Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

Maddy summaryHB 5138 shifts responsibility for prosecuting election-related crimes from local prosecutors to the Texas Attorney General's office. It requires law enforcement agencies to report election law violations to the Attorney General and mandates that local prosecutors cooperate with the AG’s office. The bill creates new provisions in the Government Code (Subchapter D) and amends the Election Code to give the Attorney General sole authority to prosecute such offenses, effective September 1, 2026. This directly affects local law enforcement, county prosecutors, and the Attorney General’s office by centralizing prosecution authority for election crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 3700 requires the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to establish procedures, detection systems, and reporting mechanisms to prevent, detect, and investigate fraud, waste, and abuse in programs it administers, contracts out, or funds through grants. The bill mandates the TWC to create a public website for reporting and allow anonymous reports from employees, and to submit an annual report to the legislature by September 1 each year detailing received reports, investigation findings, and actions taken. It also prohibits the TWC from retaliating against employees who report in good faith. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, with the first report due September 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 431 clarifies that property owners' associations (POAs) cannot restrict the installation of solar roof tiles by explicitly including them in the legal definition of "solar energy device" under Texas Property Code. The bill amends Section 202.010(a)(2) to state that "solar roof tile" is part of the definition, aligning with existing tax code provisions. This change ensures POAs cannot impose blanket bans on solar roof tiles under their regulations, directly affecting homeowners and POAs managing residential communities. The bill is purely definitional and does not create new restrictions or requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 48 creates a dedicated oilfield theft prevention unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety to investigate and prevent the theft of oil and gas equipment used in drilling, production, and transportation. The unit, headquartered in the El Paso region, will coordinate with local law enforcement, the Railroad Commission, and victims to develop specialized training for police and conduct public awareness campaigns. It will investigate specific theft offenses under Texas law related to oilfield equipment and must follow department rules for operations, including staff training and equipment procurement. The bill establishes this unit as a permanent part of DPS to address theft targeting the energy sector.

Maddy summaryHB 4 restricts Texas public school districts and campuses from obtaining exemptions or waivers for specific requirements, including graduation standards, school accountability measures under Chapters 39 and 39A, health and safety rules, and programs for special education and bilingual students. The bill explicitly prohibits waivers for federal mandates, essential knowledge/skills, class size limits (except as allowed by law), extracurricular activities, and other key areas listed in the legislation. It also changes the appeal process for challenges to the commissioner's decisions, requiring appeals to be filed in Travis County district court with specific procedural steps. This bill directly affects school districts, the Texas Education Agency, and individuals seeking to challenge educational decisions.

Maddy summarySB 618 prohibits public and election officials from altering election procedures without legal authorization. If officials fail to comply after being notified by the Secretary of State, they face escalating daily fines: $1,000 per day for days 3-7 and $5,000 per day after day 7. The bill requires officials to immediately cease non-compliant actions and provides a process for the Secretary of State to investigate violations and refer cases to the Attorney General. These fines, collected into the general revenue fund, directly affect election officials who change procedures without proper legal approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas to create a property tax exemption for surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-connected conditions. Specifically, it would authorize the legislature to exempt all or part of the market value of a surviving spouse's primary home (homestead) from ad valorem taxes, provided the veteran died from a condition presumed service-connected under federal law and the spouse has not remarried. If a spouse moves to a new homestead, they could retain the same tax exemption amount as their previous home. The amendment requires voter approval in November 2025 and would take effect January 1, 2026, if approved.

Maddy summaryHB 3526 requires local governments in Texas to report bond election details and bond issuance information to the Bond Review Board. The bill mandates a publicly searchable online database showing bond principal amounts, estimated interest, total repayment costs, and annual debt service requirements for all local government bonds. Local governments must submit pre-election reports (20 days before voting) and post-election reports (20 days after voting) detailing bond propositions, costs, and election results. This affects all cities, counties, and school districts issuing bonds, making bond financial data accessible to the public starting September 1, 2025. The law aims to increase transparency around local bond financing and voter decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1689 restricts how groundwater conservation districts in Texas can use funds from increased groundwater export fees collected after January 1, 2024. Districts may only spend these funds on: maintaining wells affected by groundwater development (including outside their district), developing alternative water supplies, or conducting aquifer monitoring and science. The bill requires districts to enter into formal agreements with other districts if they want to use these funds to maintain wells located in a different district. This law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects groundwater conservation districts managing export fee revenues.

Maddy summaryHB 2703 designates the month of July as "American Patriotism Month" in Texas, with no direct impact on individuals or specific policies. The bill requires state agencies and citizens to observe July through ceremonies and activities celebrating U.S. values, honoring historical figures (including Revolutionary War patriots, founding fathers, astronauts, civil rights leaders, and post-9/11 unity), and fostering national pride. It became law immediately upon the governor's signature on May 28, 2025, with no funding or regulatory changes. This is a symbolic designation, not a substantive policy change.