Rep. Trent Ashby

Maddy summaryHB 254 amends Texas law to define eligibility for grants under the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program. It specifies that counties qualify if they have a population under 100,000, a gross domestic product below $3 billion (or $2 billion after amendment), a poverty rate exceeding 10% (or 15% after amendment), and are located in a disaster area where damages exceed 10% of the county's prior year sales tax revenue. Non-county political subdivisions also qualify if they lie entirely or partially within a qualifying county. The bill establishes clear, measurable criteria to determine which rural areas can access disaster recovery funding.

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 12 requires the Texas Attorney General to exclusively prosecute criminal offenses under state election laws, shifting authority from local prosecutors. It mandates that law enforcement agencies report election-related crimes to the Attorney General and obligates local prosecutors to provide requested investigation information. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date, leaving pre-existing cases governed by prior law. This change centralizes election crime prosecution under the state Attorney General's office, eliminating local jurisdiction for these specific offenses.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes amending the Texas Constitution to clarify that the Attorney General has concurrent authority with county and district attorneys to prosecute criminal violations of election laws. If approved by voters (scheduled for May 2, 2026), it would establish shared jurisdiction for election-related criminal cases between the state Attorney General and local prosecutors. The bill failed to pass the legislature on August 26, 2025, and did not advance to voter approval. It does not create new criminal offenses but defines existing prosecutorial authority under election law.

Maddy summaryHB 291 requires Texas medical schools to ensure at least 50% of required coursework for medical degrees uses letter grades (A-F) or equivalent tiered systems for assessment. It prohibits medical schools from using standardized test scores as the sole factor in admissions decisions and mandates that schools must notify the legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board before revising admission or academic standards. The bill also explicitly prohibits medical schools from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in admissions or employment decisions. These provisions apply to all medical schools in Texas offering medical degrees or certificates.

Maddy summaryHB 193 would require Texas groundwater conservation districts to limit new water permits so that total groundwater use (including unpermitted "exempt" use) does not exceed the scientifically modeled available groundwater volume. It directly affects districts issuing permits and individuals/businesses seeking to pump groundwater. The key provision amends the Water Code to mandate districts consider all water use together when setting permit limits, preventing permits from hindering long-term water sustainability goals. The bill is currently pending in the Natural Resources Committee after being filed on August 18, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 24 limits groundwater conservation districts in Texas from issuing permits that would allow an applicant to withdraw and transfer out more than 5% of the district's estimated sustainable groundwater supply. It directly affects groundwater conservation districts and applicants seeking new permits for groundwater production and transfer. The bill requires districts to calculate this 5% cap based on "modeled available groundwater" determined by the district's executive administrator. This rule applies only to permits issued on or after the bill's effective date, which is 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 5 allocates $324 million in supplemental funds from Texas' economic stabilization fund for disaster relief and preparedness. It provides $200 million to match federal disaster aid and support state disaster funds, $50 million for flood warning systems and equipment in 27 counties affected by a July 2025 flood declaration, and $24 million to improve weather forecasting and flood management in the Texas Hill Country. An additional $50 million is contingent on passing related legislation about emergency communication systems. The bill directly affects local governments in designated counties and state agencies managing disaster response.

Maddy summaryHB 2 requires justices of the peace in counties without a medical examiner to complete training on managing mass fatality events within one year of election. The training covers autopsy decisions, body identification protocols, missing persons data collection, interagency coordination, and real-time family notifications. Failure to complete this training is defined as "incompetency" for removal under local government law. The bill also allows the Texas Commission on Fire Protection to access criminal history records for license applicants and employees while restricting disclosure of that information. It authorizes fees related to these requirements.