Rep. Janie Lopez

Maddy summaryHJR 118 is a Texas legislative resolution applying to Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention. It specifically requests a convention limited to proposing a constitutional amendment that would restrict members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to a maximum number of terms. The resolution directs Texas officials to transmit copies to Congress and other states, seeking to aggregate Texas's application with similar efforts from other states to reach the required two-thirds threshold. This is a procedural step only - it does not change term limits but aims to initiate the process for a potential constitutional amendment.

Maddy summaryHJR 117 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow Texas lawmakers to create a property tax exemption for certain disabled veterans' primary homes. It specifically targets veterans certified with a service-connected disability rating of 60 percent or higher (or totally disabled), as well as their surviving spouses. If approved by voters in November 2025, the exemption would apply to property taxes for tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and would require the legislature to establish eligibility rules through future laws. This is a constitutional change requiring voter approval, not an immediate law.

Maddy summaryHB 2164 restricts where Texas public universities can hold graduation ceremonies. It prohibits institutions from holding commencements more than 30 miles away or in a different county than the previous semester's location without board approval. The governing board must approve any new location after an open meeting with public testimony, as required by Texas Government Code. This law directly affects all public higher education institutions in Texas and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2049 requires Texas public school districts to annually provide Type 1 diabetes information to students and parents. The Department of State Health Services must create procedures ensuring parents receive materials covering symptoms, diagnosis, risk factors, treatment options, and side effects. School districts must include four specific content areas: disease symptoms/consequences, risk factors, screening methods, and treatment effectiveness. This requirement applies to all public schools starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 2050 amends Texas Education Code to clarify public school counselors' duties. It requires counselors to: (1) develop comprehensive counseling programs targeting students at risk of dropping out, substance abuse, gang involvement, or suicide; (2) consult with parents and school staff on student needs; (3) coordinate resources across school, home, and community; and (4) serve as impartial resources for student conflicts, including bullying. The bill directly affects all public school counselors in Texas, mandating these specific responsibilities beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. It focuses on structured support for student academic, career, and personal development without changing counselor qualifications or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1759 clarifies the core responsibilities of Texas public school counselors by requiring them to support students' academic, career, personal, social, and emotional development. The bill specifically mandates counselors to address risks like school dropout, substance abuse, gang involvement, suicide, and harmful behaviors by implementing a comprehensive counseling program. Key provisions include consulting with parents on referrals, collaborating with school staff and communities, delivering classroom guidance, and serving as impartial resources for student conflicts like bullying. This law applies to all public school counselors starting the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 1978 designates specific routes for permits allowing oversize and overweight vehicles to move between international bridges and ports in Cameron and Hidalgo counties. It specifies direct routes using highways like US 77, US 83, FM 509, and State Highway 4 for accessing the Port of Brownsville and Port of Harlingen. The bill requires the transportation commission to designate these routes with port authority consent, while allowing flexibility to choose alternative paths through consultation. This directly affects commercial carriers transporting cargo through border counties and port authorities managing permit issuance.

Maddy summaryHB 2388 amends Texas law to clarify which organizations must follow public information laws by updating the definition of a "governmental body." It adds 16 specific entities to the definition, including school boards, county commissions, special districts, water service nonprofits, Alamo management entities, and local workforce boards. The bill also excludes certain economic development groups from this definition if they receive under $1 million in public funds from a single government source in a fiscal year. This change directly affects transparency requirements, ensuring more organizations must share public records while exempting smaller economic development entities.

Maddy summaryHB 1932 would expand property tax exemptions for certain disabled veterans in Texas by lowering the required disability rating from 100% to 60% for full homestead exemption. It directly affects disabled veterans with at least 60% service-connected disability compensation (or individual unemployability) and their surviving spouses, allowing them to exempt the full value of their primary residence from ad valorem (property) taxes. The bill amends Texas Tax Code sections to update exemption criteria and requires local tax authorities to apply this exemption automatically. It would take effect January 1, 2026, but only if a related constitutional amendment passes in the 2025 election.

Maddy summaryHB 1779 prohibits local governments from imposing specific restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are secondary housing units on single-family or duplex lots. The bill bans requirements such as parking mandates, setbacks larger than five feet, impact fees for ADUs under 800 square feet, and size limits below 800 square feet or 50% of the main home. This directly affects property owners seeking to build or rent ADUs and local governments that create zoning rules. The law removes these common regulatory barriers without mandating new construction.