Maddy summarySB 2722 restricts how large Texas counties (population 4 million+) can use revenue from tolls and charges on toll projects. It requires counties to spend toll revenue only on operating, maintaining, or retiring debt for toll systems, then mandates that leftover funds be distributed: 30% to municipalities with significant toll lanes for emergency services, and 70% to county roads with specific allocation rules. The bill also authorizes administrative penalties (100-110% of misused funds) for violations and bars counties that violate the law twice from increasing property tax rates above their no-new-revenue limit the following year. This directly affects counties like Harris (Houston) and their municipalities, ensuring toll revenue funds transportation infrastructure rather than general budgets.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySJR 85 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase Texas school district property tax exemptions for elderly or disabled homeowners. Currently, the exemption for these residents is $10,000; this bill would raise it to $60,000 of a home's market value. The amendment would allow the legislature to adjust this exemption amount, with provisions ensuring eligible individuals (65+ or disabled) cannot receive both the basic exemption and this enhanced benefit. It directly affects Texas homeowners aged 65 or older or with disabilities who own their primary residence. The bill requires voter approval after legislative passage to take effect.
Maddy summaryThis Texas concurrent resolution urges Congress to preserve Sections 45U, 45Y, and 48E of the federal tax code, which provide tax incentives for nuclear and natural gas energy projects. It directly addresses Texas' energy sector, which relies on these provisions to maintain existing operations and support new development, employing over 12,000 workers in nuclear/gas plants and supplying nearly half the state's electricity. The resolution requests Congress preserve these tax incentives to sustain affordable energy production and Texas' leadership in electricity generation.
Maddy summarySJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the homestead exemption for school district property taxes in Texas from $100,000 to $140,000. This change would directly reduce the taxable value of a primary residence for school taxes, lowering property tax bills for homeowners. The amendment requires voter approval in a November 2025 election to take effect for the 2025 tax year. If passed, it would provide an additional $40,000 in tax relief on primary homes for school funding purposes.
Maddy summaryHCR 141 is a Texas legislative resolution urging Congress to move NASA's headquarters to Houston. It does not change any laws or policies but formally requests Congress to consider relocating NASA's leadership to Houston, citing the city's historic role in space exploration (including the Johnson Space Center, mission control, and Apollo missions) and its current aerospace infrastructure. The resolution highlights Houston's advantages, such as lower costs, proximity to NASA facilities, and Texas' strong aerospace industry with over 2,000 related companies. Texas lawmakers will forward copies to Congress to be entered in the Congressional Record as a formal request.
Maddy summaryHB 293 requires developers applying for low-income housing tax credits on projects funded through private activity bonds to notify their state representative and local governing bodies (municipal council or county commissioners court) before submitting applications. The bill adds a new provision stating that if the state representative for the project's district submits an opposing letter to the Texas Department of Housing, the application cannot be approved. This directly affects housing developers seeking tax credits for projects using private activity bonds, particularly those in areas outside city limits or within a municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction. The changes apply only to applications submitted during the 2026 or later qualified allocation plan cycles.
Maddy summaryHJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas lawmakers to exempt up to $125,000 of the market value of business-used tangible personal property (like equipment or vehicles) from property tax. It would directly affect business owners who hold such property for income generation, such as small business operators or farmers. The amendment would revise the state constitution to authorize this specific exemption amount, replacing the current exemption structure. If approved by voters in November 2025, this would become a permanent constitutional provision enabling future legislation to implement the tax break. The bill is now headed to the November ballot after passing both legislative chambers.
Maddy summaryHCR 128 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD), established in 1975. It acknowledges HGSD’s work over five decades in managing land subsidence (sinking due to groundwater use) through regulations, monitoring, and conservation programs, which protects over 5.1 million residents in Harris and Galveston Counties from flooding risks. The resolution formally commends HGSD’s service and directs that an official copy be presented to the district as a gesture of recognition by the Texas Legislature. This is purely commemorative with no new policy or funding changes.
Maddy summaryHB 4240 would expand Texas property tax exemptions for charitable organizations that provide financial support for medical care at certain institutions of higher education. Specifically, it amends the Tax Code to include these organizations as qualifying charitable entities under Section 11.18, allowing them to claim exemptions on their owned property (like buildings and land) used exclusively for this purpose. The bill directly affects nonprofits that fund medical services at universities - such as campus health centers or student wellness programs - by enabling them to avoid local property taxes on qualifying assets. This change modifies existing tax exemption criteria without altering how organizations qualify for other charitable exemptions.
Maddy summaryHB 4368 modifies Texas vehicle title and identification requirements by mandating identification number inspections for specific vehicles, including those imported from outside the U.S. or lacking a title record in the state’s system. The bill specifies that inspections must verify a vehicle’s identity when owners file bonds to obtain titles or need assigned identification numbers. It grants the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles authority to establish additional vehicle categories requiring inspections through department rules. Additionally, the bill adds requirements for notifying lienholders and a 30-day waiting period before issuing titles when using bonds without a general distinguishing number.