Rep. Daniel Alders

Maddy summaryHB 4173 designates a specific segment of Farm-to-Market Road 2493 in Smith County (between Church Street in Flint and County Road 150) as the "Captain Kevin Williams and Firefighter Austin Cheek Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the highway and at appropriate intermediate points to display this memorial designation. This is a commemorative measure honoring two public safety personnel who died in the line of duty, with no policy changes or direct impacts beyond the highway signage. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3015 requires that fees paid directly to primary care physicians (such as monthly retainers or membership fees) count toward the insurance deductibles for participants in two specific Texas state health benefit plans: the Employees Retirement System of Texas and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. This means patients using direct primary care services can apply those fees toward their annual insurance deductible, reducing out-of-pocket costs for care. The law applies to health plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, and takes effect September 1, 2025. It does not affect general health insurance plans outside these two retirement systems.

Maddy summaryHB 3507 amends Texas Penal Code Section 31.03 to reclassify theft offenses based on the property's value and specific circumstances, directly affecting anyone committing theft in Texas. It establishes tiered penalties: Class C misdemeanor for theft under $100, Class B misdemeanor for $100-$750 (or prior theft convictions), Class A misdemeanor for $750-$2,500, state jail felony for $2,500-$30,000 (or theft of firearms, driver's licenses, catalytic converters, or ballots), and third-degree felony for $30,000+ or repeated thefts. Key provisions include stricter penalties for theft of specific items like catalytic converters (valued under $30,000), firearms, or election materials, and higher penalties for repeat offenders. The bill changes sentencing outcomes without altering the definition of theft itself.

Maddy summaryHB 2813 requires prosecutors to notify crime victims about court dates when victims request it. Victims must specifically ask for notification, and prosecutors must provide it at least 60 days before scheduled proceedings, or within 5 days if scheduling changes occur, or within 24 hours for emergency court actions. This applies only to criminal cases scheduled on or after September 1, 2025. The bill ensures victims receive timely updates about their case's court schedule without automatic notification.

Maddy summaryHB 2225 requires local governments (cities and counties) to publicly share land use assumptions and capital improvement plans at least 60 days before related hearings. It mandates that impact fees must be approved by a 3/4 vote of the governing body within 30 days of a public hearing, and limits any fee increases to once every five years from the fee's adoption or last increase. The bill also requires public disclosure of proposed fee changes per service unit before hearings on amendments. These provisions aim to increase transparency and control over development-related fees imposed by local governments.

Maddy summaryHJR 98 is a Texas legislative resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It seeks to propose amendments that would impose spending limits on the federal government, reduce federal power over states, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. Texas formally applies to Congress to initiate this process, with the resolution intended as a continuing application until at least 34 states (two-thirds) support the same purpose. This is a procedural request - Texas has no authority to create new laws, but aims to join other states in advancing this constitutional mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 2587 requires Texas hospitals to report costs of providing care to patients without legal immigration status. Hospitals must ask about immigration status during intake (without affecting care) and submit quarterly data on costs and financial impact to a state agency. The agency then compiles an annual report for lawmakers by November 1, detailing total costs and how these expenses affected hospitals. This applies to all Texas hospitals serving patients who were not lawfully present at the time of care, focusing on transparency about uncompensated care expenses.

Maddy summaryHCR 35 is a Texas concurrent resolution urging Congress to change federal tax law. It requests that spaceports be added to the list of facilities eligible for tax-exempt private activity bonds - currently available for airports, docks, and similar transportation hubs. This would allow spaceport projects in Texas (where the state ranks second nationally in spaceport locations and hosts over 2,000 aerospace businesses) to access lower-cost financing for infrastructure development. The resolution does not change state law but formally asks federal lawmakers to amend the Internal Revenue Code to support this change.

Maddy summaryHB 2031 prevents landlords from banning tenants from lawfully possessing firearms in specific areas of rental properties. It allows tenants to keep firearms in their rental units, vehicles parked in landlord-provided lots, and areas needed to access their unit or premises. Landlords who violate this law face civil penalties: $1,000-$1,500 for a first offense and $10,000-$10,500 for repeat violations. Tenants must first give landlords written notice of the violation and allow 3 business days to fix it before reporting to the attorney general. The collected penalties fund crime victim compensation.

Maddy summaryHB 3717 establishes a Texas grant program to fund private entities conducting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug development trials using ibogaine. The program targets organizations (for-profit, nonprofit, or public benefit corporations) that can design and execute FDA trials to seek approval of ibogaine as a medication for treating opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and other neurological or mental health conditions where ibogaine shows effectiveness. Applicants must submit detailed trial designs, team expertise, and FDA approval strategies. The grant covers costs for these trials, aiming to advance ibogaine's potential approval as a treatment option.