Rep. Chris Turner

Maddy summarySB 974 removes a restriction preventing school district teachers from serving on appraisal review boards, which are local bodies that handle property tax disputes. It amends Texas Tax Code Section 6.412(c) to explicitly state that teachers employed by school districts are eligible for these boards. The bill also creates a criminal offense related to violations of the new eligibility rules (though specific details are not provided in the text). As of June 22, 2025, the bill was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHCR 9 designates the first Saturday of every month as "Small Business Saturday" in Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035. This symbolic resolution, which does not create new laws or funding, aims to encourage Texans to support local small businesses. It directly affects all Texas small businesses (defined as those employing fewer than 500 people) by promoting community shopping. The designation expires 10 years after the resolution's final passage, per Section 391.004(d) of the Texas Government Code.

Maddy summaryHB 27 requires all Texas public high school students to complete at least one-half credit in personal financial literacy as part of their social studies graduation requirements under Education Code Section 28.025(b-1)(4). The bill directs the State Board of Education to develop a list of free, open-source curricula for these courses and allows Advanced Placement courses meeting specific standards to count toward the requirement. This policy change affects all public high school students in Texas, mandating practical financial education alongside traditional subjects like history and government. The law, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025, is now effective immediately for all public school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 2510 requires that individuals providing personal assistance services to assisted living facility residents must hold a state-issued license, and it creates criminal penalties for doing so without one. The bill also mandates that assisted living facilities operate under a valid license, with similar penalties for operating without authorization. Violations are classified as a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense, escalating to a third-degree felony for repeat violations. This law directly affects service providers and facility operators in Texas, taking effect on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1533 amends Texas property tax appraisal rules to improve notice requirements and training standards. It requires certified mail for specific property tax notices and adds electronic signature verification for agent designations. The bill mandates that at least one trainer for taxpayer education courses must be a Texas-licensed attorney with five years of property tax experience, excluding those with prior ties to appraisal districts or review boards. This ensures taxpayer representatives with direct experience lead training, while allowing limited exceptions if qualified candidates are unavailable. The changes apply to property tax appraisal systems used by counties and taxing entities across Texas.

Maddy summarySB 2477 creates new rules for converting office buildings into housing in large Texas cities (those with over 150,000 residents in counties with over 300,000 residents). It defines "mixed-use residential" as requiring at least 65% of a building's square footage to be residential and "multifamily residential" as three or more dwelling units. The law sets requirements for municipal regulations on such conversions but does not override historic preservation rules or short-term rental restrictions. The bill became law on June 20, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1875 requires the Texas General Land Office, working with the Texas Veterans Commission, to study access barriers veterans face when seeking burial plots in state veterans cemeteries and identify ways to improve cemetery operations (including locations, maintenance, and other needs). The study must be completed by April 1, 2026, with a final report submitted to legislative leaders and committees. This bill directly affects Texas veterans seeking burial services and the state’s veterans cemeteries, though it does not create new laws - only directing a study to inform future action. The bill took effect September 1, 2025, and expires September 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 4395 requires issuers of public financial instruments (like bonds) to submit documents such as securities, records of proceedings, or credit agreements to Texas' Attorney General in electronic format with a digital signature, starting January 1, 2026. The Attorney General must then deliver these documents electronically to the Comptroller. This applies only to submissions made on or after the effective date, leaving prior submissions under existing rules. The bill streamlines the submission process but does not change the approval requirements for these financial instruments.

Maddy summarySB 2900 requires Texas' comptroller to review all advisory groups (like boards, committees, or task forces) directly under the comptroller's office by December 2026. The review assesses whether each group is necessary and promotes efficient operations of the comptroller's office. The comptroller must report to the legislature by that date any groups deemed unnecessary or inefficient. This bill streamlines government operations by evaluating existing advisory structures but does not change public policies or affect citizens directly.

Maddy summaryHB 300 increases the maximum Texas Armed Services Scholarship to $30,000 per academic year (up from $15,000), capping at the average cost of attendance at Texas colleges. It expands appointment authority, allowing the governor and lieutenant governor to each appoint two students annually, and each state senator or representative to appoint one student, with deadlines set for September 30. The bill directly affects Texas students enrolled in ROTC or similar military commissioning programs at Texas colleges, requiring proof of program enrollment or acceptance into the Texas State Guard. These changes are effective immediately after the bill was signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.