Rep. Jared Patterson

Maddy summaryHR 1521 is a ceremonial resolution (not a policy bill) passed by the Texas House of Representatives to honor Jack Baxley upon his retirement as vice president of governmental affairs for TEXO, The Construction Association. The resolution recognizes his 35+ years of service, including his role in founding TEXO through mergers of industry groups and his advocacy during the pandemic. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or affect any policies or people beyond expressing the House's appreciation. The resolution was adopted unanimously in June 2025 with no committee hearings or debate.

Maddy summarySJR 5 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow judges to deny bail to individuals accused of certain violent or sexual offenses punishable as first-degree felonies, or continuous human trafficking. It directly affects people facing these specific charges by requiring judges to find, by clear and convincing evidence, that bail would not ensure court appearance or community safety. Key provisions include mandating written orders with specific findings for bail denials and requiring judges to consider standard bail factors under existing law. The amendment must be approved by voters in November 2025 to take effect, as it is a proposed constitutional change rather than an immediate law.

Maddy summarySJR 59 proposes a constitutional amendment to create two dedicated funds for Texas State Technical College System campuses: a permanent infrastructure fund for long-term capital projects and an available workforce education fund for immediate equipment and facility needs. This bill repeals a current funding limitation, allowing the system to access annual appropriations meant for public higher education institutions without restrictions. The funds would be financed through existing state appropriations, investments, and donations, managed by the comptroller, to support campus buildings, equipment, and educational program infrastructure. The amendment would directly affect Texas State Technical College System campuses by providing a dedicated, stable funding source for their capital requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 1360 is a ceremonial resolution congratulating Easton Patterson on graduating from Whitesboro High School as part of the Class of 2025. It recognizes his achievements, including his participation in the Bearcat Band (earning medals in UIL competitions), being an honors graduate, receiving the Whitesboro Fire Department Memorial Scholarship, and his goal to become a firefighter. The resolution, adopted by the Texas House of Representatives on June 1, 2025, expresses the House's best wishes for his future and includes a copy for Patterson as a token of recognition. This is a non-binding, symbolic gesture with no policy changes or direct impact on legislation or constituents.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 19 authorizes the State Preservation Board to approve construction of a replica of the "National Life Monument" (a bronze sculpture depicting a mother with an unborn child in a world-shaped womb) at the Texas State Capitol Complex. The resolution specifies the monument must be placed outside historic Capitol grounds, require private funding, and comply with existing size, design, and procedural rules under Chapter 443 of the Government Code. It directly affects the State Preservation Board, which must follow statutory requirements when reviewing the project. This is a procedural resolution (not a law) that formally enables the monument's placement without creating new legal obligations.

Maddy summarySB 1646 creates new criminal offenses for stealing, damaging, or destroying copper or brass from critical infrastructure sites, such as power plants, water treatment facilities, and oil pipelines. It increases penalties for these crimes and requires metal recyclers to verify the legal origin of copper or brass they purchase. The law also mandates training for recyclers to identify stolen materials and defines "critical infrastructure" to include facilities like electrical substations, refineries, and wastewater plants. These changes directly affect thieves targeting infrastructure, metal recyclers, and property owners at protected sites. The bill became law on May 30, 2025, after passing both chambers and receiving the governor's signature.

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 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 summaryHCR 59 is a ceremonial resolution designating April as "Promise Month" in Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035. It does not create new laws, funding, or obligations - it is solely a symbolic recognition intended to honor religious and historical perspectives on promises. The resolution references biblical principles and the founding of the U.S. on "Biblical principles," but the designation itself has no legal or policy impact on residents or state operations. This is a procedural, commemorative resolution with no concrete policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 1844 allows property owners in annexed areas to request disannexation (removal from a city) if the municipality fails to provide water and wastewater services to those areas. The bill requires the city to act within 60 days of a valid petition; if it doesn’t, owners can sue in court to force disannexation and recover attorney fees. It specifically targets areas where service obligations under annexation agreements weren’t met, such as lack of connection to municipal water systems. The law, effective September 1, 2025, applies directly to property owners and municipalities in Texas.