Rep. Chris Turner

Maddy summaryHB 102 requires Texas public universities to offer early registration for courses and programs to students in military-related programs who are in good standing. Specifically, it mandates this for students enrolled in ROTC programs, cadet corps (including at senior military colleges), or maritime academies. The law, effective for the 2026 spring semester, obligates institutions to provide this early registration opportunity on the same basis as other designated student groups. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will develop rules to implement this requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 4144 creates supplemental benefits for retired firefighters and peace officers diagnosed with specific illnesses (cancer, heart attack, or stroke) within three years of retirement. It requires governmental entities to provide a benefit capped at $100,000 (or the retiree's final annual salary, whichever is lower), payable as a lump sum or over three months, with annual adjustments tied to inflation. The benefit does not apply to entities already offering comparable health coverage to retirees. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies only to retirements occurring on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 4044 modifies Texas tax code provisions to clarify which costs at public colleges and universities qualify for federal tax credits. It allows institutions of higher education and university systems (as defined in Texas Education Code §61.003) to claim tax credits for certain expenditures that would otherwise be excluded under federal rules. The bill changes the tax code to remove an exception for costs related to entities exempt under federal tax code §501(a), effective January 1, 2035. This ensures these institutions can fully utilize eligible tax credits for qualifying expenses incurred after the effective dates (2026 for current changes, 2035 for the full modification).

Maddy summaryHB 148 requires members of appraisal district boards of directors in Texas to complete annual training before each anniversary of their appointment. The training covers key topics like the roles of appraisal officials, ethics standards, budgeting, conflict-of-interest laws, and public service principles, with tax-related districts needing at least eight hours of instruction. This bill directly affects local government board members who oversee property tax appraisals and assessments. The training must be provided by accredited educational institutions, and members must submit a certificate of completion to their appraisal district.

Maddy summaryHB 2508 creates a property tax exemption for the residence homestead of a surviving spouse whose veteran spouse died from a qualifying condition or disease. The exemption applies to the full appraised value of the homestead and is available to spouses who have not remarried since the veteran's death. Qualifying conditions are defined under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022. The exemption takes effect January 1 of the tax year the surviving spouse qualifies and applies regardless of when the veteran died, provided all eligibility criteria are met. This bill amends Texas Tax Code Sections 11.136, 11.42(c), and 11.43(c) to implement the change.

Maddy summaryHB 4236 creates a temporary six-member study group (three Senate members, three House members) to examine how the state auditor’s school district property valuation study impacts state education funding. The group must hold one public meeting to assess the study’s current use in distributing funds and recommend better ways to verify valuations of complex properties. It can request data from the state auditor, school agencies, and local property assessors. The study group must submit its findings and recommendations to state leaders by December 1, 2026, and will dissolve by January 1, 2027. This bill does not change funding formulas but aims to improve how property valuations are evaluated for school finance purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 3595 requires Texas assisted living facilities to create emergency plans ensuring resident safety during power outages. Specifically, facilities must provide climate-controlled areas (at least 15 square feet per resident) for non-bedfast residents and dedicated climate-controlled rooms for bedfast residents (those unable to move during emergencies). The bill mandates maintaining temperatures between 68°F and 82°F in these spaces and reporting extended power outages (over 12 hours) to the state commission. It also sets new construction standards for facilities built after September 2026, including backup power systems. The law applies directly to all assisted living facilities and their residents, prioritizing safety during emergencies.

Maddy summaryHB 24 establishes new procedures for Texas municipalities to adjust zoning regulations or district boundaries. It requires a public hearing with 15 days' notice published in a newspaper and online before any zoning change takes effect. For changes that do not allow more residential development (non-comprehensive changes), property owners can protest by signing a written protest if they own 20% of the affected area or 60% of adjacent land within 200 feet. The bill, effective September 1, 2025, applies to all Texas cities and aims to balance development decisions with community input.

Maddy summarySB 840 establishes new rules for zoning certain mixed-use and multifamily residential developments in Texas. It defines "mixed-use residential" as projects with at least 65% residential space and "multifamily residential" as developments with three or more dwelling units. The law applies only to cities over 90,000 population located in counties over 300,000 population, limiting municipal authority to regulate these projects under Chapter 218 of the Local Government Code. It does not affect existing rules for short-term rentals or water quality protections.

Maddy summaryHB 4429 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 281 in Blanco and Burnet Counties - between State Highway 71 and Ranch Road 962 - as the Muckleroy Family Memorial Highway. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the designated segment and at appropriate intermediate locations along the highway. This is a commemorative designation with no new policy or funding requirements; it solely names the highway segment for recognition. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after receiving gubernatorial approval.