Rep. Todd Hunter

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 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 summaryHB 1359 creates an "Income-Based Assistance Fund" to provide financial help for low-income retail electric customers in Texas. The bill establishes a trust fund financed by a fee (up to 65 cents per megawatt hour) charged to retail electric providers and collected from customers based on usage. This fund, managed by the comptroller and administered by the Health and Human Services Commission, will offer monetary assistance to eligible low-income households identified through an automatic process. The program directly affects low-income electricity users and requires electric providers to collect the fee, with the commission setting the fee amount biennially to cover administrative costs.

Maddy summaryHB 4847 requires county assessor-collectors to post specific school district tax information on their websites for districts that exceed state funding entitlements. It mandates disclosure of: (1) the percentage of local taxes required to pay for attendance credits, (2) the percentage not required, and (3) a plain-language explanation of how recapture works. This affects school districts collecting more local property taxes than the state requires them to retain under Texas law. The goal is to increase transparency for taxpayers about how their property taxes fund public education and contribute to state education funding.

Maddy summaryHB 3631 creates a credit against required recapture payments for school districts in designated coastal counties (first or second tier under Texas Insurance Code). The bill reduces a district's annual recapture payment by the amount it spent the previous year on windstorm and hail insurance. This credit applies after other applicable reductions under the public school finance system. The bill is pending and would take effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3941 extends transitional services and Medicaid coverage for foster youth until age 23, up from the previous limit of 21. The bill requires Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services to improve transition planning by enrolling youth in the Preparation for Adult Living Program before age 16 and to coordinate with workforce boards for housing and job training. It also allows youth who have exited foster care to return to transitional services as needed and extends Medicaid coverage with a single application when leaving foster care. This directly affects foster youth aged 14-23 transitioning to independent living in Texas.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. It directs the transfer of $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026. The fund will provide grants for research, prevention programs, and treatment development related to dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and related disorders. The institute will oversee funding for research institutions, medical facilities, and collaborative efforts across Texas, directly benefiting residents affected by these conditions through expanded research and prevention initiatives.

Maddy summarySJR 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to explicitly state that non-U.S. citizens cannot vote in Texas. It amends Article VI, Section 1(a) of the Texas Constitution by adding "persons who are not citizens of the United States" as a prohibited voting class. This would clarify existing voting eligibility rules by making citizenship a constitutional requirement, directly affecting non-citizen residents. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in the November 4, 2025, election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 105 amends the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act to create a new "priority project" category requiring applicants to commit to at least $750 million in investment by the end of the first tax year of the incentive period. Priority projects are exempt from standard job and investment requirements but must still generate sufficient tax revenue to offset school district losses from the agreement. The bill also clarifies that projects located in qualified opportunity zones (designated by the U.S. Treasury by 2026) must be situated within those zones to qualify for incentives. These changes streamline incentives for large-scale investments while maintaining fiscal accountability for local school funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2874 requires large social media platforms (with over 1.5 million Texas users monthly) to attach metadata showing a file's origin, creation method, or history ("provenance data") to photos, videos, or audio files created on or posted to their platforms. If platforms cannot determine provenance data for a file, they must add a clear notice instead. The bill mandates that users can easily access this data or notice through the platform. It applies to all content types covered by the law and takes effect September 1, 2025. This directly affects major social media companies operating in Texas, not individual users.