Rep. Cecil Bell

Maddy summaryHB 298 creates a rule for when Texas state legislators lose their seats due to missing sessions. If a senator or representative misses 14 unexcused floor sessions during a regular legislative session (or 3 during a special session) without majority approval from their chamber, their seat becomes vacant. This applies only to absences occurring after the bill’s effective date and does not affect existing terms. The bill directly affects legislators who fail to attend sessions without valid justification approved by their chamber’s majority.

Maddy summaryHR 58 amends the Texas House of Representatives' permanent rules to remove a restriction preventing the minority party from appointing a member as vice-chair of standing committees. It also eliminates a separate budget for the vice-chair position. These changes directly affect committee leadership structure by allowing bipartisan appointments for vice-chairs and removing dedicated funding for that role. The bill specifically revises Rule 4, Section 4A (removing the party restriction) and adds Rule 4, Section 6A(c) (ending the separate budget). This is a procedural rule change focused on internal committee operations, not a policy affecting public programs or services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes spending limits for Texas cities and counties. It requires local governments to keep annual spending within the greater of last year's total spending or last year's spending adjusted for inflation and population growth (calculated by the Legislative Budget Board). Exceptions allow exceeding the limit if voters approve it via election or during a state-declared disaster. The bill directly affects all Texas municipalities and counties by modifying their financial planning requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 291 requires Texas medical schools to ensure at least 50% of required coursework for medical degrees uses letter grades (A-F) or equivalent tiered systems for assessment. It prohibits medical schools from using standardized test scores as the sole factor in admissions decisions and mandates that schools must notify the legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board before revising admission or academic standards. The bill also explicitly prohibits medical schools from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in admissions or employment decisions. These provisions apply to all medical schools in Texas offering medical degrees or certificates.

Maddy summaryHB 24 limits groundwater conservation districts in Texas from issuing permits that would allow an applicant to withdraw and transfer out more than 5% of the district's estimated sustainable groundwater supply. It directly affects groundwater conservation districts and applicants seeking new permits for groundwater production and transfer. The bill requires districts to calculate this 5% cap based on "modeled available groundwater" determined by the district's executive administrator. This rule applies only to permits issued on or after the bill's effective date, which is 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Maddy summaryHB 5 allocates $324 million in supplemental funds from Texas' economic stabilization fund for disaster relief and preparedness. It provides $200 million to match federal disaster aid and support state disaster funds, $50 million for flood warning systems and equipment in 27 counties affected by a July 2025 flood declaration, and $24 million to improve weather forecasting and flood management in the Texas Hill Country. An additional $50 million is contingent on passing related legislation about emergency communication systems. The bill directly affects local governments in designated counties and state agencies managing disaster response.

Maddy summaryHJR 15 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt the full market value of primary homes from property taxes for Texans aged 72 or older who have held this exemption for at least 10 consecutive years. Surviving spouses aged 55 or older who were living in the home when their spouse died and continued to reside there would also qualify for the exemption. The amendment requires voter approval in a May 2026 election and would take effect January 1, 2027, if approved. It includes a temporary provision to protect school districts from revenue loss during implementation.

Maddy summaryHJR 16 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt the full market value of a primary residence from property tax for two groups: homeowners aged 65 or older who have held the homestead exemption for at least 10 years, and surviving spouses who were 55 or older when their spouse died and continue living in the home. The amendment requires the legislature to create revenue protection formulas for school districts and allows continued tax collection for property-secured debt obligations until those debts are paid. If approved by voters in May 2026, the exemption would take effect January 1, 2027, providing significant tax relief for eligible elderly homeowners and their surviving spouses.

Maddy summaryHB 184 modifies Texas property tax rules to limit annual increases in the appraised value of homestead properties (primary residences qualifying for tax exemptions). It raises the annual cap on value increases from 5% to 10% of the prior year's appraised value, plus the cost of new improvements. This change directly affects Texas homeowners who claim homestead exemptions, preventing sudden large tax hikes when property values rise rapidly. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to properties owned as of January 1 of the tax year.

Maddy summaryHB 183 would create a property tax exemption for the full appraised value of primary residences owned by Texas homeowners aged 65 or older who have held this exemption for at least 10 consecutive years. Surviving spouses aged 55 or older who maintained the home as their primary residence after their spouse’s death (if the deceased spouse qualified for the exemption) would also qualify. The exemption applies to the entire tax year starting when eligibility begins. This bill requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment (H.J.R. 133) in 2025 to take effect.