Rep. Brooks Landgraf

Maddy summaryHB 1, the Youth CAMPER Act, requires youth camp operators to submit updated plans when altering camp boundaries, building new cabins, or renovating existing cabins that change bed counts or access points. It also mandates the state health department to establish minimum staff-to-camper ratios for overnight stays at youth camps. The bill authorizes penalties for noncompliance but does not specify penalty amounts in the provided text. This law directly affects licensed youth camps operating on a boarding or overnight basis in Texas, focusing on physical safety planning and staffing standards.

Maddy summaryHR 128 amends Texas House rules to impose specific penalties on members who absent themselves without permission to disrupt legislative proceedings. It directly affects House members who deliberately skip sessions to hinder the House's work. Key provisions include a daily fine of $1,500 (three times the standard $500 per diem), reimbursement for sergeant-at-arms costs to secure attendance, loss of committee leadership roles, and potential seniority recalculation for repeated absences. Penalties apply only when absence is proven to impede House business, and members retain constitutional rights to representation.

Maddy summaryHB 265 strengthens Texas youth camp oversight by requiring the health department to review camp safety rules by April 2026, in consultation with a newly structured advisory committee. The committee must include nine members representing emergency management, law enforcement, pediatric care, child psychology, abuse prevention, camp operators, parents, and geographic diversity. The bill mandates camp operators to provide safe facilities and conduct annual criminal background checks on staff, including sex offender database verification. These provisions directly affect youth camp operators, staff, and campers by establishing clearer safety standards and oversight mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 295 changes Texas election rules for voters who move within their county but haven't updated their registration. It allows voters to cast ballots in their current precinct immediately after submitting a statement verifying their new address and meeting residency requirements, instead of waiting 30 days for registration changes to take effect. The bill requires voters to provide the same information needed for initial registration, including their current address and a statement confirming they reside in the precinct. This applies only to address change notices submitted after the bill's effective date. The law affects voters who relocate within their county but haven't updated their registration records.

Maddy summaryHB 305 modifies Texas election procedures to allow voters who change their residence within a county to vote immediately in their new precinct, rather than waiting 30 days for registration updates. It requires voters to submit a statement at the polling place confirming their new address and meeting residency requirements, including providing full registration details. This applies only to voters changing address within the same county, not to those moving to a different county. The bill takes effect for notices submitted on or after its effective date, making registration changes effective immediately upon submission of the required statement. It does not affect voters moving to a different county or those who have already updated their registration.

Maddy summaryHB 48 creates a nine-member working group under the Texas Division of Emergency Management to study the state's alert notification systems. The group will evaluate current systems used by the Texas Department of Public Safety and emergency management, including how "notification fatigue" (reducing unnecessary alerts that cause people to ignore them) affects their effectiveness. The working group must hold hearings, consult with federal agencies, and submit a report with legislative recommendations by December 1, 2026. The working group expires on January 1, 2027, after completing its study.

Maddy summaryHJR 10 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to change the quorum requirement for the Texas Senate or House of Representatives from two-thirds to a simple majority of members. This would allow legislative business to proceed with fewer members present, directly affecting how both chambers conduct sessions and pass legislation. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in a May 2, 2026, election, with the ballot asking whether "a majority of the members" should constitute a quorum. If passed, this change would alter a core procedural rule governing legislative operations.

Maddy summaryHB 298 creates a rule for when Texas state legislators lose their seats due to missing sessions. If a senator or representative misses 14 unexcused floor sessions during a regular legislative session (or 3 during a special session) without majority approval from their chamber, their seat becomes vacant. This applies only to absences occurring after the bill’s effective date and does not affect existing terms. The bill directly affects legislators who fail to attend sessions without valid justification approved by their chamber’s majority.

Maddy summaryHB 297 modifies Texas election procedures for voters with outdated address information. It allows voters who have moved within their county to vote immediately in their current precinct by submitting a statement to election officials, which must include proof of residence, all required voter registration details, and the submission date. This statement replaces the standard 30-day waiting period for address changes, though the registration update becomes official 30 days after submission. The bill applies only to address change notices submitted on or after its effective date and repeals an existing election code section.

Maddy summaryHB 66 creates a Texas Disaster Relief and Prevention Matching Grant and Loan Program, funded through a new state account. It provides matching grants to local governments and businesses in declared disaster areas for disaster recovery, infrastructure repairs, and future disaster mitigation. The bill also authorizes loans for these entities and for individuals to repair or rebuild disaster-damaged homes with added mitigation features. Eligibility requires applicants to qualify for FEMA public assistance or SBA disaster loans.