Rep. Cecil Bell

Maddy summaryHB 382 would create a property tax exemption for the total appraised value of primary residences owned by certain elderly Texans and their surviving spouses. The bill directly affects qualifying seniors aged 65 or older (and their surviving spouses) who own their homes as their primary residence. Specific eligibility criteria, such as income limits or residency requirements, are not detailed in the available information. The bill is currently referred to the House Ways & Means Committee for further review.

Maddy summaryBased on the provided context, HB 490's title indicates it relates to limiting increases in real property appraised value for ad valorem tax purposes. However, the bill text states "This version is not currently available" and directs users to a PDF that isn't included in the provided information. The recent actions show the bill was filed on 2024-11-12 and referred to a committee on February 28, 2025, but no specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties are described in the available text. Without access to the bill's actual content or summary, a factual policy description cannot be provided.

Maddy summaryHB 192 requires the Texas comptroller to establish continuing education for members of appraisal review boards, mandating at least four hours of training on specific topics like property valuation methods, board independence, and appeal processes. It authorizes the comptroller to charge a fee of up to $50 per trainee to cover costs, but prohibits appraisal districts, their chief appraisers, or employees from providing this training. The bill directly affects appraisal review board members by setting their training requirements and fees. It amends the Tax Code to clarify these provisions without changing how chief appraisers are selected, as the bill's title incorrectly suggests.

Maddy summaryThe bill text for HB 291 is currently unavailable in the provided context, with a note stating "This version is not currently available, but is coming soon." No specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties are described in the available information. The bill's title indicates it relates to real property appraisal for ad valorem taxes, but concrete policy details cannot be summarized without the full text. A complete summary cannot be provided at this time due to the lack of accessible bill content.

Maddy summaryHB 228 requires Texas to deposit half of any surplus state general revenue into the property tax relief fund after each biennium. This fund can only be used to reduce school districts' property tax burden by lowering the state's "compression percentage" under Education Code Section 48.255. The bill directly affects school districts by providing a mechanism to lower their maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes. It becomes effective for the 2027-2028 fiscal biennium, with the first deposits due after that period.

Maddy summaryThe full text of HB 239 is not available in the provided context, only its title and basic status. The title indicates the bill relates to regulations for entering or using private spaces and authorizes civil penalties, but specific provisions, affected parties, or mechanisms cannot be described without the bill text. Recent actions show it was filed in November 2024 and referred to State Affairs in February 2025. Without access to the bill's content, a detailed summary of its policy changes cannot be generated. For accurate details, consult the official bill PDF or legislative database.

Maddy summaryHB 162 prohibits Texas state and local entities (including courts, law enforcement, and government agencies) from recognizing, serving, or enforcing "extreme risk protective orders" (orders that temporarily restrict firearm access to prevent harm). The bill creates a criminal offense for anyone who attempts to enforce such an order within Texas, and bans acceptance of federal grants for implementing these orders. It directly affects Texas law enforcement, courts, and government agencies by preventing them from complying with these orders, which are typically issued to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a risk. The bill defines these orders as court-issued directives not based on criminal charges, focusing on firearm restrictions for safety.