Rep. Stan Kitzman

Maddy summaryHB 1431 defines "cell-cultured protein" as food made by harvesting animal cells and replicating them in a growth medium, then adds it to Texas' prohibited acts under the Health and Safety Code. The bill specifically bans the manufacture, processing, possession, distribution, sale, or offer for sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption within Texas. This targets companies producing or selling lab-grown meat alternatives, making such activities unlawful under existing food safety prohibitions without creating new regulatory requirements. The bill remains pending after being postponed on May 14, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 168 prohibits marriage for anyone under 18 in Texas, eliminating the previous exception that allowed minors to marry with a court order removing the disabilities of minority. The bill amends the Texas Family Code to require county clerks to deny marriage licenses to minors and declare any marriage entered into by a minor void. This change applies to all marriage applications filed and marriages entered into on or after September 1, 2025. The bill directly affects minors under 18 and their families by ending the ability to marry with court approval under prior law.

Maddy summaryHB 4266 updates Texas law to specifically include Fayette County's county attorney under the Professional Prosecutors Law. Currently, county attorneys in certain counties (like Fayette) who perform district attorney duties are not covered by this law, but this bill adds Fayette County to the list of counties where county attorneys fall under the same professional standards as other prosecutors. The change applies to the county attorney's role in criminal prosecutions, ensuring they meet the same qualifications and oversight requirements as district attorneys in other counties. This amendment takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5570 exempts attorneys working in specific state legislative or oversight roles from the standard minimum continuing legal education (CLE) requirements. It applies to attorneys employed full-time by the Texas Senate, House of Representatives, their committees, the Texas Legislative Council, Legislative Budget Board, Legislative Reference Library, State Auditor's office, or Sunset Advisory Commission. It also exempts attorneys serving as state officials appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. The exemption applies only to CLE compliance years ending on or after September 1, 2025, with existing rules continuing for prior years. This is a procedural change to state bar rules, not a new requirement.

Maddy summaryHJR 98 is a Texas legislative resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It seeks to propose amendments that would impose spending limits on the federal government, reduce federal power over states, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. Texas formally applies to Congress to initiate this process, with the resolution intended as a continuing application until at least 34 states (two-thirds) support the same purpose. This is a procedural request - Texas has no authority to create new laws, but aims to join other states in advancing this constitutional mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 2587 requires Texas hospitals to report costs of providing care to patients without legal immigration status. Hospitals must ask about immigration status during intake (without affecting care) and submit quarterly data on costs and financial impact to a state agency. The agency then compiles an annual report for lawmakers by November 1, detailing total costs and how these expenses affected hospitals. This applies to all Texas hospitals serving patients who were not lawfully present at the time of care, focusing on transparency about uncompensated care expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 4331 requires the Texas Water Development Board to study ways to streamline the state environmental review process for flood control and drainage projects seeking financial assistance from the flood infrastructure fund (under Water Code Chapter 15). The study must be completed by January 1, 2027, and the Board must then implement new internal procedures based on the findings. This directly affects flood infrastructure projects eligible for state funding, aiming to reduce delays in environmental reviews. The bill expires September 1, 2027, and takes effect in 2025 if passed with a two-thirds vote.

Maddy summaryHB 4329 requires the Texas Water Development Board to study factors affecting the costs of developing drainage infrastructure across Texas, with a report due by January 1, 2027. The study must identify cost drivers like location, materials, and project scale, then compare regional cost differences. The Board must submit a written report to the legislature based on this analysis. The bill expires September 1, 2027, and does not allocate funding or mandate specific infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryHB 5348 requires water project developers (like those building reservoirs) to first seek environmental mitigation by offering to pay property owners for easements on nearby land instead of purchasing full ownership. If property owners reject these offers or agreements fail, developers may then acquire land through standard legal processes. Developers who choose not to use easements must submit a written explanation to the state board detailing their reasons. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4688 modifies Texas law for civil liability cases involving commercial motor vehicle accidents. It restricts when evidence of regulatory violations (like safety rules) can be used in court, requiring such evidence to directly link the violation to the injury and show the rule specifically applied to the situation. The bill also limits claims against employers for driver negligence unless the employer first admits the driver was acting within their job duties at the time of the accident. These changes apply only to cases filed or tried after the bill becomes law.