This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to repeal the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and its dedicated fund. It would redirect $3 billion from that fund to the Texas Education Agency to reduce property taxes through lower state compression percentages. If approved by voters in the November 2025 election, the amendment would eliminate dedicated dementia research funding while shifting those resources to property tax relief. The bill does not change existing dementia research programs but redirects existing funding to a different state priority.
HB 235 exempts sales and use taxes on taxable items purchased by Texas veterans with a 100% disability rating (defined as "totally disabled veterans" under state law). It allows up to $25,000 in annual purchases to be tax-free when buyers complete and present a certificate form developed by the comptroller. The exemption requires the form to be submitted at the time of purchase and applies only to the first $25,000 spent yearly by qualified veterans or their authorized representatives. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, with the exemption form to be posted online by December 31, 2025.
HB 41 would limit property tax increases for disabled individuals and homeowners aged 65+ in Texas. It caps the total annual property taxes that counties, cities, and junior college districts can impose on qualifying homesteads at the amount paid in the first year the homeowner qualified for the exemption under Section 11.13(c) of the Tax Code. This prevents future tax hikes above that initial amount, even if property values rise. The bill directly affects disabled homeowners, elderly residents (65+), and their surviving spouses who own their primary residence. It modifies existing tax code provisions to establish this permanent tax freeze for eligible homeowners.
HB 250 increases property tax exemptions for disabled veterans in Texas. It provides tiered exemptions based on disability rating: 20% to 100% of a property's assessed value (capped at $5,000 to $12,000 depending on the rating). Veterans over 65 with a 10%+ disability, those who are totally blind, or those who lost a limb also qualify for an 80% exemption ($12,000 cap). Surviving spouses retain the veteran's exemption amount as long as they remain unmarried, and children under 18 who are unmarried may also receive the exemption if the spouse predeceased the veteran. The bill directly affects disabled veterans, their surviving spouses, and eligible children.
This proposed constitutional amendment would authorize Texas to create property tax exemptions for the homes of partially disabled veterans. It would allow the legislature to exempt a percentage of a home's value equal to the veteran's disability rating (10-99%), such as a 30% exemption for a veteran with a 30% disability rating. Surviving spouses would continue to qualify under existing rules for veterans' exemptions. The amendment requires voter approval before any tax changes can take effect.
HB 282 creates a 35% property tax exemption for landowners in designated priority groundwater management areas who do not irrigate their land. It directly affects non-irrigated agricultural or conservation landowners in these specific groundwater zones, provided the land is at least half an acre and not subject to other appraisal rules. The exemption applies to 35% of the land's appraised value if it meets all four criteria: located in a priority groundwater area, minimum size, not irrigated, and not covered by other appraisal categories. This change reduces property tax burdens for qualifying landowners without requiring annual reapplication, though the chief appraiser may request updated verification.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to raise the voter approval threshold for school district bond elections in Texas from a simple majority (50%+1) to three-fifths (60%) of voters. It directly affects Texas school districts seeking to issue bonds for building construction or equipment, requiring broader voter support for such bond measures. The amendment would change the Texas Constitution's Article VII, Section 3(e-1), specifically for bond-related ad valorem taxes. The amendment must be approved by voters in a statewide election on May 2, 2026, to take effect.
HB 228 prohibits state-funded entities from using public money for lobbying activities. It directly affects local governments and private organizations that receive state funds, banning them from paying for: (1) their own lobbying expenses, (2) registered lobbyists, (3) related entities of registered lobbyists, or (4) firms hired to influence legislation or policy. The bill amends Texas Government Code Section 556.0055 to enforce these restrictions, applying to expenditures made on or after its effective date. This policy change clarifies that state funds cannot support efforts to sway government decisions.
HB 239 modifies Texas property tax rules for land affected by animal health quarantines. It allows landowners to request a reappraisal of their property during active Texas Animal Health Commission quarantines (lasting 90+ days) for ticks or screwworms. The bill caps the reassessed value at half the original appraised value or the current market value, whichever is lower, to account for reduced land usability during the quarantine. This directly affects Texas agricultural landowners whose properties are under such quarantine orders, providing temporary tax relief while the quarantine remains in effect.
HB 116 repeals Texas' Moving Image Incentive Program, which previously provided financial incentives to film and television productions. The bill directs the comptroller to transfer any remaining program funds to the Texas Education Agency to reduce the state's compression percentage for school funding. This change directly affects the film and entertainment industry, which no longer receives these state incentives. The policy shift redirects resources toward public education funding without altering existing school finance formulas.
