Rep. Charlie Geren

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes May 19, 2025, as "Trooper Day" at the Texas Capitol to honor Region VII of the Texas Department of Public Safety. It commends the officers and staff for their 33+ years of security work protecting the Capitol Complex in Austin, including patrols, crowd control, and crime investigations. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely ceremonial, expressing the Texas House's gratitude through a formal commendation. It directly affects Region VII personnel (both commissioned and civilian staff) who secure the Capitol grounds.

Maddy summaryHB 5402 requires the Texas Legislative Budget Board to prepare fiscal impact statements for bills that mandate health benefit plan issuers (like insurance companies) to provide new benefits, increase payments to healthcare providers, or implement new administrative requirements. The statements must estimate how such mandates would affect insurers' costs and premiums or other costs paid by enrollees. This requirement applies only to bills filed on or after September 1, 2025, and the fiscal statement must be attached to the bill alongside existing fiscal notes. The bill itself does not change health coverage but adds a procedural step to assess financial impacts before such legislation is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Texas liquor laws to allow nonresident sellers with winery permits issued before May 1, 2010, to sell wine in specific Texas municipalities. It permits these sellers to operate only in cities with populations of 130,000-150,000, located in counties where one county has a population of 2-3 million. The bill also prohibits nonresident sellers from selling wine directly to the winery holding their permit. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1197 amends Texas Penal Code Section 42.15 to criminalize unauthorized operation of unmanned aircraft (drones) over licensed spaceports. It prohibits intentionally or knowingly operating drones that interfere with spaceport operations, cause contact with facilities, or disturb activities there. The law includes specific defenses for government entities, contractors, law enforcement, spaceport owners, or individuals with prior written authorization from spaceport operators or the Federal Aviation Administration. This directly affects drone operators near spaceports like SpaceX’s Starbase, requiring compliance with new safety restrictions to avoid criminal penalties.

Maddy summarySB 2201 requires Texas law enforcement officers to complete a mandatory training course before accessing the state's intelligence database on criminal street gangs and foreign terrorist organizations. The bill specifies that only certain types of evidence - such as court judgments, verified self-admissions during legal proceedings, or two forms of corroborated information - may be entered into the database. It directs the Texas Department of Public Safety to develop rules for the training program and database management procedures. This legislation aims to standardize how law enforcement collects and accesses sensitive intelligence data.

Maddy summaryHB 5089 establishes a process for creating new school districts by detaching territory from existing ones in Texas. It requires a petition signed by at least 10% of registered voters in each affected area, including exact property boundaries, to be submitted to the State Board of Education or county commissioners court. The bill mandates two separate voter approvals: a majority vote in the detached territory and a majority vote in the remaining portions of the original districts. If approved, a new school district is formed with its own board of trustees, and the financial obligations of the original districts are equitably divided. This process directly affects communities seeking to form independent school districts and existing districts losing territory.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. It directs the transfer of $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026. The fund will provide grants for research, prevention programs, and treatment development related to dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and related disorders. The institute will oversee funding for research institutions, medical facilities, and collaborative efforts across Texas, directly benefiting residents affected by these conditions through expanded research and prevention initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 2983 sets specific fee limits for vehicle storage facilities in Texas, including a $20 impoundment fee, $20-$35 daily storage fees (based on vehicle size), and a $50 cap on notification fees. It requires annual adjustments to these fees each odd-numbered year based on the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation. The bill directly affects vehicle storage facilities (both private and government-operated) and vehicle owners who pay these fees. The bill failed to pass on May 15, 2025, after failing to advance to engrossment.

Maddy summaryHB 3154 creates the Wise Regional Water District to provide water and wastewater services in Wise County, Texas. It grants the district limited power to acquire private land for infrastructure (eminent domain), authority to issue bonds for funding, and the ability to charge fees to users. The bill directly affects participating governments (like cities and counties) that provide utility services within the district's boundaries, requiring them to contract with the district for infrastructure projects. The district must serve public water and wastewater needs across its defined service area, with specific rules for cost-sharing among participating entities.

Maddy summaryHB 4398 requires municipalities with over 100,000 residents to process building permits for affordable housing projects using federal low-income housing tax credits within half the usual time allowed for residential permits. It directly affects large cities and developers of projects receiving these tax credits, streamlining approval for housing aimed at lower-income residents. The bill mandates that permit decisions must be made in 50% of the standard processing time, and allows applicants to use any existing accelerated review process. This policy change, effective September 1, 2025, aims to reduce delays for qualifying housing developments.