Rep. Cody Harris

Maddy summaryHB 941 aims to strengthen Texas' electric grid resilience to prevent future widespread outages like those in 2011 and 2021. It directly affects all Texas residents, particularly vulnerable communities including the elderly, low-income households, and areas near chemical plants or refineries that face heightened risks during power failures. The bill focuses on improving weatherization standards for power infrastructure, enhancing grid management systems to handle rolling outages, and ensuring resources are allocated for grid reliability. These measures are intended to protect public health, prevent economic harm, and address environmental risks linked to past grid failures.

Maddy summaryHB 920 exempts sales and use taxes on firearms, ammunition, firearm accessories, and specific firearm safety equipment (like gun safes, locks, and training materials) from Texas sales and use taxes. This directly affects consumers and retailers purchasing these items, removing a tax burden that currently applies. The exemption applies to the sale, storage, use, or consumption of these items, effective September 1, 2025. The bill does not change taxes owed before this date or impact other tax categories.

Maddy summaryHB 892 would require Texas voters to submit proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. The bill specifies five acceptable documents for proof, including a U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate from a U.S. state, or U.S. citizenship papers. Registrars would verify citizenship using these documents during the registration process. The law would take effect on January 1, 2026, but only if a related constitutional amendment is approved by Texas voters in 2025; otherwise, it would not be implemented.

Maddy summaryHCR 79 is a Texas concurrent resolution urging Congress to propose a constitutional amendment. It seeks to clarify that states and Congress may reasonably regulate campaign and election spending, including distinguishing between natural persons (individuals) and entities like corporations or unions. The resolution argues current laws allow foreign interference and excessive influence from wealthy groups through hidden spending and "dark money" groups. This is a procedural request - not a law - and would require Congress to draft the amendment and states to ratify it.

Maddy summaryHB 706 prohibits Texas state and local governments from enforcing rules, fees, taxes, or mandates from the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations (UN), or World Economic Forum (WEF). It declares these international organizations have no jurisdiction within Texas and blocks their policies from being implemented by the state or its political subdivisions. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025, directly affecting Texas government agencies and local municipalities that might otherwise comply with such international directives. This is a substantive policy change limiting state engagement with specific international bodies.

Maddy summaryHB 703 strengthens the secretary of state's authority to enforce election laws by amending Section 31.005 and adding new provisions to Chapter 34 of the Election Code. It creates "state election marshals" who must be licensed peace officers with election law training, appointed by the secretary of state to investigate alleged election code violations in each Department of Public Safety region. These marshals will report to the secretary of state and have powers similar to state inspectors. The bill directly affects election administrators and officials who manage electoral processes, requiring them to correct violations that impede voting rights, delay elections without authority, or breach election code provisions.

Maddy summaryBased solely on the provided context, a summary of HB 518 cannot be generated. The bill text is unavailable ("This version is not currently available, but is coming soon"), and no specific provisions, mechanisms, or policy changes are described in the summary section. The title indicates it relates to agricultural land ownership by nonresident aliens or foreign entities, and the bill was filed in November 2024 and referred to State Affairs in March 2025. Without access to the actual bill text or a detailed summary, no factual description of its provisions or effects can be provided.

Maddy summaryThe bill text for HB 344 is unavailable in the provided context, with a placeholder noting "This version is not currently available, but is coming soon." No specific provisions, affected parties, or policy mechanisms are described. The bill's title indicates it relates to restrictions on public school instruction or activities concerning sexual orientation or gender identity, but the actual content cannot be summarized without the full text. A complete summary cannot be generated based on the current information.

Maddy summaryThe bill title indicates HB 328 relates to regulating manufactured home rental communities in specific counties, but no substantive text or provisions are provided in the available context. The bill's content is listed as "not currently available" with a placeholder noting a PDF will be provided later. Without access to the actual bill language or key mechanisms, a detailed summary cannot be generated. The recent actions (filing, reading, referral) confirm its legislative status but do not describe its policy content.

Maddy summaryHB 309 restricts local governments (such as cities, counties, and school districts) from using public funds to hire lobbyists for state legislative advocacy or to pay nonprofit associations that represent local governments and employ registered lobbyists. The bill prohibits political subdivisions from spending taxpayer money to: (1) hire individuals required to register as lobbyists under Texas law, or (2) support organizations that primarily represent local governments and contract with registered lobbyists. It allows taxpayers or residents to sue to stop violations and recover legal fees if they win such cases. The bill directly affects how local governments can fund advocacy efforts and clarifies that county officials cannot use public funds to join associations in ways that violate these restrictions.