Rep. Shelley Luther

Maddy summaryHB 265 strengthens Texas youth camp oversight by requiring the health department to review camp safety rules by April 2026, in consultation with a newly structured advisory committee. The committee must include nine members representing emergency management, law enforcement, pediatric care, child psychology, abuse prevention, camp operators, parents, and geographic diversity. The bill mandates camp operators to provide safe facilities and conduct annual criminal background checks on staff, including sex offender database verification. These provisions directly affect youth camp operators, staff, and campers by establishing clearer safety standards and oversight mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 295 changes Texas election rules for voters who move within their county but haven't updated their registration. It allows voters to cast ballots in their current precinct immediately after submitting a statement verifying their new address and meeting residency requirements, instead of waiting 30 days for registration changes to take effect. The bill requires voters to provide the same information needed for initial registration, including their current address and a statement confirming they reside in the precinct. This applies only to address change notices submitted after the bill's effective date. The law affects voters who relocate within their county but haven't updated their registration records.

Maddy summaryHJR 10 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to change the quorum requirement for the Texas Senate or House of Representatives from two-thirds to a simple majority of members. This would allow legislative business to proceed with fewer members present, directly affecting how both chambers conduct sessions and pass legislation. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in a May 2, 2026, election, with the ballot asking whether "a majority of the members" should constitute a quorum. If passed, this change would alter a core procedural rule governing legislative operations.

Maddy summaryHB 298 creates a rule for when Texas state legislators lose their seats due to missing sessions. If a senator or representative misses 14 unexcused floor sessions during a regular legislative session (or 3 during a special session) without majority approval from their chamber, their seat becomes vacant. This applies only to absences occurring after the bill’s effective date and does not affect existing terms. The bill directly affects legislators who fail to attend sessions without valid justification approved by their chamber’s majority.

Maddy summaryHB 12 requires the Texas Attorney General to exclusively prosecute criminal offenses under state election laws, shifting authority from local prosecutors. It mandates that law enforcement agencies report election-related crimes to the Attorney General and obligates local prosecutors to provide requested investigation information. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after its effective date, leaving pre-existing cases governed by prior law. This change centralizes election crime prosecution under the state Attorney General's office, eliminating local jurisdiction for these specific offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 17 requires Texas school districts to include specific enrollment and inflation data in their annual property tax notices to property owners. The notice must state the district's enrollment growth rate and the state's inflation rate from the previous year, and compare the proposed tax revenue to what it would be if adjusted only for these factors. The bill defines terms like "adjusted tax collections" to standardize this calculation for transparency. School districts must now add this statement to notices about proposed tax rates and budget meetings. This change applies to all school districts in Texas and aims to clarify how enrollment and inflation impact property tax revenue.

Maddy summaryHR 58 amends the Texas House of Representatives' permanent rules to remove a restriction preventing the minority party from appointing a member as vice-chair of standing committees. It also eliminates a separate budget for the vice-chair position. These changes directly affect committee leadership structure by allowing bipartisan appointments for vice-chairs and removing dedicated funding for that role. The bill specifically revises Rule 4, Section 4A (removing the party restriction) and adds Rule 4, Section 6A(c) (ending the separate budget). This is a procedural rule change focused on internal committee operations, not a policy affecting public programs or services.

Maddy summaryHJR 39 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how Texas homestead property taxes are calculated. It would allow the legislature to set the first tax year's value for a homestead at either the property's market value or its purchase price (if bought), rather than the standard appraisal. For subsequent years, it would limit annual tax increases to only the value of new improvements made to the property, instead of full market value changes. This would directly affect homeowners who qualify for the homestead exemption, potentially reducing their tax burden in the first year and capping future increases.

Maddy summaryHB 299 limits annual increases in the taxable value of Texas homestead properties for property tax purposes. It restricts annual increases to either 10% of the previous year's appraised value plus new improvements, or the previous year's market value - whichever is lower. This applies to homeowners who qualify for the homestead exemption under Section 11.13 of the Tax Code and must file a separate application with their appraisal district. The bill directly affects residential property owners seeking to limit annual tax increases on their primary homes.

Maddy summaryHB 291 requires Texas medical schools to ensure at least 50% of required coursework for medical degrees uses letter grades (A-F) or equivalent tiered systems for assessment. It prohibits medical schools from using standardized test scores as the sole factor in admissions decisions and mandates that schools must notify the legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board before revising admission or academic standards. The bill also explicitly prohibits medical schools from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in admissions or employment decisions. These provisions apply to all medical schools in Texas offering medical degrees or certificates.