Rep. Mihaela Pleșa

Maddy summaryHB 1587 extends a temporary sales tax exemption for clothing, footwear, and certain school items in Texas. It exempts items priced under $100 from sales tax during a specific period: from 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August (before the 15th day before the school start date) through 12 a.m. Sunday of the following week. This directly benefits families purchasing essential school supplies before the new academic year begins. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not affect tax liabilities accrued before that date.

Maddy summaryHB 1718 amends Texas law to clarify the definition of "closing" for private activity bonds, specifically affecting developers and issuers of these bonds. The bill allows "closing" to include delivery of bonds in exchange for at least 10% of the required payment for qualified residential rental project bonds, enabling incremental funding. It also explicitly excludes bond deliveries where proceeds depend on credit enhancement. This change streamlines bond issuance processes for housing projects without altering tax treatment or funding requirements. The bill takes effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025, if not.

Maddy summaryHB 1644 exempts individuals from certain drug law penalties when using, possessing, delivering, or manufacturing equipment that tests for fentanyl, its derivatives, or xylazine. It directly affects harm reduction organizations, first responders, and public health workers who use testing kits to identify these substances in communities. The bill adds a new exception (Section 481.125(j)) to Texas' Health and Safety Code, clarifying that testing equipment for these specific drugs is not subject to criminal penalties under existing law. The exemption applies only to equipment testing for fentanyl, alpha-methylfentanyl, or xylazine, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1035 requires property owners seeking a property tax exemption for child-care facilities to submit an affidavit with their application. This applies to owners leasing property to "qualifying child-care facilities" (licensed facilities participating in Texas' child-care program and serving 20% subsidized children). The affidavit must certify that the tenant receives a clear disclosure of tax savings, that rent reflects these savings (via net lease or rent credit), and that rent does not exceed market rates for comparable space. The law ensures tax benefits directly reduce costs for child-care operators by mandating transparency in lease pricing.

Maddy summaryHB 215 changes how child support payments are handled for children in the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) conservatorship. It directs DFPS to assign a child's support rights and benefits directly to a relative or designated caregiver who is caring for the child, rather than keeping them with the state. The bill also requires DFPS to help caregivers become the "representative payee" for federal programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. This ensures caregivers can access and manage these funds to support the child's daily needs. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1757 updates Texas requirements for becoming a certified public accountant (CPA). It specifies that applicants must either complete 150 academic hours (with accounting coursework) or hold a bachelor's degree in accounting, pass the CPA exam, meet work experience standards, and pass a professional conduct exam. The bill adds a new requirement: individuals with a bachelor's degree must now complete two years of work experience to qualify for certification. It also allows Texas to accept CPA exam results from other states under specific reciprocity conditions, such as if exams were prepared by AICPA or NASBA. The changes take effect September 1, 2025, after the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy adopts implementing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 3125 requires the Texas Workforce Commission to create a geothermal energy workforce education and training initiative. The bill directs the Commission, working with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and educational institutions (including colleges, career schools, and public technical institutes), to develop customized training programs for geothermal energy jobs. Key provisions include establishing curriculum standards for degrees/certificates, identifying funding for training programs, and promoting school-industry partnerships for apprenticeships. This initiative directly affects Texas students seeking geothermal energy careers, educational institutions offering relevant programs, and employers in the geothermal sector.

Maddy summaryHB 4570 creates a standardized appraisal process for resolving disputes over claim amounts under Texas personal auto or residential property insurance policies. The bill requires insurers to include specific appraisal provisions in these policies, mandating that disputes about loss value be resolved through a formal process overseen by the Insurance Commissioner. Key provisions include rules for appraiser independence, investigation timelines, and binding outcomes (except for fraud or material mistakes), applying only to policies delivered in Texas after January 1, 2026. This affects homeowners and auto policyholders who disagree with their insurer's valuation of damage.

Maddy summaryHB 805 requires the Texas Public Utility Commission to study existing and potential new electric transmission interconnections between Texas and Mexico. The study must examine impacts on power networks and retail customers in both Texas and Mexico. The Commission must submit a report to the legislature by September 1, 2026, and the bill expires December 31, 2026. This procedural bill focuses on gathering data about cross-border energy infrastructure without making policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1330 allows public Texas colleges to disregard undergraduate applicants' college credits or grades earned more than 10 years before their enrollment semester, except for credits from the most recent five years. It directly affects students applying to Texas public universities who have not attended college for over a decade. Institutions must create and publish clear policies on how long they will consider academic records, and credits disregarded under this policy will not count toward degree requirements. The law applies to admissions starting in the 2025 fall semester.