Rep. Charlie Geren

Maddy summaryHB 3071 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to cancel permits for municipal solid waste landfills that have not accepted waste for 25 consecutive years. It specifically applies to landfills located in counties with over 2.1 million people or within the main city area of a municipality with over 900,000 residents. The bill creates a clear, automatic cancellation mechanism for unused facilities in these high-population areas, without requiring additional regulatory action.

Maddy summarySB 2581 repeals Section 351.04155 of the Texas Local Government Code, which previously governed how jail commissaries operate in certain counties. The bill directly affects county jails in designated areas by removing this specific regulatory provision. It does not create new rules but eliminates an existing requirement for commissary operations. The repeal takes effect on September 1, 2025, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 6 amends Texas Education Code Section 12.111 to update requirements for charter schools. The bill specifically adds new criteria allowing charter schools to exclude students who were expelled under Section 37.007, placed in disciplinary alternative education programs under Section 37.006, or have documented criminal histories or discipline problems. While the bill title mentions telehealth mental health services in public schools, the provided text does not detail provisions for telehealth access. The legislation primarily affects charter schools by modifying their student admission policies and discipline management standards. HB 6 was signed into law by the governor on June 20, 2025, and is now effective.

Maddy summaryHB 4738 eliminates a requirement for lenders to remit portions of loan administration fees to the Texas Comptroller. Specifically, it removes language from the Finance Code that previously directed lenders to deposit $1 per fee (for loans over $1,000) or $0.50 per fee (for loans of $1,000 or less) into the Comptroller's account. The bill affects lenders who charge administrative fees on consumer loans, as it changes how those fees are handled without altering the fee amounts themselves ($25 max for loans over $1,000, $20 max for smaller loans). The change takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies to fees collected after that date.

Maddy summarySB 1150 amends Texas law to address inactive oil and gas wells regulated by the Railroad Commission. It requires operators to plug wells inactive for over 15 years (or 25 years since completion) unless approved for an exception or included in a commission-approved compliance plan. Key provisions include new criteria for compliance plans - such as financial assurance, operator history, and environmental risks - and mandate an annual report starting in 2026 detailing well counts, plugging progress, financial methods, and operational status. The bill directly affects oil and gas operators with inactive wells, requiring them to submit compliance plans or face penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 5679 creates the Hills of Walnut Creek Municipal Utility District in Parker County, directly affecting residents and property owners within its boundaries. The bill grants the district limited eminent domain authority to acquire land for public infrastructure, the power to issue bonds for capital projects, and the authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes to fund services. It requires municipal consent before the district can be confirmed and establishes that the district serves public purposes including water, sewer, road maintenance, and storm drainage improvements under Texas law. The district must follow specific constitutional provisions for its organization and operations, with the bill effective September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3441 creates legal liability for vaccine manufacturers who advertise a harmful vaccine within Texas. It defines "advertise" broadly to include paid promotions across media (TV, internet, influencers), but excludes doctor-patient discussions or clinic materials. If a manufacturer's advertised vaccine causes injury, victims can sue within three years for actual damages, attorney fees, and court costs. The law applies only to cases where harm occurs on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 20 establishes Texas' Applied Sciences Pathway program, allowing high school students to earn both diplomas and industry certificates through school-college partnerships. It requires courses in 20 specific high-wage, high-growth fields like plumbing, welding, IT, and oil/gas exploration, with a focus on successful job placement rates. Partnerships must offer non-duplicative, progressive coursework leading to both diplomas and certificates in these sectors. The program begins for the 2027-2028 school year, with industries reviewed every five years to match labor market needs.

Maddy summarySB 17 restricts certain foreign governments and entities from purchasing or acquiring title to specific types of real property in Texas if such ownership poses a risk to public health, safety, or welfare. It prohibits purchases of agricultural land, commercial, industrial, residential property, mines, minerals, or timber by organizations or governments from "designated countries" (identified by U.S. intelligence as national security risks). Exceptions include U.S. citizens/permanent residents, entities owned by them, homestead properties, and leaseholds under 100 years. The law creates a new Property Code Subchapter H (Sections 5.251-5.254) to implement these restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2512 clarifies which land areas automatically fall outside a Texas municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction (control over land outside city limits) without requiring a petition or election. It exempts eight specific categories of land, including areas within 5 miles of military bases, certain newly annexed zones with significant population growth, industrial districts, and small residential lots under defined conditions. This primarily affects landowners and developers in those designated zones by removing municipal jurisdiction over their properties. The bill defines these exemptions to streamline land use decisions without requiring formal release processes.