Rep. Candy Noble

Maddy summaryHB 52, titled the Texas Women's Privacy Act, requires certain facilities - including restrooms, locker rooms, shelters, correctional facilities, and colleges - to be designated for use based on biological sex (male or female) as defined by reproductive anatomy. The bill authorizes civil penalties for violations and allows private lawsuits to enforce compliance. It specifically applies to "multiple-occupancy private spaces" like shared restrooms and "family violence shelters," but excludes state agencies. The law defines "female" as individuals with a reproductive system for egg production and "male" as those with a system for sperm production.

Maddy summaryHB 63 requires campgrounds located in flood-prone areas (floodways) to obtain prior approval from Texas' Division of Emergency Management before constructing or expanding. Campground owners must submit detailed plans demonstrating how structures prevent flooding, allow safe evacuation, and provide emergency access routes. The bill authorizes administrative fines for non-compliance and permits individuals to sue if campgrounds violate the rules. This applies only to new construction or expansions beginning March 1, 2026, affecting private campground operators in designated flood zones.

Maddy summaryHB 167 restricts local governments (like cities, counties, and school districts) from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay nonprofits that lobby on their behalf. It prohibits spending taxpayer money to contract with registered lobbyists or support organizations representing local governments that employ lobbyists, though exceptions exist for direct communication by government employees or advocacy by elected officials. The bill allows reimbursement for travel expenses related to permitted activities and lets taxpayers sue to stop violations and recover legal fees. It directly affects how local governments allocate public funds for legislative advocacy efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 154 requires Texas state agencies to use the terms "Judea and Samaria" (or "Judea" for land south of Jerusalem, "Samaria" for land north of Jerusalem) instead of "West Bank" in all official communications. It directly affects all Texas state agencies, including departments and commissions, by mandating this terminology change in rules, press releases, and other official statements. The bill prohibits using "West Bank" except when an agency head determines it serves Texas's interests and provides a written explanation to the legislature or governor within 30 days. This is a procedural change focused solely on terminology, not policy or land status.

Maddy summaryHB 4 establishes new congressional district boundaries for Texas voters to be used in the 2026 U.S. House elections. It adopts the PLANC2308 redistricting plan based on 2020 Census data (TIGER/Line Shapefiles) to define district lines. The bill replaces all prior Texas congressional district maps, including those from 2021, and applies to elections starting with the 120th Congress (2026). This is a procedural redistricting bill directly affecting Texas residents' voting districts for federal elections beginning in 2026.

Maddy summaryThe bill HB 257, titled "Relating to a vacancy in the office of senator or representative due to excessive absence," was filed on August 4, 2025. However, the full text of the bill is not available in the provided context, and no specific provisions or mechanisms are described. Without access to the bill's details, a summary of its concrete policy changes or who it directly affects cannot be generated. The context only confirms the bill's title and filing date, not its substantive content.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that the Texas Attorney General has equal authority with county or district attorneys to prosecute criminal violations of state election laws. It would amend Article IV, Section 22 of the Texas Constitution to explicitly grant the Attorney General "concurrent jurisdiction" in such cases. If approved by voters in the 2026 election, this change would directly affect how election-related criminal cases are handled across Texas, ensuring the state attorney general can participate alongside local prosecutors. The amendment does not create new election crimes but specifies existing prosecutorial authority.

Maddy summaryHB 11 requires the Texas Attorney General to prosecute criminal offenses related to election laws, shifting responsibility from local prosecutors to the state level. It mandates that law enforcement agencies report such offenses to the Attorney General and obligates local prosecutors to provide requested information and assist in prosecutions. The Attorney General may also direct local district attorneys to either prosecute these cases or support the state's efforts. These changes apply only to offenses committed after the bill's effective date, which is set for 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 173 prohibits political subdivisions (like cities, counties, or school districts) from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay nonprofit associations that primarily represent such entities and hire lobbyists. It specifically bans spending public money to: (1) contract with registered lobbyists, or (2) support organizations that hire registered lobbyists for legislative advocacy. Exceptions include activities by sheriffs' associations, employees providing basic information to legislators, or nonprofits offering bill tracking or non-lobbying legislative services. The bill allows taxpayers to seek court injunctions and recover legal fees if a subdivision violates these restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 32, the Texas Women's Privacy Act, requires that certain facilities - such as restrooms, locker rooms, and family violence shelters - be designated and used based on biological sex, defined as the physical condition of being male or female at birth as determined by sex organs, chromosomes, and original birth records. The law applies to correctional facilities, family violence shelters, institutions of higher education, local governments (political subdivisions), and state agencies. It authorizes civil penalties for violations and creates a private right of action, allowing individuals to file lawsuits if they believe the law has been breached. The bill does not apply to state agencies as political subdivisions but covers them separately under the law's definition of "state agency."