Rep. Mike Schofield

Maddy summaryHB 851 requires Texas property appraisers to count and report the number of homestead properties receiving specific tax benefits, including those with tax deferrals or abatements for delinquent taxes. Appraisers must submit these counts to the comptroller when filing annual tax rolls, and the comptroller must then share statewide totals (broken down by school district) with state leaders by November 1 each year. The bill directly affects property owners who qualify for these tax benefits but places the reporting duty on local government officials. It creates new transparency requirements for tracking how many homes benefit from these specific tax provisions, without changing the tax policies themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 2253 allows local governments in Texas to cancel bond election votes if a disaster declaration is issued by the governor under Chapter 418 of the Government Code. Specifically, it permits cancellation if the governor declares a natural or health-threatening disaster and the local governing body votes to cancel the election due to damage to election systems, risks to election workers, or harm to voters. The bill requires local governments to post cancellation notices at polling places during early voting and election day. This applies to elections for bond measures related to infrastructure or public projects, directly affecting communities seeking to issue bonds during declared emergencies.

Maddy summaryHB 4202 updates Texas law requiring proof of identity for people acknowledging legal documents, such as property deeds. It specifies three acceptable forms of identification: (1) a witness's sworn statement if the witness is personally known to the notary or shows government ID with photo/signature; (2) the person's own government-issued ID with photo/signature; or (3) a foreign passport for residential real estate transactions. This affects notaries, attorneys, and individuals signing legal documents, ensuring clearer verification standards. The bill took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 509 requires courts to notify the Texas Attorney General before a hearing in any election-related case seeking a temporary restraining order under the Election Code. This procedural change directly affects courts handling election disputes and ensures the Attorney General receives advance notice of such requests. The bill adds a new requirement that courts must provide this notice "as soon as practicable" before the hearing. It took effect on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025. The law does not alter election rules or voting procedures, only the court notification process.

Maddy summarySB 512 prohibits money services businesses (such as wire transfer companies) from including monetary fines or penalties in their customer terms of service agreements for violations. Businesses that violate this rule would face a civil penalty equal to three times the fine they attempted to impose, enforced by the attorney general. The law applies only to new terms of service agreements entered into after September 1, 2025, leaving existing agreements unaffected. It does not prevent businesses from closing accounts for violations but bans the use of fines as a penalty mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 5699 allows Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 405 (MUD 405) to exclude specific undeveloped properties from the district through written contracts with property owners. Once excluded, the property no longer receives district services but remains liable for its proportionate share of the district’s existing debt and debt service taxes until fully paid. The bill requires the district to record exclusion orders in Harris County property records and confirms that excluded property owners must pay their share of debt through annual taxes until the obligation is settled. This legislation validates MUD 405’s prior actions and establishes clear terms for territory exclusion without altering the district’s overall governance or service obligations.

Maddy summarySB 40 prohibits local governments (like cities or counties) from using public funds to pay bail bonds through nonprofit organizations that accept public donations. It directly affects local governments and nonprofits handling bail payments, banning the use of taxpayer money for this purpose. The bill allows taxpayers or residents to seek court orders to stop such spending and recover legal fees if they win a lawsuit. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 9 creates a property tax exemption for businesses owning tangible personal property (like equipment or inventory) used to generate income. It exempts $125,000 of the appraised value of such property at each location within a taxing unit, regardless of the property's individual value. The exemption applies to all businesses holding income-producing property at a single address, and related businesses operating under a unified enterprise must aggregate their property to calculate the exemption. Additionally, businesses leasing such property receive the full $125,000 exemption for all leased items, even if located across different taxing units.

Maddy summaryThis resolution congratulates Rishi Tirumalasetty, a 7th-grade student at Katy Junior High School, on winning first place at the 2025 Texas State Finals of the National Civics Bee. It formally recognizes his achievement in a competition testing knowledge of American history, government, and civic participation. The Texas House of Representatives will provide him with an official copy of the resolution as a gesture of recognition. This is a symbolic resolution with no policy changes or direct impact beyond honoring the student.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HR 1463), not a substantive bill. It formally congratulates Marquis Hill for receiving the "Legacy Beyond a Lifetime Award" from the Wise Up to Rise Up Foundation. The resolution recognizes Hill's work as a motivational speaker, author, and founder of Love Yaself Company, which empowers youth through mentorship and self-worth initiatives. It expresses the Texas House's symbolic support for his contributions to underserved youth in Katy and Cypress-Fairbanks school districts, with no policy changes or direct effects on laws or constituents.