Rep. David Lowe

Maddy summaryHB 3137 bans the sale and distribution of three herbicides (glyphosate, dicamba, and chloropropham) and 15 food additives (including aspartame, artificial flavors, BHA, BHT, and MSG) in Texas. It directly affects manufacturers, distributors, and retailers selling food, beverages, or agricultural products containing these substances. The bill imposes civil penalties of up to $500 per violation (with each item sold counted separately) and allows the attorney general to enforce these fines in court. Penalties collected go to the state general revenue fund, and businesses may also cover enforcement costs like attorney fees. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows high school students participating in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities to earn compensation for their name, image, or likeness during non-competition times and obtain legal representation for related contracts. It prohibits schools from banning such compensation or representation, while requiring students to be in 9th grade or higher and meet academic standards. The bill also sets rules to prevent compensation from influencing school enrollment or promoting prohibited items like tobacco, gambling, or steroids, and mandates financial literacy education for eligible students. It applies only to public or private secondary schools participating in UIL activities.

Maddy summaryHB 2990 eliminates Texas counties' ability to operate a "countywide polling place program," which allowed voters to cast ballots at any polling location across the county. The bill repeals Section 43.007 of the Election Code (the specific provision enabling this program) and amends related election rules to remove requirements tied to the program. Counties using this system would no longer be permitted to allow voters to choose any polling place within the county during early voting. The bill does not affect standard early voting locations where voters must cast ballots at a specific branch polling place in their territory, as clarified in Section 4.

Maddy summaryHB 3210 requires state contractors, local governments (political subdivisions), and private employers in Texas to use the federal E-Verify program to confirm employee work authorization. The bill mandates that state agencies cannot award contracts to entities not registered with E-Verify, and contracts must include a certification statement confirming compliance. Contractors must maintain E-Verify participation throughout the contract term, and violations would be referred to the comptroller for action. This policy directly affects businesses and government entities entering into state contracts by making federal employment verification a contractual condition. The bill focuses on implementing existing federal verification requirements through state contract rules.

Maddy summaryHJR 150 proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that the Texas Attorney General has the authority to prosecute any criminal offense under state law, alongside local county or district attorneys. This would establish the Attorney General's concurrent jurisdiction with local prosecutors for all criminal cases, meaning both offices could independently pursue charges. The amendment directly affects the Attorney General's office and local district attorneys, as it would formalize their shared authority in criminal prosecutions. If approved by voters in 2025, it would change the Texas Constitution to explicitly state this shared responsibility.

Maddy summaryHB 2796 amends Texas Education Code to restrict how school districts can use money earned from selling attendance credits to other districts. The bill requires that funds from these sales must now be used *only* for teacher salaries and classroom instruction, removing previous flexibility for other purposes. This directly affects school districts that purchase or sell attendance credits as part of Texas' funding system. The change takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to end Texas' state lottery by removing the existing legal authorization. It would amend the Texas Constitution to prohibit all lotteries except those specifically listed (which would no longer include the current state lottery), effectively abolishing it. The amendment must be approved by voters in a November 2025 election, with the ballot phrased as "The constitutional amendment to abolish the state lottery." If passed, it would end the state's lottery operations and associated revenue, directly affecting the Texas Lottery Commission and its current funding model.

Maddy summaryHB 2948 requires Texas toll project entities to maintain strictly separate accounts for each toll project's revenue, preventing the use of funds from one project to cover costs for another. The bill amends the Transportation Code to mandate that toll revenue for each project must be kept distinct, with no cross-subsidization allowed except under specific, authorized circumstances. This directly affects toll project operators and the Texas Department of Transportation, ensuring transparency in how toll funds are managed and allocated. The key change clarifies that project-specific toll revenue cannot be diverted to other projects without explicit authorization, promoting fiscal accountability for toll-funded infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHJR 149 proposes a constitutional amendment to change Texas law regarding impeached state officers. Currently, the Texas Constitution requires impeached officers to be suspended from their duties during an impeachment trial, but this bill would remove that requirement, allowing them to continue serving in office until the trial concludes. The amendment would replace the current language in Article XV, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution and must be approved by voters in the November 2025 election. If passed, it would directly affect state officials facing impeachment proceedings by preventing automatic suspension during the trial process.

Maddy summaryHB 2840 defines "milk" as liquid secreted by mammal mammary glands and "milk product" as any product containing milk. It prohibits businesses from labeling or advertising non-milk products as "milk" or "milk products." This bill directly affects food manufacturers and retailers selling plant-based or alternative dairy products that currently use terms like "milk" in their branding. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, requiring clear labeling that aligns with the defined terms.