Rep. Helen Kerwin

Maddy summaryThe full text of HB 4474 is not available in the provided context, only a placeholder message indicating it will be available soon. The bill's title suggests it addresses the appearance (design or format) of personal ID certificates or driver's licenses issued to non-citizens, but specific provisions cannot be confirmed. Without access to the actual bill language or detailed summary, a substantive description of its mechanisms or affected parties cannot be provided. Please consult the official bill PDF when available for accurate details.

Maddy summaryHB 1322 sets specific timeframes for municipalities to approve or disapprove subdivision plats. It requires smaller municipalities (under 10,000 population) to make decisions within 90 days instead of 30 days, and specifies that plats are approved by default if not acted upon within these periods. The bill also allows for one 30-day extension if requested in writing by the applicant and approved by the municipality, or if a takings impact assessment is required. This directly affects developers seeking to build residential subdivisions and smaller local governments managing land-use approvals. The changes apply only to applications submitted on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHJR 193 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove Texas land tax rules requiring agricultural land to stay in farming for a set period to qualify for lower property tax rates based on farm productivity. Currently, landowners using this tax appraisal method face an extra tax if they switch to non-farming uses or sell the land. The bill would eliminate both the requirement for continuous agricultural use and the penalty tax for changing land use. This change would directly affect Texas landowners who currently use the agricultural appraisal method for property tax purposes. The amendment must be approved by voters in November 2025 to take effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 4707 would allow children in Texas public schools who are "unlawfully present" in the United States (without legal immigration status) to enroll if they meet standard residency requirements, such as living with a parent in the school district or being homeless. The bill amends Texas education law to remove the requirement that students must be "lawfully present" for enrollment, while keeping existing residency rules intact (e.g., living with a parent, being in foster care, or having a guardian in the district). It directly affects undocumented immigrant children seeking K-12 education in Texas public schools, ensuring they qualify for state school funding and programs like the Foundation School Program. The bill does not address immigration status but focuses on school access and funding eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 4962, titled "Relating to the disclosure of citizenship of a candidate for public office," would require candidates for public office to disclose their citizenship status as part of their filing documentation. This requirement directly affects candidates running for elected positions at the local or state level. The bill's key mechanism involves adding citizenship verification to standard candidate filing forms, though specific enforcement details are not provided in the available context. The bill was filed on March 13, 2025, and referred to the Elections committee on April 3, 2025, but its full text is unavailable for detailed analysis.

Maddy summaryHB 4716 amends Texas business law to strengthen oversight of entities operating in the state. It allows courts to order the dissolution of business entities (including foreign entities) that commit serious violations, such as fraudulent formation, material misrepresentations in filings, exceeding their legal purpose, or if the entity or its top managers face felony convictions or civil liability for felony conduct. The bill also grants the Texas Attorney General authority to inspect business records, investigate potential violations, and interview witnesses, while allowing entities to challenge such investigations in court. These changes directly affect business entities operating in Texas and expand the Attorney General’s enforcement tools for accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 5021 requires Texas public school libraries to adopt collection development policies that prohibit materials deemed harmful under Texas Penal Code §43.24, sexually explicit by vendors, vulgar/unsuitable per *Pico v. Board of Education*, or listed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as restricted. It mandates that all library materials - including classroom, school, and online catalogs - must comply with these standards, while requiring schools to communicate with parents about collections and prohibiting removal of materials based solely on ideas or author/character backgrounds. The policy must also recognize that obscene content lacks First Amendment protection and affirm parents' primary role in student access decisions. This law applies to all public school libraries starting the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 4728 requires all Texas counties to use hand-marked paper ballots for every election, eliminating electronic poll lists and ending the countywide polling place program. It directly affects every county in Texas, particularly those previously exempt under Section 42.0051(a) (populations under 1.2 million not using countywide polling centers). The bill repeals the exception allowing electronic systems in certain counties, mandating paper ballots statewide. Key mechanisms include removing the countywide program exemption and requiring election officials to provide written ballot instructions and assistance options for voters.

Maddy summaryHB 4541's bill text is not available in the provided context, only the title and recent actions (filed, read first time, referred to Elections) are listed. The title indicates it relates to polling place locations during early voting and on election day, but without the actual text, specific provisions or mechanisms cannot be described. A summary of who the bill directly affects or its concrete policy changes cannot be generated from the available information. Please refer to the bill's full text for details.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes adding a constitutional amendment to Texas law that explicitly states voters must be U.S. citizens. It would amend Article VI, Section 1(a) of the Texas Constitution to list "persons who are not citizens of the United States" as a disqualifying category for voting, alongside existing restrictions like age, mental incompetence, and felony convictions. The amendment would be submitted to Texas voters in the November 4, 2025 election, with the ballot phrasing: "The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen." This is a procedural bill focused on clarifying voting eligibility requirements.