Rep. Ben Bumgarner

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts new Texas residents from paying use tax on motor vehicles they bring into the state, but only if the vehicle was previously purchased in Texas with use tax already paid at the time of purchase. It directly affects new Texas residents who bought a vehicle in Texas before moving to the state. The exemption applies to vehicles brought into Texas, not those purchased locally after relocation. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHR 88 is a memorial resolution honoring James Bobbitt, a Flower Mound Fire Department firefighter who passed away on December 12, 2024. The resolution commemorates his 17-year career, including two "Firefighter of the Year" awards, his mentorship of recruits, and his advocacy to add esophageal cancer to Texas' presumptive cancer list for firefighters. It does not create new laws or policies; instead, it formally pays tribute to Bobbitt's service and extends sympathy to his family. The Texas House of Representatives adopted this purely ceremonial resolution on March 13, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2209 (the Athena Strand Act) extends the time a person arrested for certain crimes against children can be held in jail after posting bond. For most cases involving child crimes, this means up to 52 hours total (4 hours plus a 48-hour extension with magistrate approval). For severe cases like child death, serious injury, or sexual assault of a child, the detention period can be 48 hours to 7 days (or up to 30 days if the person confessed to the crime). This law applies only to arrests occurring on or after the bill’s effective date, affecting individuals charged with specific child-related offenses and law enforcement agencies managing their detention.

Maddy summaryHB 2211 allows eligible students participating in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities or intercollegiate athletics at Texas schools to earn compensation for their name, image, or likeness (NIL) outside official events and seek legal representation for NIL contracts. It requires students to be 18 or older, meet academic standards, and follow league rules. The bill prohibits using NIL compensation to influence school enrollment or endorse alcohol, tobacco, gambling, or illegal products, and mandates financial literacy education for students engaging in NIL activities. Schools may still restrict NIL compensation if it conflicts with their existing policies or honor codes.

Maddy summaryHB 2205 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt policies prohibiting students from using personal electronic devices - including smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches - during instructional time. The bill defines "personal electronic devices" as any non-school-issued device capable of connecting to a cellular network or internet. It directly affects public school students and school districts, which must implement these policies starting the 2025-2026 school year. The law excludes devices issued by schools and takes effect September 1, 2025, unless passed with a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 2326 would change how members of the Texas Water Development Board are selected, requiring them to be elected by qualified voters in general elections instead of being appointed by the governor. The bill specifies that board members must have experience in engineering, public/private finance, or law/business, and prohibits individuals with financial ties to entities regulated by the board from serving. It also establishes new eligibility rules, banning those who owned significant interests in regulated businesses or received substantial funds from the board. This would shift the board’s composition from executive appointments to direct voter selection, with staggered six-year terms. The bill applies directly to the 16-member board responsible for water planning and funding in Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 1921 allows operators of specific off-highway vehicles - recreational side-by-side vehicles (with seating for operator and passenger) and utility vehicles - to operate on certain public roadways. It permits these unregistered vehicles on highways with speed limits of 65 mph or lower, provided the highway is not an interstate or limited-access road and the vehicle displays a license plate issued under Transportation Code Section 551A.052. The bill directly affects owners and operators of these vehicle types who currently face restrictions on public road use. The law takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, otherwise September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1715 requires contracts for property use by Texas governmental entities (like state agencies, courts, counties, or cities) to include a specific statement. The provision mandates that contractors cannot prohibit licensed handgun carriers from entering or remaining on the property, unless state law already prohibits handguns there. This applies to all new contracts entered on or after September 1, 2025, and to renewals/modifications of existing contracts after that date. The bill does not change existing handgun laws but ensures contracts cannot override license holders' rights under current state law.

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 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.