Rep. Mando Martinez

Maddy summaryHB 2306 changes parole eligibility for inmates convicted of specific trafficking offenses involving vulnerable victims. It prohibits parole for individuals serving sentences under Texas Penal Code Sections 20A.02 (regarding child victims), 20A.03, 21.02, 22.021(f), 51.03, or 51.04. The bill amends parole rules to explicitly exclude these trafficking offenses from eligibility, repealing prior provisions that may have allowed parole for such cases. This law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 612 limits fees that certain Texas conservation and reclamation districts can charge developers for pipeline infrastructure. It prohibits districts from imposing fees exceeding the actual, documented costs incurred for reviewing, engineering, inspecting, or constructing water or sewer pipelines and associated infrastructure in their service areas. The bill directly affects developers planning subdivisions or land divisions requiring new utility connections. Key provisions require districts to base fees strictly on verified expenses, preventing excessive charges. This policy change aims to ensure fee transparency and fairness for property owners and developers.

Maddy summaryHB 4429 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 281 in Blanco and Burnet Counties - between State Highway 71 and Ranch Road 962 - as the Muckleroy Family Memorial Highway. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of the designated segment and at appropriate intermediate locations along the highway. This is a commemorative designation with no new policy or funding requirements; it solely names the highway segment for recognition. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after receiving gubernatorial approval.

Maddy summaryHB 107 establishes a statewide sickle cell disease registry under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 52B. It requires hospitals and other treatment facilities to submit patient data to the state health department, creating a centralized database of all sickle cell disease cases in Texas. The registry must include case records and additional relevant information to aid in treatment and research, with strict confidentiality protections for patients under federal privacy laws. The department will analyze the data, publish findings for medical professionals and the public, and submit annual reports to the legislature. This affects all Texas healthcare facilities treating sickle cell disease patients and ensures patient data is securely managed for medical advancement.

Maddy summarySB 23 increases the school district homestead tax exemption for elderly (65+) or disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000 of their home's appraised value. This directly affects eligible homeowners who qualify for the exemption and school districts that may lose local tax revenue due to the change. The bill requires the state to provide additional aid to school districts to offset revenue losses from the higher exemption, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The state aid calculation compares current revenue to what would have been collected under the previous exemption amount. The bill was signed into law on June 16, 2025, and is now effective.

Maddy summaryThis Texas bill (SB 4) increases the homestead exemption for school district property taxes from $100,000 to $140,000 per homeowner, directly affecting residential property owners. School districts will receive additional state aid to offset revenue losses from this exemption increase, calculated as the difference between current local revenue and what would have been available before the change. The compensation mechanism applies starting with the 2023-2024 school year for the initial exemption increase and will extend to future changes proposed for 2025. This ensures school districts maintain funding stability despite reduced local tax revenue from larger homestead exemptions.

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 summaryHJR 7 proposes a constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of Texas' state sales and use tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund. It would require that this dedicated revenue be allocated exclusively to water infrastructure projects, with new rules allowing temporary suspension during declared disasters. The bill would amend the state constitution to establish this dedicated funding stream, replacing current flexible allocation methods for water fund money. This proposal was reported adversely by the Senate Finance Committee with a 14-0 vote against in May 2025.

Maddy summarySJR 59 proposes a constitutional amendment to create two dedicated funds for Texas State Technical College System campuses: a permanent infrastructure fund for long-term capital projects and an available workforce education fund for immediate equipment and facility needs. This bill repeals a current funding limitation, allowing the system to access annual appropriations meant for public higher education institutions without restrictions. The funds would be financed through existing state appropriations, investments, and donations, managed by the comptroller, to support campus buildings, equipment, and educational program infrastructure. The amendment would directly affect Texas State Technical College System campuses by providing a dedicated, stable funding source for their capital requirements.

Maddy summarySB 1351 designates a specific stretch of U.S. Highway 281 in Hidalgo County (between Farm-to-Market Road 493 and Farm-to-Market Road 88) as the "U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jose Rodriguez-Lua Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to install markers at both ends of this highway segment and at intermediate points along the route. This is a ceremonial designation with no new funding or policy changes - only the addition of commemorative signage honoring the late Border Patrol agent. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.