Rep. Erin Zwiener

Maddy summaryHB 2347 requires certain Texas counties with priority groundwater management areas to adopt water conservation programs for new developments. The bill applies to unincorporated areas and land outside city limits (extraterritorial jurisdiction) where new construction begins after August 31, 2025. It sets conservation standards for development projects but explicitly excludes agricultural operations as defined in the Agriculture Code. Municipal ordinances take precedence over county rules for the same activities. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

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 summaryHB 5673 would create La Cima Municipal Management District No. 1 in San Marcos, Texas, to promote economic development and community services within its boundaries. The district would have authority to issue bonds for infrastructure projects, impose assessments and fees on properties within its area, and use limited eminent domain to acquire land for public improvements. This special district is designed to supplement, not replace, existing city services like safety and transportation while focusing on job growth, tourism, and neighborhood revitalization. Property owners in the designated district area would be directly affected through potential assessments to fund these initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 638 requires certain water districts (under Water Code Chapters 36, 49, or 60) to record audio and video of their regular open meetings and specific work sessions or special meetings where voting occurs or public comment is taken. These recordings must be made available online in an archived format. The law applies only to meetings held on or after September 1, 2025, and does not affect meetings held before that date. This bill directly impacts larger water districts by mandating public access to their meeting recordings online.

Maddy summaryHB 2015 requires new petitions for municipal utility districts in Texas to include a water conservation plan meeting specific standards, directly affecting developers and local entities seeking to create such districts. The bill amends the Water Code to mandate this plan as part of the petition (Section 54.015) and adds water conservation as a key factor the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must consider when reviewing petitions (Section 54.021). It applies only to petitions filed on or after September 1, 2025, with existing petitions governed by prior law. This policy change ensures water conservation is formally integrated into the approval process for new utility districts.

Maddy summaryHB 2132 modifies Texas' low-income housing tax credit allocation process to specifically benefit projects reserved for elderly residents. The bill amends the Government Code to allow the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to award more points in project scoring for elderly-focused housing compared to general population housing, even when both projects meet the same criteria. This change applies only to applications submitted during the 2026 or later allocation cycles, not earlier ones. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and repeals prior sections of the Government Code related to this process. The policy directly affects developers seeking tax credits for senior housing projects by adjusting how their applications are evaluated.

Maddy summaryHB 4442 would require Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to offer an elective mindfulness course for all students in middle school, junior high school, and high school. The course must teach specific techniques to enhance focus, manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and build self-awareness and compassion. High school students would be able to count this course toward their elective credit requirements for graduation. The bill would take effect for the 2026-2027 school year, unless it receives a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, in which case it would take effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 3637 allows Texas counties to create property tax exemptions for the portion of a home’s value tied to qualifying water conservation systems, such as rainwater harvesting or graywater systems. Homeowners who install these systems would see reduced property taxes, with the exemption applying to all taxing entities (like cities, school districts, and counties) that collect taxes on the property. The county commissioners court must adopt the exemption via order, and it would only take effect for tax years starting January 1, 2026, if voters approve a related constitutional amendment. This policy directly affects property owners installing eligible systems and the taxing units collecting taxes on those properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring candidates for Texas Senate, House, or governor to pay all civil penalties imposed by the Texas Ethics Commission in full before running for office. Specifically, candidates must pay penalties before the start of the regular ballot filing period (for elected offices) or before appointment. The amendment would add this requirement to Sections 6, 7, and 4 of the Texas Constitution, directly affecting individuals seeking these specific public offices who owe ethics fines. It does not change existing penalty amounts or enforcement procedures, only the eligibility condition for candidacy.

Maddy summaryHJR 88 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Texas counties to create tax exemptions for property owners who install rainwater harvesting or graywater systems. If approved by voters in 2025, it would let county commissioners courts exempt the portion of a property's assessed value tied to these water systems from local property taxes. This would directly affect homeowners and property owners who invest in such sustainable water infrastructure. The measure is currently pending voter approval after passing the Texas legislature.