Rep. Philip Cortez

Maddy summaryHB 5308 clarifies and expands the authority of Texas' adjutant general regarding military facility management. The bill explicitly designates the adjutant general as the decision-maker for military force location, maintenance, and facility priorities across Texas. It grants the adjutant general formal authority as a "public authority" to handle all procurement, construction, renovation, repair, and maintenance of state-owned or leased military armories and facilities. This change streamlines decision-making for military infrastructure without creating new programs or funding. The bill took effect September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 33, titled the "Uvalde Strong Act," requires Texas public and charter schools to comply with additional safety and operational requirements related to active shooter incidents and emergencies. It amends the Education Code to mandate adherence to existing rules covering student data systems, criminal background checks, discipline practices, health/safety protocols, bullying prevention, and staff reporting obligations. The bill directly affects all public and charter schools by expanding their compliance obligations under current safety frameworks. It does not create new rules but requires schools to follow more existing provisions related to emergency preparedness and student safety. The law took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 2259 standardizes the instructions printed on early voting ballot application forms in Texas. It requires the Secretary of State to create instructions that fit on a single 8.5x11 inch page in portrait orientation, using Calibri or Aptos font (12-point or larger), with bold print for key items. The bill also mandates that these instructions be provided in all languages commonly used by Texas voters, matching the state's demographic needs. This affects voters applying for early voting ballots and election offices handling these forms, ensuring consistent, clear instructions nationwide. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 49 limits legal liability for businesses and landowners handling oil and gas waste in Texas. It shields parties who treat or reuse this waste (e.g., for drilling operations) from tort claims related to subsequent use, unless they acted with gross negligence or failed to follow environmental rules. The law specifically protects those who generate, transport, or treat waste, including surface estate owners, but does not cover cases involving intentional misconduct or negligence. Signed into law on June 20, 2025, and effective September 1, 2025, it directly affects oil and gas operators, waste treatment facilities, and landowners managing such waste.

Maddy summaryHB 114 transfers responsibility for certain veteran mental health programs from the Texas Health and Safety Code to the Texas Veterans Commission under the Government Code. The bill requires the Commission to administer a program including peer-to-peer counseling, suicide prevention training, veteran jail diversion services, and specialized initiatives for women veterans and rural veterans. Key provisions mandate training for peer service coordinators, coordination of mental health first aid, and access to licensed mental health professionals. This law directly affects Texas veterans seeking mental health support and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3697 modifies Texas election code requirements for mail-in ballot applications and related materials. It mandates that the application form must be at least 8x9 inches, printed in 12-point type, and in black text. The bill also requires all balloting materials, including instructions, to use 12-point type and black text. These changes apply only to elections held on or after September 1, 2025, and directly affect voters requesting mail ballots and election offices processing these applications. The bill focuses solely on formatting standards for ballot materials.

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 summarySB 31, titled the "Life of the Mother Act," amends Texas Health and Safety Code to create a specific exception allowing abortions when a physician determines in "reasonable medical judgment" that a pregnancy poses a life-threatening risk of death or serious risk of substantial impairment to a major bodily function. It directly affects pregnant individuals with pregnancy-related conditions that threaten life or major bodily function, removing prior requirements that risks be imminent or that physical damage already occur. The law permits physicians to act proactively to address such risks before symptoms manifest, without needing to wait for documented harm. Signed by the governor on June 20, 2025, it became effective immediately.

Maddy summarySB 23 increases the school district homestead tax exemption for elderly (65+) or disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000 of their home's appraised value. This directly affects eligible homeowners who qualify for the exemption and school districts that may lose local tax revenue due to the change. The bill requires the state to provide additional aid to school districts to offset revenue losses from the higher exemption, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The state aid calculation compares current revenue to what would have been collected under the previous exemption amount. The bill was signed into law on June 16, 2025, and is now effective.

Maddy summaryThis Texas bill (SB 4) increases the homestead exemption for school district property taxes from $100,000 to $140,000 per homeowner, directly affecting residential property owners. School districts will receive additional state aid to offset revenue losses from this exemption increase, calculated as the difference between current local revenue and what would have been available before the change. The compensation mechanism applies starting with the 2023-2024 school year for the initial exemption increase and will extend to future changes proposed for 2025. This ensures school districts maintain funding stability despite reduced local tax revenue from larger homestead exemptions.