a new state-funded option alongside public schools for participating families.

Maddy summaryHB 2156 clarifies that local governments (counties, municipalities, and public health districts) may only require permits for food service businesses (like restaurants, food trucks, and roadside vendors) in unincorporated areas if those requirements align with existing state law. The bill specifically limits local authorities to enforcing permit rules that would apply to the same businesses under state regulations, preventing additional local requirements. It directly affects food service operators in areas not covered by city ordinances, particularly in unincorporated county regions and public health districts. The key provision (Section 437.0045) states that local permits must mirror state-mandated requirements, ensuring consistency without creating new local barriers.