Rep. Helen Kerwin

Maddy summaryHB 1717's full text is not available in the provided context, preventing a detailed summary of its provisions. The bill title indicates it relates to prosecuting criminal offenses involving sexually explicit visual material with children, but specific mechanisms or affected parties cannot be described without the bill's content. Recent actions show it was filed in December 2024 and referred to the Criminal Jurisprudence committee in March 2025. For an accurate summary of its policy changes, please consult the official bill document or PDF.

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 2390 requires Texas cities and counties to enter written agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under a federal program to allow local officers to enforce federal immigration law. The bill mandates that these agreements specify the scope, duration, and limits of local enforcement authority. Local governments failing to comply could face lawsuits by the attorney general and lose state grant funds for the following fiscal year. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote.

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 2030 amends Texas Penal Code sections 43.24, 43.25, and 43.26 to add specific affirmative defenses for certain criminal offenses involving material or conduct that could be considered obscene or harmful to children. It establishes three key defenses: (1) conduct with scientific, educational, governmental, or similar justification; (2) when the defendant is the child’s spouse, engaging in conduct for medical/educational purposes, or being no more than two years older; and (3) judicial or law enforcement purposes. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, meaning prior offenses remain under older legal standards. This bill directly affects defendants facing prosecution under these specific sections of the Penal Code.

Maddy summaryHB 2327 updates the definition of "Veteran" for eligibility for loans from Texas' Veterans' Land Board. It adds a new category for Texas National Guard members who completed 184 days of active service on the Texas-Mexico border mission, while maintaining existing requirements like 90 days of active duty or 20 years of service. The bill requires applicants to have been a Texas resident at enlistment and currently reside in Texas, and explicitly excludes current state legislators from eligibility. This change directly affects Texas veterans, including National Guard members with border service, who apply for these loans. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2220 creates a new 6.72% state value added tax (VAT) on businesses supplying services or property in Texas. The tax is calculated as the difference between a business's "output tax" (tax collected on sales) and "input tax" (tax paid on purchases), with the net amount due. It exempts small businesses, government entities, and religious/educational organizations from the tax, while excluding financial services, intercompany transactions, and property already taxed under other laws. The bill directly affects most Texas businesses engaged in commercial activity, with revenue directed to state funds as specified in the text.

Maddy summaryHB 1944 adds a new exemption to Texas' Election Code, protecting peace officers and prosecutors who investigate election offenses. The bill states that actions taken by these officials during an official investigation - when authorized by their agency and conducted in furtherance of the investigation - will not be considered violations under the Election Code. This applies specifically to conduct related to investigating election-related violations. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2329 amends Texas law to clarify the line of succession for the commander-in-chief of the state military forces when the governor is unable to serve. It specifies that the adjutant general would assume command unless state constitution or law requires the lieutenant governor or senate president to perform the governor's duties. The bill directly affects Texas military leadership structure during gubernatorial vacancies or incapacity. It takes effect September 1, 2025, and makes no changes to existing constitutional succession rules.

Maddy summaryHB 2245 requires Texas election officials to send written notices to registered voters whose citizenship status matches certain databases (like motor vehicle records or federal databases). Voters must then submit proof of U.S. citizenship - such as a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization document - to the election office within a specified timeframe. The Secretary of State must monthly compare voter registration data against state birth records, motor vehicle databases, Homeland Security, and Social Security Administration systems. This bill directly affects voters whose registration information aligns with these external citizenship records and takes effect September 1, 2025.