Maddy summaryHB 3134 establishes a regulatory framework for "advanced air mobility" in Texas, primarily affecting electric aircraft and vertiports (landing/takeoff sites for air taxis). The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to create an office for technical support, develop a statewide strategic plan, identify uniform planning standards for vertiports, estimate electric grid capacity needs, and provide guidebooks to local governments. It specifically applies to aircraft over 300 pounds capable of carrying passengers or cargo, focusing on electric vertical takeoff aircraft and urban air mobility infrastructure. The law aims to enable future air taxi services by standardizing planning and infrastructure requirements across the state.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 1879 transfers a specific 14.999-acre tract of land in Walker County from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to Walker County. The county must use the property exclusively for a justice center (such as a courthouse or detention facility) and cannot repurpose it or fail to use it for that purpose within 10 years of transfer, or ownership reverts to the state. The bill specifies the property's boundaries and requires a formal transfer document with these usage restrictions. The bill was signed into law by the governor on May 13, 2025, and is now effective.
Maddy summaryHB 135 exempts the purchase and sale of game animals (such as deer and elk) and exotic animals (like reptiles or big cats) from Texas sales and use taxes. This means businesses and individuals involved in trading these animals - such as breeders, pet stores, or hunters - no longer pay state sales tax on these transactions. The bill amends the Texas Tax Code to add these animals as a new category of exempt items, similar to existing agricultural exemptions for feed or farm equipment. This directly reduces tax costs for the wildlife trade and pet industries while aligning with broader agricultural tax policies.
Maddy summaryHCR 64 is a ceremonial resolution designating the first full week in April as "Gifted and Talented Students Week" in Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035. It does not create new laws, funding, or requirements - it simply recognizes and celebrates gifted and talented students, their achievements, and the educators who support them. The resolution applies to all Texas students and schools identified under state gifted education programs, which currently serve over 450,000 students. It remains effective until April 2035 per Texas Government Code Section 391.004(d). This is a symbolic gesture with no direct policy or financial impact.
Maddy summaryHJR 99 proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize Texas lawmakers to exempt animal feed held by businesses for retail sale from ad valorem property taxes. If approved by voters, this would allow the legislature to create a specific tax exemption for tangible personal property (physical animal feed) owned by sellers for resale. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election and does not automatically create the exemption - future legislation would need to implement it. This directly affects feed retailers and agricultural businesses that hold animal feed inventory for sale.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for businesses subject to Texas insurance tax that make cash investments in approved rural development funds. The credits apply to investments supporting rural small businesses located outside cities over 50,000 people or in USDA-designated rural areas. For loans to these businesses, the fund must verify the business was denied financing by a commercial bank or referred by one. The law defines "growth investment" as equity or loans with specific terms, including minimum five-year maturity for debt instruments.
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.
Maddy summaryHB 32 clarifies eviction procedures in Texas by updating Property Code rules. It requires landlords to give tenants at least three days' written notice before filing eviction suits for nonpayment of rent (unless a lease specifies otherwise). The bill also limits courts to deciding actual possession rights - not property title - in eviction cases and prohibits adding counterclaims or third parties to these suits. Additionally, it states only the Texas legislature can change these eviction procedures. This bill directly affects landlords, tenants, and justice courts handling eviction cases.
Maddy summaryHB 4646 transfers ownership of the Woodlawn Water Supply Corporation - including all its assets, debts, infrastructure, and its water utility license - to the Angelina and Neches River Authority. The bill requires the corporation to transfer all real property, water systems, and contractual rights to the Authority via a formal contract, and to notify environmental and utility regulators of the change. Within 30 days of the transfer, the corporation must begin dissolving, ending its separate legal existence. This directly affects Woodlawn’s operations and customers, consolidating water service under a regional authority without requiring new permits or public hearings.
Maddy summaryHB 1663 would allow businesses and individuals in Texas to claim a credit or refund for diesel fuel taxes paid on diesel used specifically for auxiliary power units (APUs, like those powering air conditioning without running the main engine) or power take-off (PTO) equipment on motor vehicles. The credit applies only to fuel used for these auxiliary purposes, not for climate control systems (e.g., passenger comfort) or idling. Claimants can use a separate meter to measure fuel usage or, if no meter exists, a percentage of total fuel consumption (determined by the state comptroller) to calculate the refund amount. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.