Rep. Brooks Landgraf

Maddy summaryHB 9 creates a property tax exemption for businesses owning tangible personal property (like equipment or inventory) used to generate income. It exempts $125,000 of the appraised value of such property at each location within a taxing unit, regardless of the property's individual value. The exemption applies to all businesses holding income-producing property at a single address, and related businesses operating under a unified enterprise must aggregate their property to calculate the exemption. Additionally, businesses leasing such property receive the full $125,000 exemption for all leased items, even if located across different taxing units.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill with policy changes) commemorating The Energy Council's 50th anniversary in 2025. It honors the organization, established in 1975, which brings together energy-focused state legislators from 12 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces to collaborate on energy policy. The resolution expresses the Texas House of Representatives' "high regard" for the Council's work supporting sustainable energy practices and economic growth over five decades. It has no effect on laws or regulations - it is purely a formal expression of recognition.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 1514) suspends a procedural rule to allow a conference committee to add specific text to House Bill 40 regarding Texas business courts. It enables the committee to include two provisions: (1) Section 25A.021, which creates a process for transferring civil cases filed before September 1, 2024, to business courts with party agreement and court permission, and (2) Section 72, clarifying that other changes in the bill apply only to cases filed on or after September 1, 2024. The transfer mechanism expires September 1, 2035. This is a procedural step to facilitate the conference committee’s work on H.B. 40, not a substantive policy change itself.

Maddy summarySB 1173 reduces the threshold requiring competitive procurement for Texas school districts, municipalities, and counties from $100,000 to $50,000 for most contracts. It applies to purchases of goods and services (excluding produce/fuel for schools and sole-supplier items), mandating methods like competitive bidding, sealed proposals, or reverse auctions. The bill clarifies that purchases from a single supplier aren’t subject to these rules and prohibits splitting contracts to avoid the threshold. This procedural change affects all local government spending above $50,000, effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 48 creates a dedicated oilfield theft prevention unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety to investigate and prevent the theft of oil and gas equipment used in drilling, production, and transportation. The unit, headquartered in the El Paso region, will coordinate with local law enforcement, the Railroad Commission, and victims to develop specialized training for police and conduct public awareness campaigns. It will investigate specific theft offenses under Texas law related to oilfield equipment and must follow department rules for operations, including staff training and equipment procurement. The bill establishes this unit as a permanent part of DPS to address theft targeting the energy sector.

Maddy summaryHB 4 restricts Texas public school districts and campuses from obtaining exemptions or waivers for specific requirements, including graduation standards, school accountability measures under Chapters 39 and 39A, health and safety rules, and programs for special education and bilingual students. The bill explicitly prohibits waivers for federal mandates, essential knowledge/skills, class size limits (except as allowed by law), extracurricular activities, and other key areas listed in the legislation. It also changes the appeal process for challenges to the commissioner's decisions, requiring appeals to be filed in Travis County district court with specific procedural steps. This bill directly affects school districts, the Texas Education Agency, and individuals seeking to challenge educational decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 37 requires hospitals with maternal care designations to provide bereavement counseling options and perinatal bereavement devices (which delay tissue deterioration for up to 72 hours after pregnancy loss or infant death) to families following intrauterine fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth. The Texas Department of State Health Services must establish a perinatal bereavement care initiative offering hospitals training for staff on compassionate communication and resources like devices with maintenance support. This law directly affects designated hospitals and families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss in Texas. The initiative aims to improve access to supportive care during this difficult time, with the law taking effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 21 amends Texas Local Government Code provisions affecting housing finance corporations that develop or manage low- and moderate-income housing. It defines qualifying residential developments as those where at least 90% of units are intended for households with adjusted gross income below state-defined moderate income levels. The bill also requires these corporations to follow open meetings and public records laws (Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code) and restricts their development to areas within the boundaries of their sponsoring local governments - unless approved by those governing bodies. These changes clarify operational rules and transparency requirements for housing finance corporations serving low- and moderate-income residents.

Maddy summaryHB 2884 requires claimants (plaintiffs) and their attorneys in civil lawsuits involving US defense contractors to disclose any funding received from individuals, entities, or governments affiliated with nations under US sanctions or embargoes. Claimants must identify all such funding sources in initial court filings and update disclosures within 10 days if new funding sources emerge during the case. All disclosures must be made under oath and cannot be withheld on grounds of privilege or confidentiality. This law applies specifically to civil actions concerning defense contractor activities, regardless of whether the contractor is a named party.

Maddy summarySB 2050 prohibits disposing of common household batteries (like lithium-ion, alkaline, nickel-cadmium, and nickel-metal hydride batteries) in regular trash. It requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to establish collection sites for recycling or proper disposal of these "consumer energy storage modules" by rule. The law affects all Texas residents who use such batteries, banning landfill disposal starting September 1, 2025. The bill defines these modules as devices storing energy for consumer products, including standard batteries found in electronics and devices.